Tuesday Plein Air Group

The weather cooperated at Page Springs Hatchery, with calm after days of gale force winds.  We thought about the Pocket Fire now raging near Kachina Village, where Suzie has a cabin and “go bag” next to the front door, and offered a few prayers for rain and safety for the wildland firefighters.

Christine, Suzie, Mike, Raven and I painted in the deep shade at the far end of the Show Pond. Christine pointed out the difficulty of rendering the light reflecting on the shimmering surface of the pond as well as the reflections off the bottom in the shallows. I thought, but did not say, “No duh!” as I looked at the muddy mess my painting was becoming.

Janelle teetered on her precarious perch on the steps overlooking the pond, painting ancient sycamores with her palette knife with photorealistic accuracy.

At the other end of the pond, under the butterfly arbor, John, Pat, Kristine, and Karen painted trout (Karen demonstrates her famous fish face). Kristine cleverly painted shadows under the fish to animate them.

Downstream, Nita, Carel and Betty painted Oak Creek with lovely incandescent green light reflecting into the trees.  A Blackhawk high above screeched cusswords at us for interfering with its fishing spot, and we smelled, but didn’t see, a skunk in the blackberry bushes.

Carolyn found a comfy spot on a bench overlooking fishermen, photogenic in their yellow t-shirts and straw hats.

Left to Right: Carolyn, Mike, Nita, Karen, Suze, Christine, Kristen, Tecla, Janelle, Betty, Carel, and John. We even had a little art critic peekiing at the paintings. He’s giving us the “thumbs up!”

The group decided to go to Mike’s “Under the Bridge Spot” which spans the creek and has good shade. You can park at the end of the Community Garden and walk down to the site. If you end up at Dead Horse Park, you’ve gone too far.

Next Plein Air Paintout: July 7, 8:30, Under the Bridge, Cottonwood, 8:30