Returning to the Scene

Found this good spot overlooking Elephant Butte Island, higher up than where I painted here earlier this week. I arrived early and the water was so beautiful! Like glass...

A few people stopped by to see what I was up to. One man asked if my painting was pastels. I said no, this is oil paint. He said, "no the colors, I've seen them before, thems those Indian colors." Uhh?? 

I'm very pleased with how this painting turned out. I wish I had a small flat brush to get some crisp edges along the water line but I can get those touches in later back in my studio. 

After lunch I took a stroll on Broadway, one of two roads in town :)  Went in to an antique shop, a used book store and a gallery/boutique where a woman sells her jewelry, paintings and paper dress sculptures. The paintings are made out of nail polish. Never heard of that before.

I cruised through town looking at shadows on buildings, cars, trailers... Took a long time for me to settle into a decision. Ended up in an alley basically, with a view to a tiny airstream/argosy trailer. Still needs some tweaks but I'm happy with where it's headed!

About 25-30 feet away from me, the entire time I painted the trailer, which was 2 hrs, an older man in a Grateful Dead Tshirt was standing on the roof of a very large motor home, power washing the roof. 2 HOURS. OMG.

It's the long Holiday Weekend... Tomorrow the other artists in the residency and I are going to a Farmers/ Art Market. That undoubtably will be very very interesting.

Bryce Canyon

I last was in Bryce 10 years ago, and - well - that was my only time to visit the park. On that trip, the Hoodoos in Bryce were topped with snow. Today... I drove into Bryce after a long morning and afternoon of painting. Bryce was vivid orange and salmon and melon, gorgeous. It was also HOT. Drove the length of the park and then stopped at all the lookout spots on the way out. Photo-op madness. 

These days I usually camp with my beloved T@B trailer, but this trip is all tent camping. So my T@B wouldn't feel left behind (yeah I know... But if you owned one you'd understand) I brought my toy trailer. I've been having a lot of fun 'parking' it in prime locations ;) Bryce included.