Prescott AZ

                         Ancient tree and rocks, graphite pencil on paper, 11x14in. Mar 13 2015

Hangin' around Prescott Arizona for a few days, then off to Phoenix to pick up Evan.
Nice place, Prescott, pronounced Preskitt by the locals.

Last Grand Canyon Oil Sketch

                      Grand Canyon Arizona, composition 3, 14x18 in. oil on canvas, Jan 24 2015


I am thinking a painter could spend the rest of their life here and never scratch it a bit.
I saw a plein air show at the Kolb Gallery in the village, some most excellent pieces by some accomplished and inspiring artists, https://www.grandcanyon.org/7th-annual-grand-canyon-celebration-art, a nice lady who worked at the gallery told me that many of the painters showed up a few weeks before the actual event, and I thought to myself "I would too", or else this complex landscape could easily overwhelm.
I am now in Monument Valley, Utah, the place where lots of old western movies where filmed back in the day. Huge rock spires and miles of open rolling desert. Tomorrow, I guess I know what I'm doing!

Grand Canyon day Two

                             grand canyon composition 2, 12x16in., oil on canvas, Jan 21 2015

Hmm, not sure. Closer though. Much rain and wind this morning, but I hung around, things cleared,and I managed this despite the gusty winds.
This sucker flew away a couple of times, but I wrangled it to the ground and saved it from falling into the canyon.

Grand Canyon

                                             Panorama photo of the Grand Canyon, Arizona.

                                 Grand Canyon oil sketch, 14x18 in on canvas Jan. 19 2015

                                               Grand Canyon Selfie! Yes I really am here.


Holy crap, this place is beautifully intimidating from a painters point of view, I have to up my game if I want to make a good painting. I am here for a week or so, it will be interesting to see where the work goes. After that, I am thinking of heading back to Canyonlands Park in Utah, I cant seem to get that place out of my mind.

                                        Absolutely gorgeous place, this Grand Canyon.

Just East of Cornville

Just East of Cornville, Arizona, 18x24in. oil on canvas, Jan 14 2015

A few days of rain, some high winds, a trip to the art supply store in Prescott, the purchase of a plane ticket so my son Evan can join me for a few weeks at March Break, then it was back to the pleasure of painting plein-aire, knocked this sketch off this afternoon, and the weather promises to be fair for the foreseeable future.

Back to it!

                   Bell Rock, on the scenic by-way East of Sedona, 18x24in. oil on canvas, Jan 8 2015

            Most of the snow has melted, the desert is sticking to my boots in big chocolatey chunks.

Painting just East of Sedona Arizona

                     View along Schnebly Hill Rd East of Sedona, 16x20 oil on canvas Jan 5 2015




                                     Just a quick break from my busy painting schedule.                            


                                             The end of a great day, tomorrow may be
                              the last day of Painting with Pete, he has to head back soon.

Windless Day Painting in the Desert outside Cottonwood Arizona

Windless Day north of Cottonwood

22x30 oil on canvas Jan 4 2015

 

Another fab day of painting, the snow is melting fast and Javelinas have invaded the trailer park!

 

 

An afternoon painting in Northern Arizona

                    At the Foot of Thunder Mountain, Arizona, 16x20, oil on canvas, Jan 3 2015


The snow is melting fast, turning the desert roads into pudding.
Pete only has a few days left before he has to return to Winlaw, so I imagine we will be painting our faces off till then.

Another amazing day in the snowy desert.

Thunder Mountain, 24x30in oil on canvas, location south of Sedona.

                                           Road to a desert Twilight. 18x24 oil on canvas.

Lots of painting today, Pete made four 8x10 excellent pieces, I managed two sizable ones.
Big fun, tomorrow we are going to scope out the canyon north of Sedona.

Six inches of snow in Arizona!

18x24 oil on canvas After the Snowfall in Arizona.

An incredible day of painting the light.

 

 

A truly magical day.

 

                                                                      Panorama deluxe.

A quick pastel on paper.

 

 

This photo is nice but you had to be there!

 

Today was the best light yet, Pete and I were in visual overload explosion all day.

Tomorrow, its off to paint at a site we scouted the other day, the weather is supposed to be fine, cold but sunny, so some more snow in the desert paintings in our future!

Arizona!!

Pete and I  left for Sedona, Arizona yesterday.

Scenery like this all the way.

 

Painted this this morning, this painting was later destroyed in a tragic truck accident.

Arizona is quite beautiful!!!

Painted this today too!

Final memories of Moab.

Moab

This was our campsite at Moab.

Beautiful feature call the Jug Handle near Moab.

Our last day at Moab

My last painting, Colorado River near campsite.

Touched up this one, I think I like it now.

A vista painting in Arches.

 

 

Well, I like the desert very much, the light here is incredible, tomorrow there is more exploring and painting to be done.