Tuxedo Park View

It is my pleasure to be the Artist in Residence to capture the beauty of Glacier Creek in paint! This morning Michaela and I hiked down to the creek, as we so often do, with the grandsons.  Casper and Kirby LOVE throwing rocks into the rushing water. I have seen families gathering up river a bit, so Casper and I explored the trail to find a park at water's edge. Tuxedo Park was lovely, with still water for the kids and picnic tables, too.  After much play, I was sketching this scene as the others hiked back for lunch.  A lovely family joined me, and the children gathered around to see what I was doing.  I shared my methods as they asked questions, and it was SO sweet.  I hope I've inspired them to take their sketch supplies outside.  They may be our next plein air artists! This painting is now available at the Library in the YMCA of the Rockies. Painting number 4558 in 4558 days. 

Bridge to the Rocky Mountain National Park

This is my favorite bridge entry into the Rocky Mountain National Park from the YMCA property.  The wooden log bridge is iconic, as is the rushing water of Glacier Creek.  We've hiked the trail multiple times, normally between the two water crossings.  But now I'm wondering if I can reach the waterfall that I can see from Bible Point, by following this trail to the west. Maybe I'll check out that trail in the morning!  Painting number 4556 in 4556 days.  This one is now showing at the Library in the YMCA of the Rockies! 

Bridge at Glacier Creek

We started this day with a hike to the top of Emerald Mountain trail.  The guys headed out to play disc golf and I headed to the creek. I painted near here three years ago, but the landscape has changed a little.  The water is twice as high, and a second boulder is somehow missing?  Maybe it is underwater now, but Mike had rested on it when we were surrounded by an entire herd of elk.  The rushing water is mesmerizing as I paint, and i find myself looking toward the bank to be sure no wild animals are near.  How very fortunate I am to paint the beauty of a place like this.  Painting number 4553 in 4553 days, and will be showing at the Library at the YMCA of the Rockies fire the next 2 weeks. 

Glacier Creek

 

After joining Story Time at the library and making bookmarks with the children, I packed up to head to the park. Glacier Creek is gorgeous along Ross Richter's Trail, leading to the Rocky Mountain National Park!  I lose track of time painting next to it's rushing water.  The roar is so loud that I find myself looking up periodically to check for wild animals, because I would never hear them coming. During this residency, I am exploring different papers and methods in creating my illustrated travel journals.  This book is relatively new, 8x6, with soft cotton paper. It absorbs the water and paint quickly, and takes a bit more care to get the results I want. The leather cover is beautiful, and the paper is smoother than I normally choose. As I worked, three park rangers walked down the opposite embankment, obviously looking for something.  It is the very first time I've seen rangers in such a place while painting, and it makes me wonder what was up.  This would be a lovely place to hike in with oils, as well!  Painting number 4549 in 4549 days. 

Glacier Creek Afternoon

This place had been calling me for days! I found this location on my very first trip into the Rocky Mountain National Park, but decided to paint from a different boulder at Glacier Creek's edge.  After a full morning, I only had an hour to knock this one out before an Artist Pop-up at the Maude Jellison Library, where I painted aspens en plein air and field questions about my process.  Painting as fast as I could, I took some short cuts - like painting in masses with central colors and pulling the water colors across with my brush in the manner in which they flowed. My process is very intuitive, picking up paint with the brush and dropping it where I see it, without thinking about the components of the painting.  I become one with the spot, and I let it flow out through my brush.  Painting here is restorative,  like a balm to my soul. I love the very awe of this landscape, the Rockies are truly special, and the YMCA of the Rockies in particular.  The experience truly is about the mind, body and spirit here. Painting number 4345 in 4345 days. 

Glacier Creek

With only an hour to paint before my Sketching in Ink class, I rushed down the Ross Richter hiking trail to Glacier Creek.  This waterfall had been calling for days - and finally I had the chance to paint it. Mike and Michael played Frisbee up the trail while I worked.  It's good to have someone watching your back when you're painting near such loud water. This place is so inspiring, and a wonderful place to paint. This is day 10 of my Artist Residency at the YMCA of the Rockies, and day 20 of the #stradaeasel challenge. Painting number 4340 4340 days. 

Falls Near Tuxedo Bridge

 

What an amazing plein air experience this was today!  It was a lovely mid-day paint on Glacier Creek, with Mike joining me in the Rocky Mountain National Park.  The falls are so loud, I can't hear anything behind me, and would not have set up here alone.  Off the beaten path and straddling large boulders, I studied the colors in this Colorado landscape. Mike looked past me and quickly realized we weren't alone.  I turned around and a young elk was 10 feet from me, the mother close behind, and a whole herd surrounding us, working their way to the water! There was no place to go but into the water, so we looked at them, and hoped they'd move to our right, which was an easier path to the water.  After a little rustling around, they did.  And the elk just kept coming!  They filled all of the wooded land right down to the creek. They took their time as the large male stood watch at the back side of them.  I could totally jump in the water - but I couldn't let my pochade, easel and wet painting go in!  So thankful they eventually left the area, and I could finish it up.  Day 2 of my Artist Residency and day 12 of the #stradaeasel painting challenge.  Painting number 4332 in 4332 days.