White Out

It's nice when the plans you make in advance: well intentioned and researched, actually work out perfectly. 

Up early. 5:30 am. (Before the alarm even.) Check!

Make coffee and breakfast to-go. Check!

Drive South then East, 2hrs, to White Sands National Monument. Yes! Check!

Drive 8 mile scenic loop, do not stop at first pull outs and proceed to furthest point as to have dunes all to self. Check and totally unnecessary since at 8am pretty much no one else was there :)

It felt and looked like I was driving in snow. There was even a 'sand plow' clearing the road (which was also sand.) Other than the 80 degree and climbing temp you would feel like it was a sunny day driving in snow.

It didn't stay 80 for long. After a few hikes on some dune trails where I actually thought I might be a little bit lost... I found the car and drove to a picnic area where I thought I could do a painting. Temp now 88.

The picnic areas are wonderful! Very space age, modern covered tables. I could tell the wind was too much for the tripod and pochade so I just sat at the picnic table and painted the view. The view which was white. White, everywhere. I've never painted something so white, so subtle and soft.

I could have composed a painting with a small area of white and highlighted the expansive and spectacular blue New Mexican sky, but I like to paint not what I see necessarily at a location, but what I feel. I paint an impression of a place, shorthand of a location.

When you are visiting White Sands you are surrounded by white. Tall graceful curving dunes of white. So I wanted to convey that sense of place in my painting foremost. Once in a while you can catch a glimpse of these rough rocky ribbons of peaks off in the distance and they are the visual opposite and a terrific juxtaposition to the soft and sensual sand dunes.

My painting session did not last long. The wind was pushing my pochade across the picnic table! I held it with one hand and painted with the other, fearing the moment I would need to wipe the brush on a paper towel. I was sure the turp jar was going to spill and that would be tragic, couldn't risk that happening. Packed it all up just in time because a big cloud of sand was heading my way, looked like a sandstorm!

I think my painting will turn out well with another session. It's actually pretty interesting and not the complete white-out disaster I thought I might be making.