Mountain Glory

The mountain view from the Admin Building at the YMCA of the Rockies is stunning!  I arrived early to sketch out this scene in ink and watercolor, for the painting to come afterward in oil.  The light turns golden in the evening andc morning, and it's irresistible!  I talked to a few visitors as they checked in, and was happy to share my process as I worked. This is an amazing place with amazing views, and i can't wait to do it all again tomorrow! Painting number 4561 in 4561 days. This one is now showing at the Library at the YMCA of the Rockies until Wednesday!  
 

Toward Aspen Brook

The rich colors of this mountainscape drew me in immediately. Setting up my easel right along the entrance into the park turned out to be a fun spot.  Campers rolled down their windows to talk to me and one even parked and came over to visit!  I hope she commits to using the art supplies she has waiting for her daily, and that she finds that creative childhood voice that has been waiting to be let out!  This is a lovely place with lovely people, and I'm so happy to be a small part of the inspiration that abounds here!  Painting number 4559 in 4559 days, and this one is now showing at the Library in the YMCA of the Rockies. 

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. 

Sprague Lake

Much of our family arrived at Sprague Lake at about the same time. Three of us hiking in, and two families driving, we were greeted with a magical sight.  From the opposite side of the lake, a group of elk stepped into the water and walked all the way across the lake - directly at us!  At the last moment, they shifted left, allowing us to move to the right.  This lake is shallow - and the show was amazing.  I painted this scene after hiking it, and the kids left before us.  Time flies when I'm out painting, and we hustled back to meet the last shuttle out at 7:05.  We waited and waited as night fell in the Rocky Mountain National Park. It finally arrived after a long elk traffic jam in the park, and we got off at Tuxedo Bridge at 7:35.  Walking into the dark, we rushed through the woods and across Glacier Creek, following the hiking trail back to our cabin.  We were very happy to round the stables and find the lights on in the Coleman Cabin.  Nights are very dark in the park!  Day 13 of my Artist Residency abs day 23 of the #stradaeasel challenge.  Painting number 4343 in 4343 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. 

Morning in the Mountains

What an amazing morning to explore the colors in this mountain range.  The hues and values change constantly here - every cloud bank makes a difference.  I find I am really studying the colors I see before laying the paint.  The colors here are so different than Missouri, and the mixing is not automatic from long years of painting a place.  The challenge is invigorating, and the act of painting is the reward.  Love getting to concentrate on these masses.  Day 7 of my Artist Residency, and I have so many paintings in my mind.  If only I had the time to match those lofty ideals!  Painting number 4337 in 4337 days, and day 17 of the #stradaeasel challenge. 

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. 

Looking Toward the Rockies

All visitors to the Rocky Mountain National Park have to enter the park on a timed entry pass - which we got months ago online.  This allows people to enter at a more staggered rate for safer distancing during covid.  Our time today was 9am, and there was a bit of a wait - so I started sketching!  This TWSBI Go is a modest fountain pen with a spring loading system for ink - which works really well, actually!  The barrel is a little large for my small hand, but holds a lot of ink for its shorter size.  I keep it in my smallest sketch bag, and I will need to reload it when I get home - it is almost out of ink!!  I power through since my other pens are in the trunk, and soon I will add the watercolor.  The rangers at check in have been interested each time I've had a painting in my lap!  So fun to visit with them briefly!  I guess it's not every day an artist is painting in line!  Painting number 3154 in 3154 days. 

Big Thompson River towards Hallett Peak

This morning we drove into the Rocky Mountain National Park along Bear Lake Rd, to see where a trail led us the day before.  Mike wanted to check out his childhood camping sites, which was very close to the trail of the previous day.  It was so fun hiking this more pristine and less traveled trail!  No busses, no lines, no parking since we left from our lodge and walked in - and still a few hikers on the trail.  We crossed Glacier Creek and landed here on the Big Thompson River  - a gorgeous place to paint!  Mike hiked on a bit within earshot of me as I painted, to return to work a crossword puzzle until I finished.  A couple of new friends from last night's wedding actually passed me in this remote place - coming back to visit when they saw Mike on the trail!  I see paintings everywhere I look, and I've only been able to paint a few.  I wish I had so much more time here!  I am using my oils today, hiking in with just this pochade and tripod over my shoulder.  I think if I'm to hike miles to my spot, it might be wise to bring a lighter tripod.  This one was Dad's, and it is heavy duty indeed.  Great in a strong wind, but also heavy for a long haul. Next time, I think I'll throw in a second, lighter tripod.  Painting number 3153 in 3153 days. 

Alberta Falls in September

We started this day hiking the Alberta Falls trail.  There were so many perfect places for painting, I could already see the paintings starting in my head!  When the kids were ready to head back, I grabbed my painting gear and headed back in with Mike.  We knew from the first day that lines to get into parking are long, and we didn't want to lose the time going out for lunch.  So, true to my regular form, I didn't worry about eating until my painting was done!  This place is just off the Alberta Falls trail, down an embankment, by the water. I had to situate my easel on the rocky slope while standing on various rocks to keep level. No easy feat in this place!  One has to work for the best views, they don't just drop in your lap!  Mike stood up by the trail and talked to everyone hiking by that wondered what in the world I was doing!  I couldn't hear any of it, with the roar of the water and the pristine scene - I was totally in my painting zone.  The oils are so well suited for this place, I can lay them on thick, using the brush to express the movement of the water.  What an amazing experience!  I could paint here all month and only capture a fraction of the beauty here.  What an amazing painting day in the Rocky Mountain National Park. Best. Office. Ever.  Painting number 3151 in 3151 days. 

Rocky Mountain National Park

What a glorious place this is! With it's outstanding views in every direction - each choice is a stunner! How will I ever be able to leave without capturing it all!!  With several cars ahead of us in line to reenter the Rocky Mountain National Park, I painted a quick paint of the mountains to the right!  As we pulled up, the girls inside were commenting on my painting - so I pulled up and gave them a card to check my future progress!  It's so fun to capture the beauty while waiting in line - one of the few times in life that I wish the line was longer and slower!  Today I used a favorite TWSBI fountain pen to quickly sketch the composition, then I used a travel brush pen (always in my sketch bag) to dip into my halfpan travel watercolor set.  I am using three sets that I combined into two tins from Watercolor Confections, but seeing the colors here, I could have used the Essence collection from them.  It is SO well suited to the local color. Painting number 3150 in 3150 days.