Escalante Festival 09!

I am sunburned and peeling, barely caught up from lack of sleep, heat exhaustion, dehydration, maddening bugs and a painting high that makes it all worth it. Yes, I'm talking about plein aire painting. Specifically the Escalante arts festival 2009. We left on Tuesday morning, stamped our canvases in Tropic and onto "Scalant". We left way early but got there after sunrise around 9 or 10ish. We then drove around looking for a spot and a cut hay field called out to me.

9 X 12 Oil on panel. "Fall Hay Harvest".

The reproduction is pretty bad on this one, its overall not that dark but photoshop couldn't really help much. and sorry for the glare on all of them.

That afternoon we hooked up with Jared Barnes and I painted an 11X14 that is too crummy to show. it actually is a good block in, but I didn't get it to the state of completion that I wanted. I got reference though so I can finish it here at home if I want... though I'm not really wanting to.

The next morning we went out with Arlene and the SUU plein aire society to paint devil's garden. That is the one I ended up entering. Sorry for the small photo.

9 X 12 oil on panel, "The Matriarchs"

Then that afternoon Jennifer and I ditched the group and went to Boulder. The most beautiful and picturesque countryside. I got this painting out of it.

9X12 oil on panel. "Old farm".

The cows were not at all cooperative. They left just as I was starting and then with a spot of good luck they came back again just as I needed them, but the idiot bovine sauntered over the hill. I literally got these postures of them in only four minutes or so. BUT NO PHOTOGRAPHY HERE!!! :)

The next morning was Thursday and we knew we would only have time for one painting before we had to get our work framed and to the show. We went out and I saw this. What a magnificent sight. I love hay fields. They are so organic and inorganic at the same time. A complete merging of humanity and nature. The hay bales are so evenly spaced and I love the repetition and the color. I think like Monet, we'll be seeing many more hay fields from this artist.

11 X 14 oil on panel.

then the next day we got up before dawn and though we knew this piece would not be in the show, wanted to keep painting. So we went to a spot I fell in love with last year and did a morning sketch. This is looking from the Kia Koffeehouse into the mountains. I loved the hot glow morning gave in contrast with the cool predawn light.

8 X 10 oil on panel. "The glow of morning".

Then we went back to the show and tried at a booth for a few hours before I got so antsy we decided to come home. I made it in time for a Chinese birthday dinner with my family and overall, it was a great week.

I'm planning on painting a plein aire piece daily, at least when I'm not painting from a model, so check back. I've got the painting bug! :)