Mission San Juan Bautista, 1971 - Original Oil Painting Oil painting of Mission San Juan Bautista by Gorman Woody (American, 1907-2000). The viewer looks towards the front of the Mission, where vibrant green trees stand tall. People can be seen walking under the Mission arches, as the sun shines towards them. A white cross appears on the top of the roof, contrasting against the blue sky, with the Mission bell at the base. Signed "Woody '71" lower right. Unframed. Board size: 24"H x 30"W Gorman Woody was born in Kansas in 1907, and shortly after moved with his family to Colorado. Woody resided in Colorado until he moved to Santa Cruz, California where he remained for most of the remainder of his life. He graduated from Santa Cruz High School in 1925. Afterwards he was a performer at the famous "Plunge" on the Santa Cruz boardwalk. For a period of time he worked for Otar the Lampmaker in Santa Cruz creating drawings, designs, and metal work. He studied painting at an early age, as some of his works date to the early 1930's. From the 1920's through the 1940's he concentrated on his photographic work. He photographed a series of aerial shots of Santa Cruz, and the surrounding area, as well as worked as a portrait photographer. Woody is well known for his landscape and plein air paintings.