Well, vacation time is over and although I still have a house full of college kids, I need to get back to work. Frankly, I'm relieved because I was feeling rather worthless- doing absolutely nothing for so long- it feels good to have an agenda and lists full of things to do.

The painting above was done on New Years day- Jim took off snowmobiling and I just kind of slipped away and painted this-- I was actually planning to paint this just as the sun was setting but there were some pesky clouds that thwarted my plans so this is the painting I finished. I will have to try it again when the sky is clear and it's not too cold.

I have been working on a new web page so will let you know when it has loaded. I am going to keep it simple and have had a few snags along the way- but I really do like rapidweaver- it is a good web program and I don't have to read a book to configure it.

Before the Snow

It has been snowing quite a bit lately- the days are interesting- one day it will be below freezing and the next day it will be close to 60. I have been trying to get prepared for my show- invitations out, hanging MORE track lighting- just tying up loose ends and I really haven't been that efficient. I walk into my studio and I just start to walk around in circles , not getting much of anything done. The painting above was painted at the ranch right before the first snow- the day after I painted this it was cold and windy and started to snow that morning- I have lost a brush which I believe is over there but still have yet to retrieve it. I hope that I can get a little more excited to paint in the snow- I love the beautiful whites - I just don't like the cold- and inthe San Luis Valley- it does get COLD!

Plein air at First Light

I got up early and went to the ranch as the sun was rising. Actually, sunrise really isn't that early anymore. The light was beautiful - hitting the trees - making them appear as if they were stained glass.

I had an audience as I painted early in the morning- they really were a pretty quiet bunch until they decided to take off and thrash through the willows...

Colorado Mountain Plein Air Festival -another painting

I had major issues trying to get even close to the paint out on Wednesday- I ended going up Peterson Creek - past Villa Grove and headed up a little dirt road - looking back to the east there were some great views of the Sangres but they were soon obscured by clouds. So I drove up the road just hoping for enough time to get at least one painting done. It snowed, then the sun came out and over and over again- I finally in desperation picked a small- not particularly inspiring - stand of aspens and painted them- this is the result. I was just happy to have finished a painting at this point...

9x12

I sit and wonder- how soon will I have before the rain hits- the clouds are moving this way but I sniff the air-" no smell of rain yet" and keep on painting. Mount Blanca is shrouded by a large ominous cloud; rain is falling there. I paint and ponder, "why do I feel as if I live in two different worlds?" and "Why is it so hard to pass back and forth between them?"

I was talking to Coni about the huge letdown that happens after coming home from a paint out. Is it exhaustion? I sincerely doubt it, because paint outs are tiring but also exhilarating at the same time. I think that it it's more the fact that trying to pass back into the role of mom, dad, or another job is difficult business.

I look at the harvested barley fields. There is something about that light ochre that entices me to paint it over and over again. I hurry to beat the rain.

Aspen at Rock Creek

I painted this small painting after doing the morning stream painting. This was a tough painting as there were no shadows on the trees. I also put the paint on quite thick.

Approaching Autumn

6x8

The sun is changing it's direction, the air is cooler and fall is on it's way. I did this small painting from a picture I took last year. I am anticipating the beautiful fall foliage and the colors- my fave time to paint.