Biking the Highline
11x14 pastel
sold
Monday, October 31, 2016
Day 265 Biking the Highline
Here's the Highline Canal from last weekend, just west of the Flyin' B. It was early in the morning and the light was low and so very pretty. What a beautiful spot to walk, bike, paint and enjoy the rustling leaves. I'm wondering how I can block off even more time to get outside and paint, it never seems I have enough. I've certainly enjoyed the unseasonably warm October. I have a few fixes to do on this painting, will repost after I touch it up.
Biking the Highline
11x14 pastel
sold
Biking the Highline
11x14 pastel
sold
Day 264 Window View #3
Self explanatory, yes? Those leaves are coming down quickly.
I spent yesterday framing and packaging up art. For over 8 hours and I'm maybe halfway done. I had a couple friends come over on Friday to look at art and was embarrassed that they had to shuffle through piles in boxes, under tables, on tables and scattered just everywhere. Oils and pastels all mixed up, and many pastel paintings not protected under plastic or glass.
A least the oil paintings were dry.
So, time to get all that work organized, protected, priced and easier to go through.
Next time someone comes over I won't have to feel bad that they are leaving with little multi-colored pastel smears on various parts of their body. A look I'm pretty used to ... but you may not be.
Window View #3
8x10 pastel
I spent yesterday framing and packaging up art. For over 8 hours and I'm maybe halfway done. I had a couple friends come over on Friday to look at art and was embarrassed that they had to shuffle through piles in boxes, under tables, on tables and scattered just everywhere. Oils and pastels all mixed up, and many pastel paintings not protected under plastic or glass.
A least the oil paintings were dry.
So, time to get all that work organized, protected, priced and easier to go through.
Next time someone comes over I won't have to feel bad that they are leaving with little multi-colored pastel smears on various parts of their body. A look I'm pretty used to ... but you may not be.
Window View #3
8x10 pastel
Saturday, October 29, 2016
Day 263 Bike, Paint, Bike
Today was an awesome day. I have a new plein air setup. It's not an easel, pochade box, backpack or even new paint. It's a bike! I rode my several decades old mountain bike this morning and really wished I had a rack on the back for my paints, that it was 20 lbs. lighter, and that all the gears would work. It's listed as vintage online. I've been resistant to getting back on a bike but once I realized it could involve painting, I changed my mind. I can do that. My husband couldn't get me to the bike shop fast enough.
Other things I don't really want to do, but would, if it included painting:
-riding in a hot air balloon, I could paint there
-jury duty, I could sketch
-going to outer space - wouldn't that be fun?
So now I'm the proud owner of a new hybrid bike and this afternoon I headed up Waterton Canyon. I carried a small box of pastels, paper and my small REI folding chair. After riding several miles and dodging 5 male big horn sheep - I found a great spot to paint the South Platte River. I'm excited to get to more spots to paint and now also hoping for a light snow year.
Bike, Paint, Bike
pastel 5x7
sold
Other things I don't really want to do, but would, if it included painting:
-riding in a hot air balloon, I could paint there
-jury duty, I could sketch
-going to outer space - wouldn't that be fun?
So now I'm the proud owner of a new hybrid bike and this afternoon I headed up Waterton Canyon. I carried a small box of pastels, paper and my small REI folding chair. After riding several miles and dodging 5 male big horn sheep - I found a great spot to paint the South Platte River. I'm excited to get to more spots to paint and now also hoping for a light snow year.
Bike, Paint, Bike
pastel 5x7
sold
Most excited about the bike rack and a perfect bag to fit my paints and pastels!
3 of the 5 Big Horn Sheep we saw hanging out in Waterton Canyon
Thursday, October 27, 2016
Day 262 Window View #2
I painted this one last week from my studio window. I have quite a bit of art that I haven't posted because they just aren't quite finished. Maybe I'll spend the weekend in town for a change and get caught up in the studio and be more consistent on posting? Then again, it's so pretty outside maybe I won't stay in until I have to ...
Window View #2
pastel 8x10
Window View #2
pastel 8x10
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Day 261 No Takers
It's pretty darn warm here for October. Not complaining. I forgot to mention that the humidity in Utah was something like negative 50 on my weekend hike. Temperature was in the 70's but felt very hot. The crows were silently circling above us. Hopeful, I image, that I might trip and provide a nice meal for them to pick at before there was time for anyone to rescue me.
When I hike with my girlfriends we talk the whole time - whether they like it or not. When I hike with my husband, he's pretty quiet so I have to entertain myself.
I occasionally imagine dramatic headlines like "Woman, eaten by crows after tripping AGAIN"
or " Fluke death of 50 something year old woman hiking a trail she had no business being on".
That kind of stuff.
Anyhoo - the crows went unfed and I got back to the picnic table to paint this teepee. It was available to rent for $35 a night. It was 2 camp spots away and I'm pretty sure the salamanders had easier access to the teepee than my tent. Sooo ... I'll stick with my tent thank-you-very-much.
No Takers
pastel 5x7
When I hike with my girlfriends we talk the whole time - whether they like it or not. When I hike with my husband, he's pretty quiet so I have to entertain myself.
I occasionally imagine dramatic headlines like "Woman, eaten by crows after tripping AGAIN"
or " Fluke death of 50 something year old woman hiking a trail she had no business being on".
That kind of stuff.
Anyhoo - the crows went unfed and I got back to the picnic table to paint this teepee. It was available to rent for $35 a night. It was 2 camp spots away and I'm pretty sure the salamanders had easier access to the teepee than my tent. Sooo ... I'll stick with my tent thank-you-very-much.
No Takers
pastel 5x7
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Day 260 Needles Hike
I hiked last weekend through Lost Canyon in the Needles district of Canyonlands NP. It was a 9 mile loop hike, we opted for the Squaw Canyon trail on the way back.
See, I tried this hike with my friend Lori earlier in the year and I choked a mile in. I couldn't get up the nerve to traverse that slick rock. I had a panic attack. Voices were telling me I would certainly die if I tried to cross that section of rock. I then watched several hikers pass me and walk easily across. While chatting. But it was too late, I was frozen.
Fear is what keeps us alive. You need to have the right amount, don't cross a street when cars are coming ... but not so much that you never go near the street again, right?
Looking back, it was the right choice at the time. The hike had many spots with even worse exposure. Lori would have had to drag me or send back search and rescue.
This time, I was mentally prepared. I knew I needed to conquer this particular hike. My boots were working, no slipping or tripping. Also, once you go so far you kinda have no choice but to keep going to get back to the car. The car never looked so good.
It's been a year of immense personal growth for me - painting, conquering fears, striving for balance. Not falling on my ass in more ways than one. Being mentally prepared and trusting my own judgement.
This painting is a view of the Needles in the distance from our campground, just outside the park entrance. To you it's just a painting, but to me so much more.
Needles Hike
pastel 9x12
See, I tried this hike with my friend Lori earlier in the year and I choked a mile in. I couldn't get up the nerve to traverse that slick rock. I had a panic attack. Voices were telling me I would certainly die if I tried to cross that section of rock. I then watched several hikers pass me and walk easily across. While chatting. But it was too late, I was frozen.
Fear is what keeps us alive. You need to have the right amount, don't cross a street when cars are coming ... but not so much that you never go near the street again, right?
Looking back, it was the right choice at the time. The hike had many spots with even worse exposure. Lori would have had to drag me or send back search and rescue.
This time, I was mentally prepared. I knew I needed to conquer this particular hike. My boots were working, no slipping or tripping. Also, once you go so far you kinda have no choice but to keep going to get back to the car. The car never looked so good.
It's been a year of immense personal growth for me - painting, conquering fears, striving for balance. Not falling on my ass in more ways than one. Being mentally prepared and trusting my own judgement.
This painting is a view of the Needles in the distance from our campground, just outside the park entrance. To you it's just a painting, but to me so much more.
Needles Hike
pastel 9x12
Scary exposure but stunning views make it worthwhile!
Day 259 Campground Host
On camping last weekend ... I was pretty happy for our last chance spot in the Canyonlands. Not normally a place that we would have picked but it worked out just fine. No trees, and only one small bush next to our fire pit with a big hole near it. And a lizard that lived in it.
This guy was waiting for us, he watched me unpack. I called him Henry. It's less scary when you have a name, right? All I could think was if this dude ends up in my sleeping bag I will scream as I've never screamed before. We made a deal that I would tolerate him hanging out, and darting around constantly as long as he did not enter the tent.
I got used to him (and several of his friends) and painted this little bush along with the hole that our smallest "campground host" lived in.
If I think about it too long I can't believe I didn't sleep in the car. Did I mention the sign on the bathroom door asking to keep the doors shut to keep out the snakes and mice? Now that I wrote all that and think more about it, I may never camp again.
Campground Host
pastel 5x7
This guy was waiting for us, he watched me unpack. I called him Henry. It's less scary when you have a name, right? All I could think was if this dude ends up in my sleeping bag I will scream as I've never screamed before. We made a deal that I would tolerate him hanging out, and darting around constantly as long as he did not enter the tent.
I got used to him (and several of his friends) and painted this little bush along with the hole that our smallest "campground host" lived in.
If I think about it too long I can't believe I didn't sleep in the car. Did I mention the sign on the bathroom door asking to keep the doors shut to keep out the snakes and mice? Now that I wrote all that and think more about it, I may never camp again.
Campground Host
pastel 5x7
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