An Artist’s Inspiration: Part 4

Written by Jana Botkin

This is the fourth post in a series by artist Jana Botkin; visit weekly for a glimpse into her process as an artist, previews of her work over the years, and a unique look at some of Mineral King’s most historic cabins.

In 2006 I began painting in oils. That has become my main medium, but any chance to draw in pencil – I’m on it like my cats are on gophers.
In 2018 I decided to do a new set of cards of Mineral King. There are so many views that people love, so it was a little tricky to find the right scenes for new cards. I choose these four. 

These are available from my website: https://www.cabinart.net/product/mineral-king-assortment/

My point in these blog entries is not to sell you things, although that is fine too. The point is to show you the many facets of Mineral King and the many ways it is part of my art.


Jana Botkin is a lifelong resident of Tulare County, a farmer’s daughter from Ivanhoe, and wife to Michael Botkin for 33 years. Using pencils, oil paint, and murals, she makes art that people can understand, of places and things they love, at prices that won’t scare them, always wanting to provide visible reminders that Tulare County is a place to be proud of. She has been a full time artist since 1993, working from her Three Rivers home studio. She has published two books of local cabin communities, The Cabins of Mineral King (with Jane Coughran)and The Cabins of Wilsonia, five local coloring books, and Mineral King Wildflowers: Common Names. Jana accepts commissions, teaches drawing lessons, and blogs about her artful life five days a week on her website, www.cabinart.net.

One comment

  1. The top image is one of my favorite scenes as I walk up the toward toward “Endurance Hill.” Sawtooth Peak framed by cottonwood trees. It doesn’t get much prettier than this!

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