This summer, I spent a little time exploring the Poudre River Canyon. Formally named Cache la Poudre by the french trappers in the 1800s (where they stashed gunpowder in a raging blizzard), the Poudre (poo-der) as locals call it, begins in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) and drops over 7000 … Read More
Painting in January is often cold and snowy. Most days, I layer on the long underwear, fleece lined pants, gloves, hand warmers, hat and wool socks. And then there are days like today when temperatures rise into the 40s. The sun gently glowed through the clouds, lighting up the grasses … Read More
Before it was named Cache la Poudre, our local river was called Pateros Creek. I just learned that bit of local lore the other day. Of course, if I drank beer, I would probably know that as a local brewery is named after our river’s earlier name. Either way, it’s one of … Read More
After sub-zero temperatures, it sure felt good to get back outside to do this “Snow Study”, the first painting of the year. Our plein air painting group met at the Environmental Learning Center along the Poudre River. We weren’t the only ones anxious to get out and enjoy the … Read More
Earlier this fall, I went on a short trip to Las Vegas to do some painting at Red Rock Canyon outside of Las Vegas, Nevada with the intention of developing a painting from plein air to studio. (Scroll to the bottom of the post to see the finished studio piece.) … Read More
This Friday’s Gallery Walk in Fort Collins, includes the final show of the year for the Plein Air Artists of Colorado (PAAC). All year long, our PAAC group gathered to paint the landscape around Fort Collins, Loveland and Estes Park. Each year our friendships deepen, and a few new faces … Read More
Choosing a pastel palette for en plein air painting can be a challenge for novices and well seasoned studio painters. How do you know what you need? How do you whittle down your palette from hundreds or even thousands of colors to a single box? Getting Started with Pastels I … Read More
I left the house just as the sky was beginning to lighten, wound my way up the Thompson Canyon, and bounced my way over the well worn highway to the Wild Basin turnoff in Rocky Mountain National Park. Moments later several other painters arrived. After morning greetings and chit chat, … Read More
My Coulter Easel arrived yesterday, and I immediately took it out for a trial run. Although I am new to oil painting, I’ve been painting en plein air with pastel for nearly a year. Having already learned several lessons about painting en plein air, I was ready to try my … Read More
Plein Air painting at a new location is exciting and filled with uncertainty. Pulling into the parking lot, looking around the scene, the first question is: where do I go? It’s easy to spend a lot of time looking, and not leave enough time to paint. The second challenge becomes … Read More