"Low Water Crossing in Palo Duro Canyon"

9 x 12

oil on hardboard

There were several low water crossings on the road in Palo Duro Canyon and this one caught my eye during the paintout with the Outdoor Painters Society last weekend. I set up just off the road where I was soon joined by two other plein air artists, several hikers, dirt bikers, other tourists, a white bearded gentleman from Florida who was in the area to play Santa at a nearby mall, and eventually a flock of wild turkeys. Never know who or what you will run into on a plein air outing!

"Palo Duro Canyon"

9 x 12

oil on hardboard

The Outdoor Painter's Society planned their monthly meeting in Palo Duro Canyon this past weekend. Often referred to as The Grand Canyon of Texas, the state park is south of Amarillo in the Texas Panhandle. It is said that wind and water erosion continues to widen the canyon even today, so I imagine that it is much wider after this weekend's high winds! Fortunately there is a scene worthy of a painting in every direction, so the goal was first to find a spot that had some wind protection. This is my first afternoon's painting where I was able to set up right next to some stables. 

After the six hour drive from Dallas, I knew I only had a small amount of time to paint before the sun started to lower behind these beautiful cliffs, so I used a Anders Zorn's limited palette of cadmium red light, yellow ochre, ivory black, and titanium white, plus ultramarine blue. The beginning of a great weekend with so many talented plein air painters! 

"Brown Lab"

Oil on moleskin gessoed paper

nfs

Finally back to painting after being away from the easel for a number of weeks while we were doing some updating on our house. This is my entry in Sharon Hodges book for our Texas Moleskin Round-Up. Check out the link and see what other artists have painted in these unique moleskins.

Thought I'd include a photo of the new studio/painting area we created. There was an outside atrium that we enclosed for my painting space, originally planned to be a separate room, but as we progressed it seemed better to open up the area to the kitchen. Have great light with the window at the top of the existing brick wall and have also included a light well in the ceiling, a good substitute for a sky light. The armoire stores most of my paints, brushes, etc. The open concept will force me to "stay neat" instead of just closing a door on a painting mess. First painting "done" in the new room and am looking forward to many more!

Artist Critique

Yesterday I received an unexpected email from Tony Moffit with Artist.Blog.Critique. Here is a review of his comments in reviewing my work, please check out this interesting site and discover what he has to say about other artist, listed on his left side bar.

Tony's kind words have left me a little speechless, but flattered. Thank you, Tony, this is just the kind of encouragement one needs to continue growing as an artist in hopes of producing even better work.

On another note, a second great "happening" yesterday was receiving the People's Choice second place award in the Associated Creative Artist show with one of my entries, "Mountain Stream". I have been studio-less lately as we have been doing some updating in our kitchen and adjoining studio area, and the only paint I have seen lately is out of a gallon can! But the end of the dust has almost settled and I'm looking forward to setting up shop soon!