
![]() Today I loaded up the car and drove to the big city to paint with the Plein Air Artists Colorado. The group had secured permission to go onto a private ranch for us to gather and paint. It's a congenial group devoted to painting...outdoors! It was finally a nice enough day, it's not supposed to snow until tonight! Red Rocks Park has been owned by the city of Denver since 1928, but has been a place to visit and admire since the 1870's. It covers 640 acres and is adorned with the beautiful red sandstone cliffs and towers that can be viewed from almost every part of the park. The most famous part of the park is Red Rocks Amphitheatre, a world class concert venue, which has been the epicenter of music concerts, both classic and contemporary, for years. The recently deceased rock promoter, Barry Fey, made the natural amphitheatre famous by making it the Holy Grail of stage appearances for any aspiring, or already famous rock groups in the world. Today, though, it was just a group of peaceful artists capturing the spirit of the landscape. Once again I attacked my Little Gem (only 5"x7") with vim and vigor and only used a palette knife to create my painting du jour. Hope you enjoy it. Looks like I'll be creating inside again tomorrow as Mother Nature plans to coat our land in cold white stuff again! ciao
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![]() On our big escape to a warmer climate this weekend I was in big hopes that the fruit trees would be in full bloom. Palisade is known across the country for being the fruit belt for the state of Colorado. I had wanted to capture the glow of color in the fruit fields. Instead we found that just like where we live, spring was still a bit off. There were a few trees sporting sparse blooms. I took some closeup photos of the delicate blooms of a cherry tree that was slightly ahead of the rest of it's "gang". I all of a sudden became aware of an intense buzzing sound that was all around me. Of course the bees are already hard at work pollinating and collecting sweet nectar to make honey. The two can't exist without the other, just like we need love to make honey in our lives. Bye Bye... I'm book'n out!
![]() I have had the most wanderful day, yes I spelled it wanderful. We explored the Colorado National Monument Rim Rock Road and took in all the magnificent sights. The amazing freestanding rock formations that the park is famous for are truly natural marvels. We took a side road that heads towards Rattlesnake Canyon that is in the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area, definitely a 4 wheel gully washer kind of road! We came upon this lovely hidden arroyo that was overlooked by rocky cliffs. This was the place. Quiet and off the beaten path I spend a few quality hours enjoying the sun's warmth painting my little heart out while Bill and our dog, Jessie, hiked. I turned 61 today and was feeling a tad out of sorts as I figure that I'm heading towards the magical age that when you kick the bucket people will say she had a good long life. Well...I found out this morning that I only have a year to go and then I can get a lifetime pass for this and other beautiful areas for only 10 dollarinis! So, 62 here I come and I'm looking forward to it! Ciao...time to head back to the land of snow and dead things to await the arrival of spring.
![]() Whew...Early this morning we packed the car with the dog, fishing equipment, picnic, assorted odds and ends, and all my plein air painting gear! We look like a modern version of the Beverly Hillbillies even thought it is only for one night. Yes, we headed west to a warmer climate only about 4 hours away. Both my husband and I were having a severe attack of cabin fever and white vista overload. I had heard that the fruit trees in Palisade were coming into bloom and was jonesing for some bright color and green to feast my eyes on...and to paint. It was not to be. They are just starting and will probably come into full color in about 5 days...but any day spent outside painting is a boon! This Little Gem is just a small piece of the Grand Mesa that holds reign over the valley that includes Palisade and Clifton and the amazing fruit belt of Colorado. The area has also become a huge and successful wine area. I'm thinking I might need to make another trip later in the week to try to capture it again. Tomorrow will be another plein air adventure...we are heading into the Colorado National Monument area near Grand Junction. We've never been there but have heard that the Rim Rock Road is phenomenal. Stay tuned...
![]() I'm trying to stretch my abilities during this little adventure of mine and something I've needed to work on is my use of the palette knife. I struggle with it constantly, and although I love using one I have a tendency to leave pieces of paint where they don't belong! Very frustrating. My self imposed challenge today was to use only a palette knife and to not use a brush at all. It was especially challenging on such a small surface, a 5"x7" panel. The scene is entirely imaginary so I thought the name should come from an imaginary source as well. I loved reading the Harry Potter books and the pictures that came to mind...before the movies imprinted on us all. Welcome to my imaginary world and ciao!
"A sherbet lemon is a hard, lemon-flavoured Muggle sweet that is filled with fizzy powder. Albus Dumbledore was particularly fond of these sweets, so much in fact, that he brought some along with him on the night he and Professor McGonagall went to leave infant Harry Potter with the Dursleys in 1981. He offered McGonagall one, but she refused, thinking it an inappropriate time for eating sweets. Dumbledore's liking of the sweet evidently continued, as years later, during Harry's time at Hogwarts, "Sherbet Lemon" was one of the passwords to his office in 1992." quote from http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Sherbet_lemon ![]() I never get tired of gazing across the Blue River Valley upon this beautiful mountain from our home in Silverthorne. It was named Buffalo Mt. because the shape of it's distinctive hump mimics the famous buffalo that roamed the plains of Colorado. Buffalo Mt., rises to 12,777 feet and is part of the Eagles Nest Wilderness area and is the beginning of the southern Gore Range. There are numerous hikings trails that ascend to it's spectacular views of the Ten Mile Range, Gray's Peak and Torries Peak. Fifteen years ago, almost to the day, my husband and I were awakened by the ringing of our cell phone at dawn. A sound that usually scares you to death at that hour! It was my son and his best buddy and partner in crime. They had gotten up before dawn and had hiked to the top of Buffalo Mt. to watch the sun rise on their graduation from high school day! They had cell service and wanted to know if we could see them waving to us from the peak. No...we needed binoculars. What fun that our kids were lucky to grow up in such an amazing place. What fun that we were lucky to have such wonderful kids in our life!
Today's painting is brought to you by our "old" friend of over 25 years, Stu Perlmeter. He has been a regular visitor to our home that he actually helped to dig the foundation for so many years ago! Anon and Adieu.... ![]() During our month long adventure in Mexico last spring we visited this little oasis. Named Xhunaan Ha, (shu-nah-an ha), it is inland off the beaten path between Akumal and Tulum. Referred to as the Sacred Waters of the Riviera Maya the cenotes are formed when the ceiling of an underwater cave collapses. They are all connected by underground freshwater rivers than run thousands of miles up and down the coast of Quintana Roo and the Yucatan Peninsula. The size of this little cenote is deceiving as it is considered part of the largest submerged cave system in Mexico and connects to the National Turtle Preserve and beach, Xcacel. Pronounced Esh-ka-sel...I love the Mayan language and gentle, welcoming people of their culture AND their amazing food! As we floated about in the crystal clear, turquoise water while little fishies nibbled on our toes several groups of divers disappeared into the abyss pictured in the right hand side of the painting...not returning for ages and a few not at all. I'm sure they emerged out of some other connected cenote, but who knows! Not my cup of tea. I don't even like it when the lights go out and I know where I am, much less underground in an endless watery cave system! Till we meet again tomorrow, who knows where it'll be...I'll have to think about it! Ciao.
![]() Flowers have always held special meaning throughout the ages. The Victorians took it to a whole new level and would send secret messages to friends and especially lovers that proper society would not allow. A whole "letter" could be sent within the smallest tussie-mussie, a small flower bouquet. The single red rose still sends a message of passionate love, even in our age of "reason". A pale pink rose symbolizes admiration and friendship. In my world friendship implies the need for 2 or more individuals to enjoy together. Thusly, I felt the need to paint two, large, open, blowsie, light pink roses touching each other to indicate the friendship that time and age bring to us all. Those special friendships that mellow and grow stronger with age...and those newly minted friendships that we acquire and cherish just as much.
I painted this "Little Gem" from a photo I took at the famous rose gardens in Portland, Oregon...the City of Roses. It's day number 40 of my "Little Gems Project". It's been challenging for me to execute a new painting on such a small format, 5x7, every day....and challenging to write my story that accompanies it, but I'm truly enjoying the journey. I hope you are, too. I don't know who you all are that are following as I have no way to "see into" the statistics, but they tell me that between 200-300 of you are visiting everyday. AMAZING! Thank you for coming along on my art adventure! ![]() It's 3:00 in the morning and our intrepid group of wildlife photographers are all up having a cup of coffee and a quick bite to eat before taking off to capture the amazing wildlife of, Namibia, Africa on film. I learned that the best photos are taken during the early morning and late afternoon hours. The light during that time of day creates cast shadows and a moodier atmosphere. Also, during the heat of the day everything finds shade to take a nap in...including us! As we were making our way to the waterhole that we were planning to station ourselves at, for the morning, this magnificent animal was seen ambling along beside us in the early dawn's light. In search of the same water hole, I'm sure, as life in this arid country revolves around finding water, or die. I painted this in honor of EARTH DAY to honor the largest mammal to roam our planet. We must take care of our Mother Earth and the species that habituate it. I fell in love with the sights and sounds of this living moonscape and feel so blessed that I got to spend 5 weeks exploring this amazing corner of our world.
![]() There is an amazing organization here in Summit County called Swan Center Outreach, Animals as Teachers, Healers & Friends.
"Swan Center Outreach provides leadership and self-awareness programs, with rescued horses, that empower and support youth and adults in the achievement of their life goals, while demonstrating the educational, therapeutic and spiritual value, of a loving relationship with animals."... I lifted an excerpt from their web page to help me describe what they do! You can learn more about them @ www.swancenter.org They are hosting a fundraiser at the Elks Club today and this "Little Gem" will be sold during their auction. I haven't decided where I'm going tomorrow...tune in art fans, it will be up for adoption :) |