Zion National Park Plein Air Event - Day 6

We had rain in the night!  Which meant beautiful clouds and peek-a-boo sunshine in the morning.  After dropping off my replacement paintings, I went off to Court of the Patriarchs.  Not to paint, but to hike.  I had my eye all week on a trail that seemed to lead into the furthermost reaches of the Court's canyon.  Snow pellets were spitting down as I hiked in.  I ran across two herds of turkey, none of which seemed to mind that I was a bipedal predator on the prowl.  The trail was easy-going most of the way, but got much steeper as I approached the back wall.  The views from the trail were just amazing.  The clouds were, in my mind, too fickle for painting, but perfect for photography.

Here's a Thomas Moran moment

Speaking of photography, the shutterbugs were legion.  A combination of romantic, beclouded vistas and it being the weekend brought them out in droves.  Not to belittle photographers, but why do they group together like this to take the same shot?  Painters seem to be a little more independent.   I'll give them the benefit of a doubt and assume it was a photography workshop.

Afterward, I headed back to the Nature Center to hang out.  I met some really nice people, but I also got to participate in an impromptu paint-around.  Las Vegas painter Kathleen Strukoff decided to fill her time by setting up an easel at the window and painting.  When she took a break, I suggested we turn it into a paint-around, and so I got to do the next stint.  Several other artists pitched in, too.  The photo below shows Kathleen painting; the bat, which must be either a vampire bat or maybe a blowup of a Mexican freetail, is actually a decal on the window.  (It is a nature center, after all!)  It didn't make it into the painting.  By the way, we gave the painting to the event's organizer, Anne Weiler-Brown, as a parting gift.

By mid-afternoon, I was getting pretty beat, so I left the park to top off my gas tank for the trip home and to check out a few galleries in Springdale.  Then I continued my pre-packing.  After a stop at the Nature Center to see how things were going, I took a sunset walk along the Pa'rus trail.  I was feeling a little wistful, as this is probably my last visit to Zion until after the snowy season ends.    And it does seem to be upon us!  They're predicting some light snow - maybe an inch - along my route home.

That evening, we had the final lecture of the event.  It was on collecting art.  The speaker, Kevin Barry, is a gallery owner from Los Angeles who works mostly with corporate clients.  His primary advice is sound - buy what you like.

This morning I'm off to the Nature Center again.  The show's last run is from 9 until noon.  After that, I'll head home, hoping to get out of the mountains before this little storm gets to percolating.

Zion National Park Plein Air Event - Day 5

A reader asked, Why don't you do pastels at the plein air events?  This is a good question, since I'm probably more noted for pastel than oil.  I love pastel, and I paint in pastel about half the time.  But because pastels are more difficult to frame, I haven't painted in that medium for any of these events.  With an oil painting, I can simply stick it in a frame and put in points to secure it.  With pastel, there is always glass to worry about, even if one frames without a mat.   Of course, one might argue that oil paint is wet and easily damaged by an incautious hand.  I may paint in pastel at my next event - stay tuned!

But for this one, of course, I'm still painting in oil.  I dropped off my five paintings yesterday morning and actually got to hang them myself.  This is a pleasure, because we painters always worry when someone else is responsible for hanging.  Afterward, I headed over to the Zion Lodge to get a parking space for the Quick Draw.  But I had a couple of hours, so I took a nice hike along the Virgin River, playing tourist.

I've been thinking lately on the differences and similarities between plein air painters and your average tourist.  As a tourist, I take many photographs and try to cover a lot of ground.  As a painter, though, I take few, if any photos, and I'm tempted to paint at the same spot repeatedly.   It's more about quality, not quantity.  It's more about the deepness of seeing.  In many ways, it's a richer experience.

We had beautiful weather for the Quick Draw on the lodge lawn.  The wind held off until 12:01, one minute into the painting session, and then it became very gusty.  It was comical to see little balled-up paper towels from the oil painters flying across the lawn like tumbleweeds.  The wind stopped about 90 minutes later, just as the Quick Draw ended.  We then had 15 minutes to get our work framed and to the auction block.  I also picked up my paper towels.

After the auction, we had some free time before the Buyer's Preview Gala at 7 p.m.  Although a few painters went off to paint, most went off to rest.  I, however, went grocery-shopping to get some lunch.  (The restaurant at the Lodge was inconveniently closed before the Quick Draw and after the auction.)  I also spent some time cleaning brushes and pre-packing for my trip home on Sunday.

The Gala at the Nature Center was packed with buyers and artists.  I wish I'd had about three hours all my myself there, because I really wanted to spend some time looking at all the fine work.  We had a great sales staff - each festooned with a blue sash to identify themselves - and it was nice to talk with a lot of people about my work.  I think I gave away more business cards than at any of the other events.

This morning, it's time to frame up some backup paintings and to take them at 9 to the Nature Center.  Today's public sale runs from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.  Artists aren't required to be at the sale - it is a very long day! - but being there always helps a sale.  So, I'll be there as much as possible.   It's a good time to talk with me about my paintings, workshops and books.  Please stop by!  I'll give you a business card with a nice picture on it, and you can also buy a nice oil painting.

Zion National Park Plein Air Event - Day 4

Thursday was another crisp start, though not as cold.  I felt like a hike to get the blood moving, so I parked at Zion Lodge and hiked to one of the Emerald Pools.  There are three of them, and I went to the lower pool (above.)  The pool is filled by a falls from a cliff high overhead the trail, and as I wanted to stay dry - and thus warm - I didn't venture past the falls.  Admittedly, the falls didn't have much water at this time of year, but I think they would be very impressive in the spring.  This side canyon had a lot of good color in it, especially the red of the oaks, which glowed in the canyon's shade.

Once again, I headed back to Court of the Patriarchs.  This time, I made a point of hiking out into the sun to stay warm, where I did a 9x12 and a quick 5x7.  The 5x7 was more of an abstract set of color-notes of cliff shadows than a full-fledged painting.  Afterward, I headed down the canyon to a pull-off near the start of the canyon road.   It's where I saw Josh Been and Bill Cramer the first day, and it seemed worth exploring.  It was overwhelming!  The view from the edge of the river encompasses enough material for dozens of paintings.  Below is a shot of the location.  Dwarfed by this majestic view is painter Dennis Farris of Texas, who recently was the artist-in-residence in the AIR program at Zion.

But I didn't paint the view.  For my last unscheduled painting of the week, I wanted something more intimate and, to my majesty-weary eyes, less tiring.  I found a large sandstone boulder surrounded by chamisa.  I know, it doesn't sound like much, but the warm, reflected lights in the boulder's shadow really caught my eye.

In the afternoon I had to select five paintings to prepare for the show today (Friday.)  It was a tough choice, as I have several good ones beyond the five.   Below are the ones that'll be in the Friday night Buyer's Preview Gala.   I'm sure they'll look better in person - they always do - so make sure you come to the Nature Center to see them firsthand!

Autumn's Turn, 9x12, oil

Beneath the Great White Throne, 9x12, oil

Little Gem, 12x9, oil

Patriarch, 16x12, oil

River Dance, 9x12, oil

In the evening, we had the second and final Meet the Artists event, held at The Spotted Dog Cafe.  I enjoyed dinner with Royden Card and his wife, and it was also good to see new work by all the artists.   Thanks to owner Rebecca McKown for sponsoring our dinner and a space to show our work.

So, what's left as we draw toward the end?  Today is the noontime Quick Draw event, held at the Zion Lodge, followed immediately by an auction.  (We have only 90 minutes to start and complete a piece!)  Tonight is the Gala, which I've already mentioned.  On Saturday, there's is the public sale at the Nature Center from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., followed by a lecture at 7:30 on "Creating and Sustaining an Art Collection" at the Lodge.  Sunday we have the final sale from 9 to noon.

Zion National Park Plein Air Event - Day 3

Early Morning Photographer

Yesterday dawned crisp and cold.  It was 30 degrees by the time I got to Court of the Patriarchs, which has become my all-time favorite morning spot.  I like it for morning because it's one of the first places that gets sun at 8 a.m.  But of course, somehow I always end up painting in the shade.  I wore my parka, corduroy pants and glomitts this time.  And also two hats.  My sun hat shades my eyes and my wool hat keeps my head warm.

The other day I had turkey; this time I had mule deer passing by.  Some of the bucks wore the largest racks I've ever seen.  That's another reason I like Court of the Patriarchs - here, very few people venture over the bridge that spans the Virgin River, and often it's just me and the wildlife.  If people want to find me, though, it's not hard.  There's only one obvious trail, and I'm on it.  Plus, I have a big sign in my car that says ARTIST (in all caps) and the Zion National Park Foundation, the event organizer, has stuck a sign in the parking lot that tells the public artists might be painting nearby.  I'll probably be there again today, so stop by!  You might see a turkey.

I did two paintings at the Court.  The second was a beautiful little pool, and it was nice to paint something more intimate.  I had to put away my "majestic awe" brush and pull out the "small gem" one.

Later, I headed up to Big Bend.  I'd scoped it out the day before, and I loved the way the light filled this little horseshoe bend and bounced into the shadows.  I also like the way the Great White Throne, which is featured on the event literature, loomed over the shadows.  For this one, I actually pulled out my collapsible camp chair - my feet were tired - which allowed me to really get into the "zone."

I liked this last piece so much I chose to bring it to the "Meet the Artists" event last night.  All the artists' paintings were nicely displayed on tabletop easels at Parallel 88, a fine dining restaurant in Springdale.   We had wine and tapas, courtesy of executive chef and owner Jeff Crosland.  A number of non-artists stopped by to chat and view the work.

Even though I was beat, I drove up to the Zion Lodge afterward for a lecture.  There's an educational aspect to the event, and lectures, demonstrations and workshops are offered.  (All but the workshops are free.)  I missed the lecture the night before, but I enjoyed this one.  Deborah Reeder, curator for the St George Art Museum, spoke about Thomas Moran's travels to the National Parks and his influence on  the creation of  the National Park system.  I didn't know Moran travelled exactly once to Zion and spent only five days here.  But in that time, he made many, many sketches.  I also learned that his Zion sketchbook is, curiously, not at Zion but at Yellowstone.  And also, the event logo uses one of his sketches of the Great White Throne, superimposed over a photograph.  It shows how accurate his drawing was.

Today is another painting day, and this afternoon I'll need to start framing work.  Artists need to deliver their five best pieces tomorrow morning to the Nature Center.

Tonight (Thursday) is the second "Meet the Artists" event.  Artists will be arriving after 5 at the Spotted Dog Cafe.  Tomorrow (Friday) is the Quick Draw, starting promptly at noon.  Artists have exactly 90 minutes to start and complete a painting, and then 15 minutes to get it - framed - to the auction block.  Full details on all of this are at www.zionpark.org.  I hope to see you there!

Zion National Park Plein Air Event - Day 2

As I travel Zion National Park this week, I'm mindful of a trend that I began to note while painting the Grand Canyon.  There's a marked age difference between plein air painters and photographers.  Plein air painting seems to be a young person's sport; photography, a pastime enjoyed by older folks.  (Of course, this is a generalization; and now that school has started and fewer families are travelling, most of the tourists are retirees.)  But will a day come when I find it easier and less troublesome to snap a few photos instead?

But look at some of the photographers!  They lug as much gear as a painter, and they will wait many minutes for the light to get just right.  Photography, too, can try one's patience and test one's endurance.

Our second day dawned windy and cool, about 50 degrees.  I headed out again early, driving the full length of the Zion Canyon Road to see where the light was.  As I suspected, the far, upper reaches of the canyon are narrow and steep-walled, and there was no sunlight to be found there.  I retreated to Court of the Patriarchs, where I had some good sun yesterday.  I made sure to wear my snow parka for warmth; I wanted to stay warm long enough to paint a 12x16.

Then, after a quick lunch, I drove back up the canyon to find the light.  Not too far past the Zion Canyon Lodge I found a pull-off and a path giving access to the Virgin River.  I set up on a sandy beach and in full sun.  I had to point my umbrella down, almost horizontal, to block the light bouncing off the beach.  It got warm quickly, and I found myself stripping off my parka and down to my turtleneck.

After this 9x12, I drove on up the canyon to take some photos of a few view points and hiked around the Big Bend.  (I'm not doing as much hiking as I'd like this week.)  Zion is very, very rich in painting spots - but not so much in parking spots!  Now I understand why they run the shuttles during the busy season.  But if you wait a bit, usually someone leaves.  Most tourists stay just long enough for a photo.

The wind was getting up again, and clouds were moving in fast.  I wanted to get in one more painting  before quitting for the day, so I found another pull-off, this time just north of Court of the Patriarchs.  Doug Braithwaite was finishing up a piece there, and we visited for a few moments.  My last one was difficult because the clouds played with the light, but I think I got it.

Tonight (Wednesday) is our first "Meet the Artists" event.  The public is invited to visit with us and see some of the week's work thus far at the Parallel 88 restaurant after 5.  Artists are asked to bring a piece to hang and show for the evening.  If you're around, stop in!

By the way, I've set  up a "viewing room" in my hotel room.  (No, I'm not painting in the room, and I am meticulous.)  It's good to be able to put out all the work to evaluate it.  I can decide which paintings are good to frame, which need a few adjustments, and which will become "backups."

Zion National Park Plein Air Event - Day 1

This is my first time at "In the Footsteps of Thomas Moran," the Plein Air Invitational in Zion National Park.  Zion has a painting every hundred feet along the highway, and if you park and take any trail, the paintings multiply.  Although I've been here a few times, I haven't had a full week of painting.  Is it possible for one to overdose on beauty?

It was a six-hour drive from Sedona, and by the time I started snaking slowly on curvy Utah 9 behind two tour buses heading into the park, I was getting pretty tired.  So, my first evening here was limited to unpacking and stocking up on groceries.  I did check in with artists Anne Weiler-Brown and Kate Starling, who are coordinating the event, to pick up my goodie bag and packet of instructions, but after that, I took a short walk at dusk, and then went to bed and read up on travel literature about the area.  (By the way, my lodging has been generously donated by Cable Mountain Lodge, right at the park's south gate.)

I was anxious to get going in the morning (Monday,) but Utah, unlike Arizona, respects Daylight Savings Time, and sunrise wasn't until 8.  I headed out at first light.  It was pretty windy - 53 degrees but a chill wind.  The ranger at the gate let me know that it's always windy in the mornings here.

During the busier season, you can't drive your private vehicle up Zion Canyon.  But the shuttle buses ceased operation for the season yesterday, so I was able to drive my own car, which is much more convenient.  My first stop was Court of the Patriarchs.  I followed the trail past the water treatment plant, crossed the bridge, and headed up to a little meadow with beautiful views.  The wind was pretty stiff, so I sought shelter behind a small tree.  Dawn lit up the mountains with brilliant orange and yellow.  While I painted, three turkeys came walking by.  To them, I was just part of the scenery.

I'd been painting in shade - it takes a long time for the sun to reach parts of the canyon floor - and my hands had grown numb by the time I'd finished painting.  I had to retreat to the car to warm up.  But soon I was ready to head out again, and I followed the same trail in and took a different view.  I liked the Court so much that I could paint it all day, and I'll probably go back there.

After the second painting, it was time for a quick lunch and to drop off my studio painting at the Nature Center.  Artists had to ship two studio paintings and then bring a third.  I found out today from Trina that one of my first two studio paintings has already sold!  I'm taking that as a good omen.  (You can see this painting and others at http://www.zionpark.org/product_96.html )

After lunch, I drove on up the canyon, taking pictures and thinking about possible spots for later in the week.  I found one pull-off past Angel's Landing with a gorgeous view of backlit cottonwoods and the Landing behind them.  It was too good to pass up, so I did my third painting there.

Afternoon was dragging on, and so was I.  I headed back, stopping at one place where I spotted a few familiar vehicles - Bill Cramer's CRV, complete with a full sheet of plywood mounted on top to make a painting stand, and Joshua Been's XTerra.  I went down to visit.  Unlike other events, where the artists have been able to use cell phones to organize impromptu painting sessions - our version of a "flash mob" - cell phones are pretty unreliable here, and I hadn't been able to contact anyone.  I spotted John Cogan down by the water, too.

John Cogan

Bill Cramer

Joshua Been

Later that evening, we had our first artists' dinner, with Anne and Kate in Rockville.  Anne lives right in town, and as I approached, I saw about a hundred parked cars.  What a party!  But no, these all belonged to trick-or-treaters.  I'd forgotten it was Halloween.  But still, our group was sizable - two dozen painters plus some family members, and volunteers and staff.

Now it's Tuesday morning.  Even though yesterday was productive, I'll need to hustle again today.  Weather is moving in for tonight - gusty winds - and possibly some snow later in the week.

Sedona Plein Air Festival - Day 7, and Zion National Park!

"That's a wrap," as they say. For most artists, the painting was done with, and they rested before the Gala. (But I spent the day packing for my Zion event, about which I'll write more in a moment.) Artists gathered at the Sedona Arts Center at 4 p.m. to preview the show and to vote for Artist's Choice. SAC occupies two buildings with a parking area between them; artists and their work were split between the two. I made several rounds of the galleries looking at work. There were many excellent paintings, and it was hard to choose just one.

At five, the ticket holders arrived, and the celebration began. Rene at Tlaquepaque, one of the fancier restaurants in town, catered the event under tents set up in the parking area between the galleries. (Tickets were $100 the day of the Gala.) I was in the upper gallery with artists J through W, and I spent a nice time talking to some of my collectors and the other artists. Festivities ended at seven.

Today, Saturday, is the public sale, which runs from 10 to 3. If you're in the area, stop by and say hello - and buy a painting!

After the public sale, I'll head right home to resume packing for Zion. This is "In the Footsteps of Thomas Moran," the third annual invitational plein air event at Zion National Park. (For details, visit www.zionpark.org.) I'll get there Sunday evening with the event starting Monday and running through the following Sunday. There are several workshops and free demonstrations throughout the week, followed by a Quick Draw and auction on Friday. The event culminates in a Buyer's Preview Gala on Friday night and a public wet paint sale on Saturday and Sunday.

Invited artists include:

• Mark Bangerter
• Joshua Been
• Arlene Braithwaite
• Doug Braithwaite
• Royden Card
• Michelle Chrisman
• John Cogan
• Bets Cole
• Bill Cramer
• Cody DeLong
• Dennis Farris
• George Handrahan
• Brad Holt
• William Scott Jennings
• Michael Chesley Johnson
• Donal Jolley
• Roland Lee
• Gloria Miller Allen
• David Nakabayashi
• P.A. Nisbet
• Sheila Savannah
• Kathleen Strukoff
• Anne Weiler-Brown
• Seth Winegar