Morning Trip to Tumacaccori National Park

Last Thursday I decided to take off on my own to do some painting.  I choose the park site because  it is a beautiful place and it is perfectly safe for my solo painting expedition.  I arrived bright and early to find I was too early, an hour to kill.  Headed up the road a bit to Tubac where I looked around to see if painting there might make more sense.  No scene caught my attention so after a few pictures I returned to the mission.  I worked on the painting till late morning then had to pack up and head home to get ready for a meeting by 1:00.  I'll finish the painting in the studio this week.  Fun day and look forward to the next painting trip.

Morning on the Mission

Bell Gallery Flowers

This is my favorite plein aire work so far.   I have done some additional work on the painting in the studio .  I may brighten the flowers a bit more to show the light on them but other than that I am probably going to quit on this one.  I have accomplished my goal of completing a work in a couple hours outdoors and capturing the light on the subject.  

Bell Gallery Flowers
Sold

Sonoran Desert Museum Paint Out with Tucson Pastel Society

Both paintings shown here were done in early October 2011 at the Sonoran Desert Museum.  The Tucson Pastel Society and the Tucson Plein Aire Painters were invited by the Art Institute Director, Susan Fisher to participate in the Wings over the Desert event by painting on the grounds.  I originally planned to attend one day but decided after day one to return and paint on day two.  The weather was a challenge as it was unseasonably warm at 98+ degrees both days.  Working quickly and keeping it simple was key as the day heated up.  

Desert Museum Pathway 

View from the Cactus Garden

Monument Valley

Amado Territory Paint Out

Photo

View from the Inn
Plein Air painting can be a real challenge as you have a panoramic view of the area and you only have 9" x 12" to capture an image.  In this painting I tried capturing the light on the mountain and the grasses in the foreground.  I am not in love with this result but appreciate that I learned from doing it.  On the positive side I completed it all while outdoors in one morning.  

Navaho Sheep

Long Valley Farm

Both the pastels shown here were done from photos in the Studio.  The sheep were fun since I had not tried animals before.  The Farm painting was inspired by one Colleen did and was hanging in the Bingham Gallery in Mt. Carmel.  You can see her fabulous painting at http://www.colleenhowe.blogspot.com/.

Creek in Utah

This was the first painting we worked on with Colleen Howe.  The entire class (9 artists) worked on the same view.  We painted at this location 2 mornings.  We were scattered along a dirt road that led across the stream pictured.  The farmer who owned the adjoining property came through both mornings, one day in his truck and the next with his truck and large trailer.  He was patient while we all moved our easels and equipment.  One of the many adventures of Plein Air painting.

Plein Aire Steam and Bank