Wild Turkeys Inked

 

How often do I get to sketch wild turkeys in my sketchbook?!! These sweet birds make their daily journey down and up the mountain, walking right beside the cabin.  These were quite young, not nearly as filled out as the big ones. They are very tame here, almost as if they have no predators. I bet I won't see them on the banks of Lake Erie! Painting number 4573 in 4573 days. 

Overlook Chapel View

 

What a peaceful and serene view to sketch from near the Overlook Chapel!  This is the kind of view one could look at forever, and never tire of.  I chose this vintage journal for my pen and ink sketch walk today.  Longing for that timeless feel, this page could have been drawn 100 years ago.  These mountains are timeless, as the many souls who have stood in this place taking in the beauty. Perhaps they sketched here, or shared a prayer of gratitude, as I do this day.  There are so many priceless things in this life, and this moment is one of them. Painting number 4569 in 4569 days. 

Bible Point Sketched

On this morning, I started on a sketch walk on part of the Y-360 trail that I had not yet hiked.  This is my first sketch on the back side of Bible Point, on my way to the Overlook Chapel.  There is a cross and a mailbox visible at the top of those rocks, where one can leave prayer requests and sign a book.  The mountain view is stunning from that peak, truly a view that inspires reflection and gratitude.  This sketch is painting number 4566 in 4566 days. 

Dandelion!

Day 2 - Artist Residency! This is my first Nature Art Journal workshop demo at the YMCA of the Rockies, and this dandelion next to the tables made the perfect subject for line, color and value instruction.  Bonus - Mr. Bee joined for the sketch, and now he's been immortalized on paper!  It was fun to share drawing instruction with an absolute newbie in the group, too.  She's got skills she didn't know she had, and has now started down the path of Art journaling!  Everyone was so nice, and I got some GREAT bear tips from the locals! Painting number 4547 in 4547 days. 

Turkey Trot

Right on cue, the wild turkeys started their single file march up Emerald Mountain as we arrived at our cabin near sunset. These turkeys march down in the mornings to the stable, and up at night to roost. I thought the late comer at the end might just jump up on the porch as he eyed me curiously!  First sketch in my travel journal in Estes Park! I'm the Artist in Residence for the next three weeks!  Come see me if you're in the area!  Painting number 4545 in 4545 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. 

Old Wind River Lodge

I loved sketching the old Wind River Lodge for my Sketching in Ink class this week!  I really enjoy sharing my techniques with students of all ages - and it is so rewarding to see them explore a medium that I love!  This Artist Residency has been so much fun - I'm sad this is the last day.  I will carry all I've learned here during my residency back to Missouri, to share with others. It would be fun to hang my remaining Colorado work at a local gallery, and talk about my experience here in Estes Park.  Day 24 of the #stradaeasel challenge, and painting number 4344 in 4344 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. 

Sunrise Over the Mountain

Each morning, I rise before dawn to check the sky for clouds that may set up a wonderful sunrise. The last two days have been clear as a bell, but today had a glorious beginning.  I started with my darks before that light really popped, so I had my composition in completely.  As the sun hit those clouds, color spread throughout the sky, and I painted quickly!  Knowing this light is fleeting, ilayed in every color important to my painting, then worked to cover all of my panel. I love getting to study the color of the sunrise in such a place as this!  Day 11 is my Artist Residency, day 21 of the #stradaeasel challenge and painting number 4341 in 4341 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 Light on the Pines

This is day 8 of my Artist Residency, and it is flying by! Four of my children (with their families) have arrived in the last 3 days, so family activities abound!  Dawn is my first painting window - as most sleep later than I do. After a quick one of the morning light on the mountains, I still had time to explore the colors in these pines. Their bark is brilliant with orange and red in the morning light!  Studying those subtle shifts is a pleasure on this gorgeous mountain day! Painting number 4338 in 4338 days, and day 18 of the #stradaeasel challenge. 

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. 

Colorado Sunrise

Sunrise is magnificent in Estes Park!!  Day 6 of my Artist Residency and I'm exploring why Colorado is the COLORFUL state!!  After a late night waiting for our youngest son to arrive in town, I planned to sleep in a little.  The early dawn light woke me, and the outrageous red orange in the clouds had me popping out of bed and grabbing my paints!  Sunrise waits on no one, so I threw on clothes, a heavy jacket and my winter coat, turning on the teapot for my return.  I started first with the color notes, wanting to mark them accurately, then the darks and highlights.  One must work fast with big brushes and deliberate brushwork, to match the movement of the clouds.  What a glorious morning, even at 37 degrees!   Day 16 of the #stradaeasel painting challenge, and painting number 4336 in 4336 days. 

Dorsey Lake

 

Day 5 of my Artist Residency in the Rockies - and the weather changes quickly here!  The beautiful cerulean skies of an hour earlier turned to rain in a hurry!  I set up quickly to paint this, with only a couple of glances through my "view finder" to map out my composition.  As the weather changed, I began to rush through my process.  Now that I am posting this, I realize that I didn't follow through with my original vision - and didn't really finish the water as intended.  This is rare for me, and I will now have to revisit this painting to complete.  It's all about the process, and this was a lovely, peaceful afternoon at the edge of Dorsey Lake.  LOVE exploring this place with paint!  Day 15 of the #stradaeasel painting challenge, and painting number 4335 in 4335 days. 

Rocky Mountain View

Day 4 of my Artist Residency in the Rockies - and this place gets more inspiring each day! I've visited with so many lovely people, while sharing my passion for painting. I took a little longer to complete this painting than normal, which happens sometimes when I'm visiting so much.  I love getting to study those colors in the mountains, something I never get the chance to do in Missouri. I'm hoping to excel at those ranges before I leave here, lol! It rained shortly after this - and a rainbow landed in this scene, just right of the largest mountain! I don't think I've ever seen that before!  Blessings surely abound in this place, and I'm so happy I'm here for it!  Painting number 4334 in 4334 days and day 14 of the #stradaeasel challenge.

Ponderosa Pines

The landscape surrounding our cabin in the woods is full of ponderosa pines - which are gorgeous!  So as my husband and mom went out for breakfast, I set up to take advantage of the view.  Sketching them first with paint to get their forms, I then quickly added the light and shadow before it all changed.  That rich golden color only lasts for a little while.  It is such a treat to REALLY study the colors and forms with paint, trying to do justice to the beauty around me. I LOVED exploring the rich colors of these ponderosa pines in the early morning light, and I'm SO happy this painting sold to someone I met at Antioch Park in Merriam, KS a couple of weeks ago - who happened to be here at the YMCA of the Rockies today! It is truly a small world!  Day 3 of my Artist Residency and day 13 of the #stradaeasel challenge! Painting number 4333 in 4333 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. 

Huzzah River Autumn

 The Huzzah River is a favorite place to paint when down in Steelville, Missouri.  Known for it's rafting, the banks of this river are fabulous to paint from. On this day, I stayed close enough to the large bridge to duck for cover of the rain started.  It wasn't rain that poured down from the bridge, but road crews cleaning and rinsing the bridge!  That was fun to dodge all the dirty water!  Lol!  Just another plein air adventure!  Painting number 2903 in 2903 days.  This painting is currently available at Gallery Zeke in Steelville.

401 Main in Autumn

These misty days make the perfect backdrop for those autumn colors - and I am making the most of it!  Painting from the porch of the house next door, I was happy to have shelter when a sudden downpour swept in to wash the landscape before me!  I really enjoyed the luxury of time, no deadlines, just my paints, the scene, and focused study of how the colors relate to each other, stroke by stroke.  I can already imagine just what regular focused study could do for my work.  Painting number 2844 in 2844 days. 

Evan's House in Autumn

Oh, this gorgeous scene beckoned to me this morning!  All those fallen leaves invited me out to paint!  This landscape is right outside my cottage - so this was certainly a cushy place to paint in the rain!  Shelter and hot tea at my side, this was a fabulous painting day!  I am really trying to study the color relationships during these autumn paints!  These colors last such a short time - I hope to make the most of it!  Painting number 2843 in 2843 days.