Living on the Edge

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Here's another landscape from Utah, from the same area as this recent one. We were overlooking the Canyonlands, near Moab. One day we drove down into the canyon, on a tiny, dirt road that had recently been damaged by flooding, barely clinging to the side of a cliff. It was pretty terrifying, but our Jeep handled it just fine.

Ruby Lake From Above

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This is the last one (that turned out) from my trip to the Sierra Nevada Mountains last month. This one is from a solo day hike to Ruby Lake (from base camp at Garnet Lake). I found this scene not far from the trail, and while this trail is not heavily trafficked, for some reason a bunch of people walked by right as I was in the very ugly beginning stages of this painting. I was working fast because this light was changing by the minute. And some guy said, "Oh, are you painting?" Ummm, yes. "What you are you painting?" This scene. "Are you going to paint the whole thing?" Nope. "Which part are you going to paint?" Uhhh, it's hard to explain? 

At this point I think the inflection in my voice, and the fact that I turned my back to him so I could focus, convinced him to stop asking questions. The next time I looked back he was gone. Sorry dude. I'm not great at answering questions when I'm painting.

I was only able to get a rough sketch and some color notes that day. I took a bunch of pictures and finished it in my studio. I'm really happy with how the blue shimmers against the green.

Up and Over 1 & 2

 

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Next up from the Sierras are two very similar paintings. I started one of them outside, on location, on a slightly smoky day, near the beginning of the trip. The wind started to pick up that day, which ended up blowing out the smoke, but also blew over a couple of easels, including mine. This was incredibly frustrating, mostly because up to that point my painting was going really well. But my turp can was emptied (all over myself and my new backpack!), so I had no choice but to return to camp to get more. But by then the light had changed and I knew that to finish the painting it would have to be on another day.

So I returned a couple days later, at the same time of day, only to find my scene had changed considerably without the smoke. I ended up repainting it quite a bit, and the result is this second painting below. And I really like it, but I also liked the original feel, so I painted another one at home, from photos and memory, and that is the painting above.

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The Sheer Face of It

 

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This is another perspective/format of the same rocks and water (at Ruby Lake), a little later in the day, after a lunch break. They say the middle of the day is the worst time for landscape painting because the light is boring. But if you're an outdoor still life painter, I would argue that you can still find plenty.

Ruby Lake Rocks

 

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Another one from my Sierra trip. On this day I wanted to hike to Ruby Lake, which was quite a trek. I asked all my painting pals and had no takers, so I did it by myself. It was a lovely day. The shadows on these rocks changed super fast, so I took lots of pictures as I painted, and clarified it a bit more in my studio. I seem to be more interested in what I call "outdoor still lifes" than "landscapes."

Atop the Granite

 

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Here is another painting from my August trip into the Sierras. It was done mostly on location, with just a few small touch-ups back in my studio. This spot is about 10 minutes from base camp, and one of my favorite granite outcroppings. Over the years I've painted it from several different angles.

Perhaps because our group is getting older, about half decided to ride horses in this time. I hiked in, but rode a horse out. Here is a picture of the in-riders. One benefit of riding is that instead of always watching where you're stepping next, you can look around and appreciate the view. The downside is that afterwards you're sore in places you didn't even know you had!

Early Rocks

 

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Hi there! I got home from my California trip last week, but have been so busy with visits from relatives, helping a friend move, and catching up in general that I haven't had a chance to post, much less touch up any paintings. Until today. To the right you will see my illustrious, Sierra, painting pals (names below), and above is the first painting I did (a morning scene). We hiked to Garnet Lake this year. As usual, we carried our art gear and mules hauled our camping gear, food and (fabulous) cook. We camped for 5 days in the same spot, pitching our easels where/whenever we felt inspired, making sure to roll back into camp in time for cocktails and dinner. Every year we say it was the "trip of a lifetime," and this was no exception. The place is amazing, but the people put it over the top.

Pictured (L to R): Mark Fehlman, Cleo Villett, Kim Lordier, Terry Miura, Michele de Braganca, Bill Cone, Tia Kratter, Scott Hamill, myself, Karen (cook), Elizabeth (cook's daughter), & Paul Kratter.

Homeland

 

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My folks met at the University of Texas in Austin when they were students there. They married quickly and struck out north for adventure. They ended up in Montana for 10 years, southeast of Butte, where my sister and I were born. We moved (back) to Texas when I was 2, so I have no memories of Montana, but I have enjoyed exploring the area as an adult. This is a scene from around where I was born, up in the hills, overlooking the valley and the mountains on the other side. 

I didn't paint Texas nearly as much. And I'm not saying Montana is more beautiful ... aww heck, yes I am.

Rise Above

 

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Here's a little gouache landscape from a hike I took in the summer along Blodgett Creek. I have a few of these little landscapes left that have been sitting around my studio. Today I pulled them out and they inspired me to do some new ones. So you'll see those soon.

Feeding the Pool

 

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This is the "other" creek painting I promised, done on a smoky day, but lets call it "overcast." I went out again recently on a sunny day, but I guess because it's getting later in the year, the sun wasn't peeking into the canyon in the same way. I finally set up to paint a scene in shadow, only to have the sun suddenly blast over the cliff and completely change what I was looking at before I had a chance to get it down. I felt pretty frustrated, and came home after wiping my panel twice. It happens.

Meanwhile, I have been PLAYING with all kinds of ideas for what's next. I am having SO much fun that I don't think I want to stop anytime soon. : ) So if you don't hear from me for a while, just know that I'm enjoying myself. And maybe someday, something will come of it.

End of Summer Trickle

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We've had smoke in our valley off and on for a month or more, mostly from the California fires. Amazing that it can travel this far! But the water in this creek is at such a perfect level, I went back anyway, even though the smoke essentially made it look overcast. It helped that I had made plans to meet a new friend there, which was great motivation! And we had a lovely time. 

The upside of overcast is that the light doesn't change much, so you have longer to ponder, and you don't have to worry about the sun going behind a cliff or something. I did 2 little studies, and they were both too dark (a problem I often have painting outside), so they took some work once I got home. But I'm very happy with them now. I'll show you the other soon.

Emerald Waters

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When we first got to Montana, I was excited to go out and find creeks to paint. But in the late spring and early summer, as the snow melted, all the creeks (and rivers) I found were overflowing and muddy in color. Next year I will know to wait until late summer, when they are just a trickle, and gorgeous! I painted this at Kootenai Creek last week, my favorite creek so far. What's super funny is that a stranger passing by took a photo of me and posted it on Facebook - a "lady painter" in the creek. Someone else in the area recognized me and sent it to me. Unfortunately I can't find it now.

Scree Trees

 

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We use an app called "All Trails" to find most of the hikes we go on. They are rated as easy, moderate or hard. This one was ranked moderate, but the comments said some people might consider it hard. It was about 2+1/2 hours of lung-busting, heart-breaking UP, so we tended to agree with HARD. And the lake they promised at the end? We got a tiny peek of it from the top, WAY down the other side of the mountain, with no discernible trail to get there. The hubs and I agreed pretty quickly that we didn't want to go down just to come back up again. The silver lining of this particular hike was this scree field & cliffs about halfway up where I got some nice pictures. My favorite part is the way the shadows change colors depending on where they're pointing, and what light is reflecting back into them (cool sky or warm reflected sunlight). I thought about it the whole way back down, on shaky legs.

As you might guess, we are back from camping. : ) A couple of highlights: we saw a bear! Just a small, black bear, and it ran away immediately, but it was pretty exciting - closest I've ever been to a bear in the wild. And I went to an art opening! My first social event in FOREVER (boy was I rusty)! And a very cool show - artist Turner Vinson, who has lived in this area for a year now and has made some awesome Youtube videos of him painting here. Check them out!

Also, here is my very first gouache plein air, done right up the street from my house. This is just PART of my view, y'all. I'm one lucky girl. It's going in my personal collection. : )

A Tree with a View

 

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Another Sierra scene. Did I mention that it's a painter's paradise up there?

More Cloud than Mountain

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This is from one of my gazillion Sierra references. I get totally different composition ideas from my photos than I did from being there in person. Not better necessarily - just different.

Just Around the Lake

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Four times now, over the years, I have hiked way up into the Sierra Nevada Mountains and painted with friends, for a week each time. There are no words to describe how wonderful each and every trip has been. I've taken lots of photos, and have been poring over them lately because ... I'm not going this year. : (

The reference for this particular painting was taken on a day when I was painting by myself on the opposite side of the lake from camp. The clouds were spectacular, so I clicked away, but I also quickly realized that the clouds were getting darker. So I hoofed it around the lake just in time to dive into my tent. My nap lasted just as long as the rain, and then I was out and painting again. BTW, This is my biggest gouache painting yet! Woo!

Colorado Rocky River

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Here's one from Colorado, somewhere in the Rockies. The sun was shining strongly in the distance, but everything else was in shadow. I find this very difficult to paint, and even more difficult to photograph with any accuracy. I promise the painting is better than the photo.

Reflections of the Other Side

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I'm feeling especially glad that I've taken so many landscape photos! I didn't ever know what I was going to do with them, but I took pictures of whatever I liked. I will continue to do so. This is a scene from Colorado ... somewhere near Vail.

In the Middle of Nowhere

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On my drive down to the Sierras this year, I decided to do the 12 hour drive in 2 days rather than my usual 1. So I had extra time to explore. I thought I would stop a lot to take pictures, but often there was nowhere to pull over, or I passed by too fast and didn't want to turn around, or ... some other excuse. I did pull off on one side road, maybe an hour away from my destination, following a sign to a trailhead. Least of all I could stretch my legs. After about 20 minutes down a dirt road, I finally found the trail. It was completely abandoned, which felt a little ominous, but I explored it anyway. And found this lovely little creek, deep in the forest. And a wonderful hawk feather, which I keep in my car to remind me. To always explore, even if it's a little ominous.

Rocks in Fall

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This one's been kicking around my studio for a while. I think I've made like 3 passes on it, and have finally gotten it to a place I'm happy with. It's one of my favorite kind of spots- quiet, with water and rocks ... and dappled light - especially if I'm there by myself. Which I was, when I took the reference photos. I'm pretty sure this came from Sweet Creek, here in Oregon.