Canyon Falls

 My favorite painting location of the week was this gorgeous waterfall n Dogwood Canyon, along the water's edge!!  Best. Office. Ever. 

Dogwood Mill

I just about closed down the place with this last sketch at Dogwood Canyon!  On arriving, I thought I'd return to this location to paint.  The waterfalls called me away, so away I went, only to arrive here with 30 minutes to sketch. With pen and ink I drew out my composition, thinking of how timeless it all was.  The vintage feel of this place lends itself well to the medium of pen and ink. I hope to paint this place in oils one day, as well.  On another note, I nearly stepped on a large water snake on my hustle back to my car, in my sandals!  The Plein Air Convention has been SO much fun, and I'm taking good memories and inspiration back home with me!  Painting number 4887 in 4887 days. 

Waterfall along the Trail

Dogwood Canyon is a magical place.  The spring fed river winds through the park, with multiple low water bridges overflowing. As I hiked to the chapel to paint, I found this hidden gem along the trail.  It was enchanting to paint in this solitary place to the music of the waterfall.  I think I need my own personal waterfall at home.  Painting number 4885 in 4885 days. 

Bridge in Autumn

Bridge in Autumn
oil on panel - 6x6

This is one of my entries this year for the Randy Higbee show.  I was just down at Big Cedar - and this scene is from the creek that winds through Dogwood Canyon.  Every turn is a painting, and beautiful bridges are scattered all along the road.  Many of the leaves had already fallen down in the canyon, leaving trees almost bare and lots of leaves at water's edge.  This day was particularly cold, and I was SO thankful for the windbreak of a small wooden storage building just behind me.  It can be quite a challenge to paint when my hands are shivering!

Glow on the Water

Glow on the Water
Oil on panel - 6x6

This one is a loose adaptation of the creek that runs through Dogwood Canyon in southern Missouri.  I may enter this is the Randy Higbee competition - the deadline is coming up quickly!  I have been painting only small ones this week - so that I will have a good variety to choose from.  I love painting by the water - even on these crisp November days.    This was scaled down from a larger one painted during the Big Cedar Paint-Out - and using my artistic license, I omitted a distant bridge. This happened to be one of those days I was bundled up like an eskimo - thank goodness I brought my ski jacket!  I will be packing hand warmers on the next cold plein air day :)

Tumbling Waters

Tumbling Waters
Oil on panel - 14x11

Another beautiful location to set up easel and paints - Dogwood Canyon!  I could paint here every day for a month - and still have 100's of paintings left in my head.  This creek passes through the whole park with beautiful waterfalls and bridges at every turn.  I set up just west of the Chuckwagon Site - where the campfires were burning, to provide a little relief from the cold.  I started this one completely in sepia, and only decided to glaze in some colors towards the end.  The sun was warm, and the scenery inspiring - what more could an artist want?