In my painting life these words have encompassed my experience. My recent trip to New Mexico bring this back in a new and fresh way. The sketches I made of Pedernal, Georgia O'Keeffe's famous mountain, the photographs of Ghost Ranch from which I will also sketch and later paint, the quick watercolor studies to remind me of the colors of the mountains....
Notice the eagle flying directly over the Pedernal summit? no matter that it was actually an airplane...in my mind it was definitely an eagle.
Painting plein air for me is not about accomplishing a finished work that I can bring home (although that is lovely when it happens), but about the entire experience of being out in nature, of rendering something that appeals to me and that is beautiful or interesting, of remembering the weather and the people....
 original landscape - note the truck on the left  painting in process |  I noticed some flowers off to the right... I almost wanted to paint just the flowers, but... Here's the final painting... no truck! And I did get to paint the flowers after all.  |
I made a quick study of the valley and noted the herd of buffalo in the distance. That may not make a painting to put over the mantle but for me it is my painting photograph, forever a remembrance of something I saw, experienced and will forever treasure.
 Painting still in progress - you'll have to visit me to see how it evolves. | One morning we painted in the gorge of the Rio Bravo/Grande. It was full and swift and cool. The sun was so strong that I removed my painting shirt twice, soaked it in the water and put it back on to make it through the day. (I got that fancy water container from the hotel.) In spite of the heat, this was my most favorite day of all! |
