Shell Top Doorway San Luis Rey Mission 1936

Howard Sherman made this watercolor painting of the Shell Top Doorway at San Luis Rey Mission at an unknown date. Look at the way the blue paint drips down from the doorway trim, like little tears. I imagine Sherman, squinting in the California sun, mixing up the exact shade of turquoise to match the original. He’s interested in the details, the curves and flourishes that give the doorway its character. It’s more than just a doorway; it’s a frame, a portal to another world. See the way the colors bleed into each other, creating soft edges and hazy forms? It’s like a memory, a fleeting impression of a place. Sherman captures the essence of the doorway, inviting us to step through and explore the mysteries that lie beyond. It reminds me that every brushstroke is a conversation, and every painting is a journey.