Cave Painting

A week ago I hiked around Summit Lake, in Hatcher Pass, determined to paint. The weather was not going to stop me! It wasn't raining so I followed the stream down the hill and started sketching the waterfall. The wind started to pick up and it looked like it might rain. Sure enough a few minutes later drops of rain began to appear on my drawing. I told myself that a few drops were not going to deter me but five minutes later I had to give up as a steady drizzle began. I gathered up all of my painting gear and headed back up the hill to a shallow cave I saw on the way down. I was going to paint my first cave painting... the rain was not going to stop me. There was just enough room in the shallow cave for my easal and me. Conveniently the cave was designed so that there was a ledge where I could put my paints and brushes. Perfect! I could paint in the rain and keep my paint and painting dry. The view wasn't the greatest but I soon found something to paint. As I was sketching, the rain came down heavier and a drip formed on the ledge above and to the right of me about a foot away. I started painting while keeping an eye on the drip which was becoming wider. I kept on painting. Then to my dismay the direction of the rain changed. I painted frantically as the little stream of water, from the lip of the cave, steadily moved closer to my pallete. Water soon started to drip onto my pallete and my oil paints started to change consistancy. I kept on painting but now the stream of water from above was falling directly on to my pallette. I kept on painting as the pools of water on my pallete merged together. I was trying to capture a little essence of what I was seeing before it was too late . Now my paints were submerged in water...time to stop. I had not finished the painting but I did take away something from the experience that I am sure will show up in a future painting. Here are some photos of the waterfall, the view from the cave and my unfinished painting.

Last Light

Last week, just before the sun set behind the mountains, I caught some of the last color in the sky. Hatcher Pass.
Oil on Canvas, 8"x 10".

I was hiking up to Gold Cord Lake today and half way up the hill I was startled by a sound right in front of me. I looked down and a couple of feet away were two Ptarmigans. I had almost stepped on one of them. For some reason they did not fly away but just moved away a couple more feet. I had left my camera in the car so I started sketching them. They did not seem bothered by my presence so I just kept on drawing and drawing... About an hour later I realized I would probably be able to get my camera and they still would be in the same place. So down the mountain I ran to get my camera. On the way back I had to walk really fast because behind me was a large group of people with dogs. I felt sure they would scare the birds away. Fortunately I found the birds again and was able to take photos of them before they were scared away.

Dance of the Clouds

I exhibited this painting earlier this year but was not completely happy with it. I decided to cut it down from 22" x 28" to 20" x 24". I then used some sand paper to smooth out some of the rough spots and give the surface a little more tooth. I then glazed it with a yellow/orange mixture. I simplified the clouds, softened edges and basically repainted most of it to make it more pleasing to my eye. The new one has a much warmer feel to it.

Trees and leaves

This fall I have been captivated by the pattern of yellow and orange leaves against the beautiful grey-violets and grey-greens of the trees. I went for a walk in a "secret" valley near my house. It has a little stream running through it and the way the dead grass lays over the dead tree trunks and the solid carpet of leaves gives the place a haunting feeling especially at dusk. I was enthralled by the mystery and quietness of the place when a flock of chickadees came bustling through the tree tops. The little birds added the perfect counter balance to the stillness of the valley. As their sounds disappeared in the distance the quiet returned with only the slight creaking of trees and the gentle whispering of the leaves.

I made some quick studies of trees on my property concentrating on the anatomy and the individuality of the branches.

Plein Air Paintings

This last month I painted a few plein air paintings. My goal was to capture the basic forms as well as the color of the view. I always seem to focus on the distant mountains. These are small 8"x 10" or 11"x14" paintings.

Sunset at Summit Lake, Hatcher Pass

I knew the light would be fantastic but I had no idea had stupendous it was. I stood on a little hill , looking down at the lake as clouds soared above me and mist poured out of the valley, marched passed and surrounded me. I felt the presence of the divine as I watched the colors change to the full glory of sunset and twilight. Remarkable. A precious gift from nature. This experience will inform many paintings.