Tuesday Plein Air Group

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!