Tuesday Plein Air Group

Arizona Pastel Artists Association hosted a rare Northern Arizona paint out today at Tlaquepaque (thanks to Nita for getting us permission to paint on the property). Gina M. drove up from Phoenix to paint in the venue all decked out for Dia de los Muertos, with fabulous pumpkin arrangements in all of the fountains, the chapel festooned with flowers, and everywhere, painted skulls and marigolds.

Gina painted the chapel and shared her timelapse video of her pastel.  You can see her painting from start to finish here. (The small hiatus is when she chatted with tourists about her hometown in Alaska.)

Timelapse video of Gina’s painting.

I set up in front of the pumpkin-filled fountain, and although the painting isn’t so hot, I got some good photos and color notes. I think the composition will make a fun holiday card, don’t you?

Today exemplified why I live in Sedona—Autumn.  A great white harvest moon set behind the western mesa as I drove into Red Rock Ranger Station—the morning was cool enough for a sweater, but warm enough to think about shedding it.

At the Woods Canyon trailhead, David, Sophie, Pete, Karen, Dona and I set up our easels and like Billy Goat Gruff, chatted up the trolls—I mean hikers—trotting across our red rock bridge.  Sophie looked very 19^th century with her white shade umbrella, an envy-inspiring estate sale purchase, while Pete, farther into the weedy sedge, captured the golden Woods Canyon light upcanyon.  Dona painted the quiet creek, while Karen plein air painted plein air painters with her bold pastels. David, on higher ground, rendered the big sycamore and cutbank.

Struggling with watercolors today and teetering precariously on my tiny little stool that sprung open like a hungry praying mantis, I put my palette down on my painting and lifted it to find a big blob of lavender.  Believing that watercolor paintings are just happy accidents anyway, I sprayed the mess, let it drip and, and—so much better!

Mike, Barb, Tecla, Carolyn, Don and Janel captured Bell Rock and Courthouse from their vantage on the ranger station patio and parking lot. Consensus is to go back to Red Rock Ranger Station next week, Tuesday, November 3, 9 – 11.

Consensus is to go back to Red Rock Ranger Station next week, Tuesday, November 3, 9 – 11.

Congratulations to Mike for his top award in the Sedona Plein Air Festival’s community paintout.

The day was perfect for painting on the SAC property, with Snoopy Rock peeking down at the festivitiies, and the Fin’s dramatic sandstone ridges looming over all. Most of us set up in the parking lot for the two-hour time slot.

There were pumpkin painters emblazoning the pumpkins with starry nights, scary faces, golden ghouls and a little Snoopy on Snoopy Rock.

SAC put on a hearty spread of nachos, veggies, and chili with some irresistible brownies at the end of the buffet table. The paintings were outstanding, and our own Mike T. received top recognition. Elicia F., new to Tuesday Plein Air received 2nd Place recognition.

When I arrived at Jim Thompson trailhead, the clouds were starting to close in, sunlight fleeing across the palm of The Mitten. Pete headed up the trail to Cibola Pass in search of the perfect view.

Below the parking lot, the dry wash had turned into a stream, wide enough to require rock hopping to cross (my shoes are drying out on the patio).

Michele and I set up our easels to paint The Mitten, but misty rain soon dripped on my panel and threatened to turn my pastels into mud. Michele, standing there like a rained-on flower, planned to paint under an overhang—possibly the tailgate of her car.

We’re done with Jim Thompson, the old coot, and are changing our paint out location to “Behind the Sign” 9:00, on October 20^th. The site is where the National Forest signs are, off of 179 near Beaverhead Road intersection.

Another plein air opportunity is Sedona Plein Air Community Paint out on Saturday, October 24. All ages and skill levels are welcome to join in this fun, all-inclusive paint-out on the SAC campus and lower lot. For a $15 registration fee, participants can create artwork on-site, sell their finished pieces during the event, and be considered for prizes. Artists may price and sell their work during the event. A 25% commission on sales will go toward supporting the ongoing mission of Sedona Arts Center.

Community Painters have until 12 noon to paint before judging. Awards and sale starting at 12:30 p.m.

You can register for the event at https://sedonaartscenter.org/product/sedona-plein-air-festival-community-paint-out-2026/

Leila put together a 3-day plein air painting trip to Canyon de Chelly with members of Arizona Pastel Artists Association and Arizona Plein Air Painters. Tuesday afternoon we painted iconic Spider Rock, watching the shadows crawl up the spire, until, as we were packing up, the canyon filled with purple and the top of the spire was golden glory for 5 minutes.

Next day we went into the canyon with Daniel, our Diné guide, plowing his jeep through deep, sandy ruts in the creek bed. The light was too overcast for painting, so we toured the quiet canyon, driving through Gothic arches of cottonwoods and tamarisk, shooing horses off the track, and admiring ancient architecture and pictographs. At White House, Daniel played his flute.

Back on the rim that afternoon, the sun came out and I went back to the South Rim to paint with my feet hanging over the cliff edge, warm air fragrant with the smell of early fall wafting up.

At Ledge House overlook, there were sheep, and sheepdogs doing their jobs.

Tuesday, October 13th, we’ll head back to Jim Thompson trailhead. I’m getting there at 8:00 since it will be hot, and David said hikers are out if full force, making parking a challenge.

Great paintings from the site–thanks, Dan, for sending it. I’m inspired! See you on Tuesday.

In the heavy monsoon downpour, under the Lady Banks rosebush, a young velvet buck stood with a stolid, put-upon expression that didn’t change when the cat and I opened the screen door. His name is Snippy, and I’ve known him ever since he was a fawn, trimming the hedges on my front patio. When the rain slackened, he left, sadly sodden, to find his posse.

The rain and flooding kept our Tuesday plein air group in our studios. Next week we’ll try again, same place, but at 9:00 now that the weather is getting cooler. I will be painting for a few days at Canyon de Chelly, so I’ll catch up with the group on the 13th.

Tubac Center for the Arts hosted a reception for the “I Hear Music” exhibition. Artists portrayed their love of music with paintings, interactive sculptures and textiles. One 3-D artist created a multi-armed rainstick wall sculpture, while another created a playable ensemblage of feathers, soundbox and strings.  Each artwork had a Q-Code that could be scanned to hear its companion musical offering.  My accordion player, looking very self-satisfied with his award, is playing a cheesy version of Cielito Lindo.  You can click his smug mug and hear a 15 second sound clip.

The next morning I headed to Tucumcacori Mission to paint the crumbling brick walls and aging adobe masonry. The chapel dome is still blindingly white, and provided a perch for a mourning dove who sang hymns, accompanied by a hawk’s soprano counterpoint. Ants ruled in the cemeterio and chased away tourists and gawkers, but left me alone.

Monarchs crowded butterfly bushes planted especially for their annual migration.

Of course, you have to stop at Santa Cruz’ Chile Shop that was redolent with the spicy odors of freshly ground chile and cinnamon.

Our second day of painting at the Sedona Heritage Museum was bright and sunny, with sharp shadows—so unlike our overcast Day 1.  Mike and I painted the little Victorian train station. He sensibly set up in the shade, unlike me, who soon became horribly hot, sweaty, and grumpy.

Our two Fauvists, Karen and Liz, created vivid architectural renderings of the old buildings. Liz entitled her’s, “Candyland.”

Janel, inspired by the “Mother Coyote Teaching Her Babies to Howl at the Moon” rock formations focused in on the threesome.  She refused, however, to howl along with them.

Nita perched on the edge of an arroyo, and painted the cypress and pinyon pines whose fragrance wafted up from below.

David unexpectedly joined us because his campsite near Kingman went up in flames, cutting his plein air adventure short. He reported no injuries and his eyebrows and mustache were intact.  He and Michelle beautifully depicted the distant red rock landscape in oil.

Wendy and LeAnne also captured the changing light on the rocks and cactus.

Left to right: Wendy, Mike, Michelle, Liz, Karen, LeAnne, Janel, and Nita.

Next week, September 29, we’re heading to the Jim Thompson/Brins Mesa trailhead (8:00) to paint the outstanding red rock views. Directions are on the page, “Outings and Directions.”

Above: Gail gets a pat on the back from a passing cowboy.

The early morning sun hid behind fog and ragged rainclouds that promised to soak my pastels, but only thirteen drops of rain fell, and we chased the fleeting shapes of light and shadow across the red rock.  Karen and Gail disputed the names of the distant rock formations, but my favorite (and undisputed) was “Mother Coyote Teaches Her Children to Howl at the Moon.”

Michelle and I painted from the vantage point of the old museum’s agave garden.  I fought my pastel surface, finally resorting to Hannemulle Velour, which was exactly like painting on shaved monkey butt.

Dan joined us and took the Zen approach of less is more since he forgot his watercolor brushes and instead created a charming sketch with his tiny little silver ballpoint pen.

Fellow pastel painter, Karen, finished two terrific pastel pieces before we left, and was last seen in a rocky gulley, working on a third.

Pete, practicing for the Escalante Plein Air festival next week, worked his magic in oils.

Gail painted the howling red rock pups in oil, while Liz vividly depicted the old museum building. Betty expertly painted the old barnwood door of the apple shed, while Wendy and Janel painted the distant fog-shrouded rocks.

We had another outdoor enthusiast join us—Mrs. Furry—who scurried off to her secret spot in the rocks.

Left to right: Wendy, Karen, Betty, Dan, Pete, Michelle, Gail, Janel. Not shown: Mrs. Furry. Next week we’ll meet again at the Heritage Museum at 8:00. Hope to see you there!