Peter and Etta Koch House - Inked

I am using a brand new piece of artisan handmade, hand-dyed paper for this pen and ink drawing. Sketching the historic Peter and Etta Koch home (also know as the Livingston home) at Hot Springs, Texas, is a super fun adventure!  The paper is a little resistant, and when the ink gets wet it spreads out and weakens in strength more than usual.  So, I am going over my lines multiple times and even pulling out my India ink for those darkest darks.  Each package of hand tied paper comes with a photo of the artist and a printed memo about them.  It's interesting to read their story and I like supporting another artist.  I like the lighter color of this paper compared to my others. I wonder how it will accept watercolor?  I'll have to try that another day!  Painting number 5118 in 5118 days. 

Casa Grande Sketch

From the top of the Window Trail in Big Bend National Park, I sketched this out in pen and ink while watching the little ones.  I decided to add color as the golden hour approached, and left the upper corner open for tales of the day. Journaling through a trip in a travel journal is great fun, and a good way to work out future paintings to come. This area is full of paintings - if only I could get to them all!  Painting number 5102 in 5102 days. 

Upper Hot Springs Trail

From the very top of the Upper Hot Springs Trail, I find my way to the edge of the cliff for this spectacular view of the landscape below.  Prominent is the Rio Grande flanked by the Chihuahuan Desert. Mexico is on the left and Texas is on the right, divided by shadow water easily crossed.  In fact, Mexicans cross daily on horseback to sell tamales and wares from Boquillas. They seem to pop over as soon as the Border Patrol drives away.  After the sketch, I reached for my oils to paint this is a slightly different composition. What an amazing perch from which to paint!  Painting number 5101 in 5101 days. 

Santa Elena Canyon

 

Sketching Santa Elena Canyon in my travel journal while in Big Bend!  What an amazing place to capture in ink and watercolor.  The trail along the canyon climbs to this perch before hugging the wall and descending to the water quite a ways in.  Wild horses walked the bank before crossing the water, coming very close.  They are quite tame and walked towards me at the sound of my keys jingling. This is bear and cougar country, so I hook my keys on a belt loop when I'm hiking and painting.  I love putting these places into my travel journal. I've left room to write about the day's adventure on the left, and I'll fill that in when I get the chance.  Sketch first, write later is my Journaling motto.  Painting number 5099 in 5099 days. 

Lone Peak

This small mountain is such an odd collection of rocks, pushed up from the earth at an angle.  It caught my attention immediately, though it wasn't until a couple days later that I finally got to paint it.  My som-in-law-s mom remembers scrambling up that mountain with her siblings as the adults dined inside the lodge restaurant. It is lovely up here and I could literally paint in any direction in this basin, and paint a different mountain.  Though it's my first time to visit and paint here, I don't think it will be my last.  This place is magical.  Painting number 5098 in 5098 days. 

Boquillas Canyon

Boquillas Canyon was more beautiful than I'd hoped, and thrilling to paint!  I hiked in with the family and my gear, and set up here as soon as I set eyes on this scene.  My family hiked on and there were only 3 other's on the trail as I worked. Sensing the remoteness and a wish that I had packed what was currently with my husband, I quickened my pace.  The beauty though enthralling, I couldn't shake the feeling of being vulnerable oot there.  Minutes later, and authentic Mexican in horseback walked up behind me, asking if I'd like to buy tamales, empinadas or sopapillas. His two dogs flanked him as his very long knife hanging in a handmade leather case caught my attention. He asked if there were more people in the canyon, and of course I mentioned my family "just over there" and others who just went by.  He stood too close behind me, didn't talk enough, and I was packing up.  He asked if I was done, and I said yes, and that he'd make a great painting - so I took his photo, hoping it wouldn't be needed for evidence.  I walked quickly on and didn't breathe a sigh of relief until I met back up with my party.  As we left the canyon, we did but tamales and sopapillas from him, as he lurked behind some bushes with his horse.  He had crossed over from Boquilla with a friend who was also seeking goods from the little town. One can easily wade through the Rio Grande here, and they watch for the border patrol with their binoculars to cross. I could have painted 3 different paintings here I'd there were more people on the trail.  This one was truly a quick paint and  painting number 5097 in 5097 days. 

Casa Grande in the Chisos Mountains

 

Casa Grande is such a prominent feature in the Chisos Mountain Basin, it simply BEGGED to be painted!  I first sketched this in pen and ink in my aged travel journal, then in ink and watercolor in a different journal and orientation. When I approached it with oil, this mountain felt like an old friend.  I'm really focusing on the glorious mountains - and each quick paint feels more natural. So much natural beauty, so little painting time...... This is painting number 5095 in 5095 days. 

Looking into Mexico

 

As we were hiking this trail, I just HAD to stop and paint here!  I'm standing in Texas and facing Mexico.  This is the Santa Eleno Canyon trailhead on the Rio Grande,  and it is absolutely breathtaking!  I need many more days to paint all is this rugged beauty!  Painting number 5094 in 5094 days. 

Santa Elena Trail Head

 

What an amazing day to paint in Santa Elana Canyon! The left side is Mexico and the right is Texas!!  I have never been here before today - and what a treat it was!  We hiked the trail along the canyon with Michaela, Cooper, Casper and Kirby, and i headed back early to paint here while the kids threw rocks into the water.  I'm painting as fast as I can in between family activities, to make the most of our time in this park!  Painting number 5097 in 5097 days. 

The Window Trail

My very first time to visit this part of Texas has me sketching near the visitor center at the Big Bend National Park, as we watch Kirby and Casper on the Window small loop trail.  Michaela and Cooper are in the longer trail as the little ones explore every rock and road runner!  Keeping them close is no small feat, so my sketch is brief in pen and ink.  I'll come back in with the adventures of this day - and they were many!  I would not have imagined it would be in the 90s when it's only in the 20s at home!  I do love going south in February!  Painting number 5095 in 5095 days.