Tankhouse Paintings
Duncan Tankhouse
There were a couple acres of open field in front of this tankhouse in Woodside, California and it was a lovely sight against the hilly backdrop of the Coastal Range. When I went into the yard for a close-up view, I saw that woodpeckers had riddled the walls of the upper portion of the structure and planted acorns in the holes.
Edgewood Road Tankhouse
In the 1930's, people of German descent used this building as the German Athletic Club. The tennis court fencing is visible on the right. The tall structure in the middle housed a large redwood water tank resting on a heavy trestle. The elevated tank provided water pressure for use in the showers and for the club. During the 1970's an accomplished Hungarian artist rented the building as a home and I attended art instruction there. The students brought bag lunches, stayed all day. She provided a jug of inexpensive wine for those who enjoyed it. It was an enjoyable day. Note the palette used for the house number nailed to the tree.
Woodside Field and Tankhouse
The Field next to Eliza's house that overlooks the Duncan Estate tankhouse
Springtime on Natoma Road
This tankhouse is most exposed in the winter months before the old apricot orchard leafs out in the spring. It was necessary to get permission to enter the Convent that owns the property. I noted that stretched artist canvasses leaned against the wall in the second story of this tankhouse. One of the Nuns must use that lovely area as an art studio.
Villa de Fleur Tankhouse
This tankhouse was located near the Senior Center in Redwood City, California. The older woman resident, wearing a flowered dress, talked to me as I was sketching, telling me of the wonderful times she had years ago when her family lived there. Her eyes filled with tears as she relived those memories. A small sleeping room was located at the top of the tankhouse stairway. The building was demolished in 1995.
Fort Bragg Tankhouse
This large tankhouse is situated alongside a busy highway in Fort Bragg, California, North of Mendocino. The homeowner ended up with quite a large dwelling after building additions to the tankhouse. It was painted a dark brown color and was used as a home when I first sketched it. When visiting in that area a few years later, I noted it had been painted red.
Tank Tower Beresford Ave
There appears to be a dwelling unit located at the top of the stairway in this Beresford Avenue tankhouse located in an older residential area just outside the Redwood City limits in California. The tank was in use at that time and a ladder was in place to check the water level.. When the garage doors were open I saw a vintage car in the process of restoration. The galvanized tubular gates with the decorative scrolls were familiar to me; however, this was the first time I had seen the triangular-patterned woven-wire fencing. Unfortunately, the tankhouse has since been demolished and replaced by a more modern residence.
Fleishacker Tankhouse
A group of painters went to the Fleischacker estate in Woodside, California to do some painting. I entered through a gate at the back of the property and was immediately facing a tankhouse. Since I am a tankhouse nut, like some people are schoolhouse, barn and depot nuts, I immediately set up my easel and painted and sketched. It appeared the gardener was using the building for various yard care items. A flat of nursery plants were outside the door on a small table where an old heavy black car battery was stored below.
Holbrook Palmer Tankhouse
This elegant tankhouse featured embellishmets not found on its more modest sisters. It was built on the lavish Atherton, California estate which has now become a city park. Very few tankhouses feature such a unique roof with the cupolas and the widow's walk.