A Two-fer

Today was a two painting day. 

Started in the am with a short drive just a couple blocks away to a little park that overlooks the Rio Grande and across to Turtle mountain. It was early-ish, about 8:30 and there were some nice shadows on Turtle mountain that wouldn't appear again until about 7:45 tonight. Even though I did a pencil sketch before beginning, making dutiful notes of shadow placements etc... I ended up "chasing shadows" as painters sometimes say which is only to say ARGH! I got some and made up others... Very frustrating. Also, this piece was a slight departure from my usual and started to get juicy and painterly which was throwing me off a bit. I'll go in and soften the mountain in the distance, too many contrasts... Then it might just pull itself together.

Heading back to my row-casita, I looped around town searching for more Airstreams - found some really great ones that just might be on the agenda to paint tomorrow!

Later in the afternoon I braved the wind and painted over at Elephant Butte Lake. 

I had to bungee the pochade to a wood post and keep a hand on the turp jar which was swinging every which way!

This painting feels much more like me. It isn't finished but I'm liking where it's headed.

Official Paint Out Day

Over 100 artists painted today along Hell's Backbone Rd. It's a loop actually and connects with Hwy 12 between Escalante and Boulder.

I'd driven the washboard road section of HBR and decided I'd rather go for a vista piece off the paved Hwy. 

I usually choose scenes that have a central or close subject, so to stand up overlooking an entire canyon just as daylight hits the upper peaks was a huge shift for me! 

From the start I was taken with these subtle colors on the light sandstone; lemon and melon and a beautiful salmon pink and violet! Gorgeous! Plus, all along the furthest range, called the Straights, were these ribbons of pale cool green and lavender. Yes! I can paint here!

Our finished piece had to be turned in between 3 & 5pm, I glued mine down to the floater frame, told them leave it flat on a table until the glue dries (!) at 3:30pm.