Capturing the Capitol (Reef, that is...)

"In the Distance, A Castle Looms..."  14 x 20, watercolor. SOLD.

I ended May and started June in the best possible way: painting on location at Capitol Reef National Park, surrounded by beauty and grandeur and magnificence at every turn. Painting there is such a powerful experience, and sharing the magic with lovely artist friends just adds whipped cream and a cherry to the already-decadent dessert. This time it was especially beneficial, as it pulled me out of a little bit of a funk and motivated me to keep painting, and keep painting, and keep painting.... I didn't want to stop! I completed six paintings in the two-and-a-half days I was there. 

1. "Storm Clouds Over Torrey," 5.5 x 10.5
I painted this on my first evening there, as soon as I checked into my room and put down my bags I was out looking for locations. This is at the end of a dead end road near the center of Torrey. (SOLD)

2. "Chimney Rock Silhouette," 12 x 16
I painted this on the one shady spot on the trail at Chimney Rock. I loved the way it was all in shadow, with the light just grazing the edges. I had two delightful painting buddies: Judy Martin and Gene Klatt. We had a great time, laughing about the snake in the bathroom (misidentified as a Copperhead Rattler, and the wind blowing my easel and all of my paints over!

3. "Parched Cliffs and Shade Trees," 14 x 20
I had packed a lunch so when the others took a lunch break, I drove farther into the park, hoping to find some shady spot to paint. I was not disappointed. Fruita provided refreshingly green trees, a flowing river, and a backdrop of rugged cliffs. Plus rich deep shadows cast across the lawn. It felt 20 degrees cooler her. Thank you to all the pioneers who created this little desert oasis!

4. (TOP): I couldn't find our group for the night-painting activity, so I painted by myself, just off the main road, at Castle Rock. I knew the title before I even created the painting. "In the Distance A Castle Looms..." won first place in the large format plain air competition, and sold within minutes of opening the auction. Totally worth swatting at mosquitoes at dusk!

5. I had scoped out this location the day before, so I drove straight there on Friday morning. I was in love with the strong angles and jagged shapes of this "Ledge Overlooking the Goosenecks."  I decided something more abstract might be the best way to capture this spot. I worked first with watersoluble graphite, then a spray bottle to decompose the drawing a little, and finally went back in with flat brushes and strong color. The wind was fierce, so I painted this, after the initial drawing, where I thought it might blow me over the edge) out of the back of my car.

6. "Sisters on the Banks of the Fremont," 8x8
Our final afternoon I was again searching for shade and thought surely the Fremont River Trail would offer a cooler spot. Imagine my delight when I stumbled upon these three sisters playing together on the riverbank, right next to a giant shade tree. I sketched their gestures one at a time as rapidly as I could, then added the landscape around them. Best of all, they ran back to tell their parents there was an artist sketching them, and the whole family came out to admire the finished painting. (I hope that's who bought this one at the auction Saturday night!) SOLD