Fall Paint-out 2012

Fall Paint-Out 2012

Hope Valley, California
October 20, 2012

Yesterday I had the privilege of painting with a group of plein air painters in the wonderful aspen groves of Hope Valley, California.

We started out at 9:00 am with coffee and muffins then drove to Red Lake where we painted along a dirt  road (upper photo).

During lunch, David Russo generously agreed to critique our paintings. We had a total of 11 painters working in oils, watercolors and pastels.
In the afternoon we changed location to Sorenson's Resort on Hwy 88. Lots to photographers stopping to photograph the changing colors and capture the painters in action. The lower image is my contribution to the afternoons efforts.

Many thanks to the Tahoe Art League for spreading the word about this event. Looking forward to new opportunities in the future.

Morning Glory

Morning Glory
Painting No. 1-J-12
8"x10"
oil on canvas

I just returned from 8 days of painting in Moab, Utah. The scenery was fantastic. I think I strained my neck from looking at the extreme vertical cliffs that were always present.

I was in a group of 100+ painters attending the Plein Air Moab 2012 event. It was a great week of being in a magical land and being alongside some of the best painters in the country.
 

Beyond the Canvas

I've been out walking in the woods again.
This time however I left the paint box home and brought the chain saw. That's right, it's wood cutting season and I'm straining muscles that I forgot that I had. It all started about 15 years ago when Kim and I bought a house and installed a wood stove. Since then firewood accounts for about 80% of our winter heating. We both enjoy having a roaring fire on those long cold winter nights. But there is the added benefit of getting a great workout from falling trees, cutting and loading logs, cutting into smaller logs, splitting and eventually stacking the wood.

The Sierra Nevada Mountains are wonderful as a subject matter for landscape painters, but these woods are more than that to me. I grew up here, hiked and sleep out under the stars, saved a guy from hypothermia during a winter camping trip, got chased by a Black Bear looking for an easy lunch.
And yet these mountains still hold lots of mystery and adventure, more country than I will ever see.