From Moody to Hell to Home

Thought I'd be able to get a quick painting in yesterday morning...

Packed up my things, grabbed a bite to eat and the clouds only darkened. Drizzle. GORGEOUS! But yeah, storm approaching. Since I had to drive back up out of the canyon (Sedona) up to Flagstaff... I opted to start the drive back west.

Farewell to the spectacular Sedona!

And 5.5 hours later... A special kind of hell: Barstow.

What a shock. What is this place?? Outlets. Buses. Masses of shoppers. Hot like hell. Where am I? A pit stop.

I'm heading home. 

Adventures in Sedona

Where to begin?!

Woke at 5:30 so I could get out to Red Rock Crossing Park early to catch the best light. It takes about 40 minutes to get there...

Arrived. Closed. Open at 8. Shoot!!!

Ate breakfast and coffee in the car and then cleaned the car.... Until 8.

I'd painted here before, when I took a Plein air workshop through the Sedona Art Center with William Scott Jennings. We painted at this spot, along the river looking up at Cathedral Rock.

But today... The river was FULL! All along the banks you couldn't see the Cathedral. I walked every which way.... Nothing. I had to cross the river. 

With my pochade backpack, my tripod, my umbrella AND my coffee... I climbed around trying to find a way to cross. 20 minutes of ducking under trees and poking around, nothing. I knew I'd have to go through. 

Pants rolled up. Coffee held high. I waded through a rushing river, only to just under my knees... to a rocky bank with a perfect view!!

Perfect spot! People started arriving and many couldn't figure how I got where I was... I said walk on through! Your shoes will dry! None did.

I caught the morning light despite all the hiccups - the colors were beautiful!

About half way through, a family walked by on the other side of the river. They said, excuse me lady... Just so you know, there is a snake right there. WHAT??!!! "I don't think it's poisonous" said the Dad. Oh, great. My not so little, 4' friend, slithered off..... First snake sighting!

Painting is great, super pleased. But only time for one today.

Wind. Crazy wind arrived. I was walking around town and everyone was taking cover in shops and then the dark clouds appeared. 20-64 mph. This I know because I took refuge in a gallery and the gallery employee looked it up :) 

I treated myself to a massage tonight, felt wonderful after hauling about my painting equipment, my luggage duffel and my electric cooler for 3 weeks. I needed it.

My plan is to squeak in a painting in the morning and then head WEST. As I'm eating dinner now, 8:45, and drinking a delicious Cucumber Margarita- we'll see....

Looking down, looking up

It only took about a half hour east of Albuquerque for the red rocks that I love so much to appear. Gorgeous!

8 hours in the car today... Pretty much my max. Made a terrific stop to see the Meteor Crater, I totally recommend a quick stop here if you're driving near Flagstaff Arizona. It's WINDY!!! 

After a beautiful 40 minute drive down through forests and more red rocks I finally arrived in Sedona.

Absolutely one of the most beautiful places on earth I believe.

Tomorrow is a painting day! Can't wait!

Crossing Arizona

Still on my way to my destination. Today was a straight shot from Palm Desert on the 10 past Phoenix and into Tucson. Surprised to discover I have no cell service in Tucson! This does not bode well for the remote areas where I'll be painting in southern New Mexico!

I'd read about a gallery in Tucson that had within it a small Maynard Dixon Museum, so after checking into my hotel (very circa 1975) I set off, sans 4G and wifi, to find the Mark Sublette Medicine Man Gallery. What a find!!

Gallery is in a strip mall, a strange location for such fabulous art. I went there to see the Maynard Dixon work. What an unexpected delight to find: Gregory Kondos (I've been fortunate to have studied with him twice, he's a treasure); Ray Roberts, a spectacular Plein air painter; Dennis Ziemienski, who I took a class from in Undergraduate and is a phenomenal illustrator and painter; Francis Livingston!! One of America's top Illustrators had some breathtaking landscapes and western paintings; a few stunning paintings by Ed Mell and Mark Bowles; and lastly, a wonderful collection of pieces by Josh Elliott.

Sadly, no photos allowed :(

Across the street was a Chevron where I filled the tank for.... $1.69 a gallon OMG!!

Day 2 drive of 400 miles, and one day closer to my destination! 

Thank you to all the kudos and well wishes!

Made it to the North Rim

GRAND CANYON! First time and it's as magnificent as I knew it would be.

Great drive from Escalante to Kanab.

Then the high meadows started with aspen and pine (?) trees. Purty!

Arrived and put up my smaller REI tent then followed a 1.5 mile hike on the rim in the forest and out to some crazy look out points.

Loved the hike, loved the canyon colors and view.... Even the wind was exciting.

Gorp and a a Lagunitas IPA for dinner and watching the sunset... Now ready for bed at 7:30 pm!

Glad I brought a bag of cold clothes, I'm totally layered up!