"Blue Door"

8 x 10

oil on hardboard

One of the most unique and most isolated places in Big Bend is the Hot Springs area, complete with old adobe structures, palm trees, and old stone buildings like this one with the weathered blue door. Just down the path to the right is the Rio Grande and a 115 degree hot spring that is walled off just like a modern day hot tub, a favorite place for hikers and young children.

"Boquillas Canyon" in Big Bend National Park

9 x 12

oil on hardboard

Have just returned from a paint out with the Outdoor Painters Society, all of the 28 attending artists making the long drive to The Big Bend National Park in far southwest Texas. On the first day we traveled over 30 miles into the park to Boquillas Canyon and had this fabulous view of the Rio Grand River separating the US from Mexico. I never dreamed there would be so much action in this remote part  of the world, hikers of course, but the Mexicans on horseback crossing the river about every hour to check on money that might have been left in the little craft areas they had set up on our side of the river. And then there was Victor standing on one of the large boulders on the Mexico side, serenading anyone who came into view in hopes of money being left in his cup on the US side. What an introduction to this part of the border!

"Duo"

 oil in 9 x 12 canvas sketchbook

Have been very remiss in posting lately, not sure why because I have been painting. Thought I would start with these two exercises from Bob Rohm's book "The Painterly Approach". If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it, especially if you are pursuing plein air painting. I have found lots of valuable information here, and practicing his exercises in my sketchbook has been extremely helpful. Here is a close up of the individual paintings.

 Love this hint of fall in the mountains! 

Reminds me of the Spring bluebonnets in Texas!

"Hill Country Sunset"

11 x 14

oil on stretched canvas

This was painted from a plein air study from a trip to the Texas Hill Country just south of Glenrose.