Listening to residents of Fair Oaks reminisce about growing up in the area is always a treat for me. The community here takes great pride in their hometown, and it’s heartwarming to hear their fond memories and stories.
I had such a great time chatting with Neddy, a local artist in Fair Oaks. He was at the Fair Oaks Coffee House and Deli showing off one of his beautiful works of art. I learned that he’s lived in Fair Oaks since 1957, and he moved here when he was just 13 years old. He shared so many fun memories with me, like riding bikes down to the river and even jumping off the old bridge. It was such a pleasure getting to know him and hearing his stories.
I had the pleasure of meeting up with Neddy again later in the week. He brought with him some of his stunning paintings, which he paints every day, referring to it as “easel time.” He shared with me that some of his best work comes out by accident and he doesn’t like to stick to realism. According to him, you should always be looking for something in the subject, you can’t try to make it look exactly like you see it. It’s more about letting the painting develop. Neddy is a regular at the Fair Oaks Village and sells some of his paintings at the Village Decor & Antique shop, which is located across the street from the Fair Oaks Village Coffee House & Deli.
If you or someone you know would like to share some memories and photos of Fair Oaks, I would love to hear from you! You can reach me at chrysti@ilovefairoaks.com.
