My friend, Tony Donovan, is here in Sedona now with his Rubicon. The advantage of having a painting buddy with a Jeep is that we get to go places your father's Oldsmobile - or your average low-slung rental car - can't. Many of the forest roads in Red Rock Country require high-clearance, heavy-duty tires and chutzpah. Jeeps have all that, and lots of chutzpah.
Sometimes students get a treat and get to go, too. Last week, we headed down Vultee Arch Road, which snakes around the backside of Thunder Mountain into some very pretty country. The road is more washed out than it was last year, and the catclaw and mesquite seem to stick out more; the Rubicon now sports some brand-new "Arizona pinstripes." We drove to a little platform near the historic Van Deren cabin and painted the view overlooking a very dry Dry Creek.
It was a good week over all. We had snow at the higher elevations the first day and cool, overcast after that, but the last two days were just spectacular and Sedona at its best. I've put a few photos up for your vicarious pleasure. I should also mention we have a few spots left in this season's Paint Sedona workshops.
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| Somewhere behind Thunder Mountain (sketch), 9x12, oil |
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| Schnebly Hill area (sketch), 9x12, oil |
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| Munds Mountain "fin", showing bounced light (sketch) 12x9, oil |
