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.

The Way to Kodachrome

I knew Kodachrome was going to be beautiful but I was not prepared for how gorgeous the drive there would be... Yellow wildflowers line the road and every rock formation is just YUMMY! I may have to return this week.

Scouts honor

I've spent the day scouting out locations to paint this week. A very helpful guide at Excurssions of Escalante, Jim, drew me a little map to a dirt road I should check out. Score! Loads of beautiful vistas and rocks. 

I've spent the rest of my 'free' day exploring Hwy 12. I may have to trek out this way to paint as well, the aspen are stunning in their yellows, golds and lime. It's a "Scenic Byway" for good reason!

The Long, Long, Never-ending Spectacular Drive

Indeed. So happy to arrive in Escalante and to get out of the car! I drove 7 hours Monday followed by 10.5 today. First over Tioga in Yosemite to Lee Vining. Amazing! Then headed out to Mono Lake to hike around before sunset. Spectacular! A good nights sleep despite a strange dream about bears... And I was up and on 120E again to cut through and across and on and on and on: Nevada.

Saw beautiful scrubby high desert, an alien statue and the sticker covered Extraterrestrial Hwy Sign. Really, beautiful. My heart does a skip and twirl though when I see the red rocks of Utah. How I love them! 

Preparation

And so it begins.
The packing! It's always a tiny bit of a challenge to pack for a single trip with a variety of events.

We have the Road trip: endless drives across deserts and sierras. This means a cooler,  jugs of water and snacks: (apples, celery with almond butter, oranges and tomatoes from the garden, mixed unsalted nuts.) My CD player doesn't work so I have my iPod and portable speaker that plugs into the cig lighter. I downloaded a new Louise Penny book to listen to while I drive. I have my iphone and charger, flares for an emergency and loads of maps in case the wifi doesn't work on the phone which I'm pretty certain 9/10ths of my trip it may not. 

We have the sleeping: Tents. Yes. I am bringing 2 tents. Crazy? I think not. There is about a weeks worth of single night or 2 night stays, so for those I have my 2 person REI Dome tent. My go-to tent. Easy up, small and packs really small. The other tent is a 4 person tent. A Grand Trunk tent. SO easy. Love this thing. I'll have a long extended stay in one location while I'm painting so I'm 'settling' in and I suppose - Glamping!  There's room for a tri-fold 4" japanese futon in both tents so I will be comfy. I adore my Big Agnes sleeping bag, called the Ethel. She's WARM and I'll be fine on those 48° degree nights and mornings. (Fingers crossed!) A pillow is coming with as well as a thick wool blanket JUST IN CASE Ethel isn't enough. I'm also bringing a throw rug and extra footprint and good rain fly. Apparently a nice rain storm blows through the valley just about every day. Thunder too!

Then there is the actual camping. Tents and sleeping bags are a given, but then there is a chair, my AeroPress and hand grinder and pound of whole bean coffee. (I know the requirements for camping right!) My JetBoil and fuel. Tuna and Beans and Oatmeal. The basics. Spork. Cutting board and knife. (Yes, also, 2 bottles of red wine.) (I do know how to camp right.)

Next up: The essentials. Toiletries and Clothing and Camera and Reading material.
Clothing for hiking and canyoneering.
Clothing for painting.
Clothing for everyday.
Something a little bit nice for the Art Reception and Shows.
Rain jacket. Fleece for cold painting days. Down jacket for nights.
Camera. Charger. Extra battery. Waterproof case (remember the canyoneering!)
Books. Book on Bryce and Zion. Book on Grand Canyon. A new Lee Child/Jack Reacher novel (!!) and an old Sunset magazine I found, still sealed from last year, all on the Grand Canyon!

Lastly, the painting stuff.
My OpenBoxM pochade, tripod, BestBrella, turp, extra turp, paints (not really a limited palette but still less than my normal palette, panels and panels galore. Then there are the boxes of frames! 4 9x12 floaters and 4 6x8 floaters as well as a bonus 6x8 frame that is just super cool and will look great with a colorful desert painting in it. Brushes and a big hat and wet panel carriers... that pile adds up quickly.

Now to fit it all into the car.

Frames, frames, frames

Took a chance on a new framing business and I am glad I did. I needed floater frames for my Plein air paintings which are for the most part, all on panels.  This company has a lot of options and free shipping and best of all outstanding customer service!! (Thank you Roger!) The finished frames are completely ready to hang, just add your painting. Find them at  dailypaintersframes.com  (part of Franken Frames.)

A Little Davenport

I have been so busy with back to back icon contracts I haven't been able to make it out for Plein Air Mondays. Just couldn't let that continue!

Woke up at the wee hours of Monday, drove to Davenport for a relaxed and delicious breakfast (the amazing bakery happens to have amazing omelets too, go figure.) Just up Hwy 1 is a great surfing beach which is also our painting beach!

I worked a tiny canvas, only 6x8 and then drove back to the studio to make... more icons!