There are many places in the world more remote than Grand Canyon, but sometimes Grand Canyon seems very remote indeed. Normally, I would be posting to my blog almost daily with entertaining and enlightening reports on this painting business, but I am hobbled somewhat by telecommunications issues. Be that as it may, I am here now, happy to report midway through the Tenth Annual Grand Canyon Celebration of Art.
As I write, it is Tuesday. The event started Friday with an evening orientation and canvas-stamping, and painting began Saturday. I went right in, full-throttle, painting four pieces on Saturday and again on Sunday. This, despite the heat. Temperatures have been in the 80s, and if you’re in the sun, you bake. I am glad I had a change of heart about bringing my umbrella; I think I have used it for every painting session. I’ve hoped for clouds, hoped to find a pinon or cedar tall enough to give me shade, but it’s the umbrella that has been a lifesaver. This is my fifth time as an invited artist, and I can’t remember a hotter week.
The organizers requested that some of the artists provide painting demonstrations. I agreed to do one on Monday at 10 a.m. at the far east end of the park, at the Desert View Watch Tower. (This is a historic structure in the form of a faux Native American building--a fantasy, really, since no Native American culture ever built such a thing--designed by architect Mary Colter in the 1930s.) I wanted to be fresh for the demo, so I decided to take a hike rather than paint. I’ve been heading out before dawn each morning, so I did the same on Monday, and hiked from Mather Point to Yaki Point and back. The demo went well, and although I thought about painting on the route back to Grand Canyon Village, which is where I am lodging, I didn’t. Later I went out to the Hermit Road on the west side of the park, which is where I’ve been painting most of the week, along with sessions at Yaki Point.
 |
| My raven overseer |
My companions this week: the ravens. I love to have them tumbling in the air overhead, playing with and talking to one another. I feel a mystical connection with the raven. I’ve never felt this with any other animal. When I stand on the brink of the canyon, I can feel what it would be like to spread my wings and ride the thermals. I see through their eyes.
By the way, my mantra this week is “Color and Contrast.” For color, I’ve added a couple of new pigments to my standard palette. These are quinacridone red and manganese violet, all Gamblin colors. These are perfect, I find, for the shadowed rocks walls. So, my complete palette is as follows: hansa yellow light, hansa yellow deep, naphthol red, quinacridone red, permanent alizarin crimnson, manganese violet, ultramarine blue, cerulean blue hue and phthalo emerald, plus titanium-zinc white. Also a little solvent-free gel. As for contrast, I start each painting with the idea that shadowed areas are to be painted in cool pigments; sunlit areas, in the warm pigments. The fact that I’m starting with color “right from the tube" makes for a very cartoonish start, but then I adjust this in later stages. I’m starting each painting with a brush but doing most of the finish work with a knife. The color stays richer that way.
I’m afraid I haven’t photographed any of my paintings yet. I want to take proper photos of them rather than sharing poorly-lit field shots. I do think my work is good this week. So instead, I will leave you with some photos of some of my locations. By the way, rather than posting regularly to the blog, I am posting regularly to my Instagram feed. Visit www.instagram.com/mchesleyjohnson for the latest.
My next report will most likely be after the event. Wish me luck! The exhibition opens on Saturday night with a ticketed collector’s opening. It opens to the public on Sunday. For full details, visit www.GrandCanyon.org
