I drive past this statue several times a week, and it always takes me back to my childhood, when we rode down Interstate Avenue and across the bridge to Vancouver, Washington to visit my aunt. Someone in the car always cried out, “There’s Paul Bunyan” as if he were an old friend. Today I saw on the plaque at his feet that he is now on the National Register of Historic Places. Boy, he has really come up in the world!
He was made in 1959 for the Oregon centennial celebration, in honor of the state’s then booming logging industry. At 31 feet tall he towers above traffic on the corner of Denver and Interstate Avenue in the Kenton neighborhood, near where I live. I think he adds a lot pf personality to the neighborhood, besides being kinda cute!
This blog is about my journey as a botanical artist--what I am learning, what inspires me and what I am currently drawing or painting. My desire is to continually hone my skills to better express my wonder and gratitude for the beauty of the creation around me in the Pacific Northwest (USA).
This one bring back memories for me also. The camp where I lived growing up had a huge Paul Bunyan also. For years he fell into disrepair but when visiting a few years ago I found someone had taken the time to restore him. Nice sketch!
Thanks Melanie, Interesting that you have childhood memories of him too. I suppose Paul Bunyan is sort of a PNW icon!
Impressive statue and an excellent sketch !
I saw him as a kid, too! You really brought that back…
I like how you put a little man in there for scale. That’s one big Bunyan!
I also really like your cloud paintings in the previous post. I find clouds difficult, and yours are beautiful.
That’s a nice painting 🙂
Very nice, Janene, and brings back memories for me as well…when Dad and I would drive around Portland on the swap meet days…good times. 🙂
Nice one!
Thank you–this was a fun sketch to do. Ol’ Paul seems to be a childhood memory for several of us!
I can see why this would call out for you to sketch! How fun!