Going Southwest

After months of talking about it with friends in New Mexico and Arizona, today I bought the ticket and on the Summer Solstice will head out to the Southwest region for 4-6 weeks. I hope to spend time camping out in the Canyon-lands, as many as time allows and to see the Grand Canyon and experience a part of the earth I have known only through photos, video, and dreams in my almost 60 years on the planet! I am drawn to the red earth places and have a notion that they hold a piece of mystery I hope to explore... with luck I will find a horse to ride and some kindred souls to dance, and to share good food and fine times with. It is a journey I've wanted to take for a long time and now the pieces have fallen into place to make that possible. I want to paint there and wish I could take all my mediums as I am sure that the landscapes will beg for the silkiness of pastels and the richness of oils... but to travel by air is to travel light so my watercolors will be the ones to come along. I hope to get some good photos and sketches that will later develop into oils and pastels in the studio... and perhaps, if it is the place of magic I imagine, I will return to camp and paint in the Canyons for years to come.

Summer Pines

Summer is just around the corner, and though some folk hold out til the full moon of June to plant their gardens - Nature's is in full tilt. Trees that were bare a few weeks ago have filled out with leaf and blossom and gardens are a riot of color delight!
As I sat out in the back field, I painted a stand of pines that have been there as long as I can remember...

It is a quiet painting - nothing flashy or even all that colorful - unless you are a fan of greens, but the scene spoke to me in it's quiet strength...  so I am painting again.

Winter Railroad Tracks

I've just finished another watercolor. This is not my usual subject matter, still I found the snow-covered railroad tracks, the way they curved gently through the trees, and the depth created by the misty winter air, most compelling. There is a quietness to the scene that really appeals to me.

With six new winter scenes added to my gallery I am eager to find a new subject - preferably something with some glorious color!