No. 310: 718 Pine, San Francisco

718 Pine St., San Francisco, 2015. India ink rendering by Tom Wills

I wanted to create something that would last, to hang in a home that is rich in history. This india ink rendering, a sort-of watercolor in shades of gray, is an anniversary gift commissioned by a thoughtful and loving husband for his wonderful wife. I am proud to call them both friends. We three got our starts putting out other shades of gray: newspaper ink.

I asked Tim to send me some information about the residence. He writes:

In the upper left corner you can see the original house. Despite being just one room wide, it was among the earlier rebuilds on Nob Hill following the great earthquake and fire of 1906. The home was built in 1913.

The original owner was John Bermingham Jr., general manager of the California Powder Works (dynamite) and a bit of a character according to contemporaneous news reports.

The photo used for the drawing.

The house at 718 Pine St., San Francisco, is a quintessential Nob Hill Edwardian. The original home was three stories tall. A fourth was added much later, bringing the home to about 2,500 square feet. While it looks like it was wedged in between existing buildings, it was among the early structures rebuilt in this part of Nob Hill.  Most everything on Nob Hill had been wiped out by the 1906 earthquake and great fire.

When we bought the home in its centennial year of 2013, we congratulated ourselves that it needed nothing done to it. Then we spent the next 2 1/2 years doing non-stop remodeling. We have been very careful to stay true to the original styles and treatments that honor its Edwardian heritage.

My basic research has made it clear that the home has had many owners over the years.  We bought it from Evan White, a local TV journalist.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkjB2BiaQLw

As an example of showing respect to its heritage: We gutted the master bath and restored it back to something closer to its Edwardian roots. It's our hobby!

Well, art is (for now) my hobby, and I just love this picture.
Tim and I began working on it Nov. 3 -- election night here in Ohio.  "I am thinking something different than just a straight-on view," he said.

I replied: "I could try a pen and ink rendering of the long view of the house and street and surrounding buildings, no cars.  ... As a pen and ink rendering with gray shades, it would be cool but risky (one screwup and it's toast). I used to be pretty good at it."

There were, indeed, two screw-ups that required an X-acto knife to scrape off errant ink blobs.  But those were the only crises in creating this original.
The ink is guaranteed to be permanent. It will last, like this house, and like our friendships.

Happy anniversary, Tim and Diane Fitzpatrick.  I am so happy for you both.
Thank you for Considering an Original.

Tom