CROPS OF SUNSHINE

     I liked the unusual composition on this one. It is another painting done at the LaJolla Plein Air Invitational. It is 12x16.

LaJolla Hills

     This was painted at the LaJolla Plein Air Invitational in California. I loved the colors in the mountain. It is a 12x16.

DESERT WASH

     It cooled off a little here in Arizona (90s) so I walked down in the River Bed and found a shade tree where I painted this little scene.

SYCAMORE

    
     This is a great spot just north of Sedona down along Oak Creek Canyon. There is a whole family of these giant Sycamores with their falling autumn leaves and the enchanment they create when the sunshine bounces around and through their golden and green colors.

RIM VIEW

     Before I became a full time painter I used go out to paint and at some point would feel like I wanted to get back home. I really didn't know why, it was just a strong urge. Then I sold all my belongings and became a full time RVer with no phone, computer, mail, or TV. My home was with me all the time, so I didn't have those urges anymore. I just got up and painted outdoors everyday, all day. I have had my new studio/home for about 5 years now and it has already filled up with "stuff". I have a computer, a phone, and mail with a whole bunch of "routines".
     I noticed while on this trip that I was starting to get those urges to get back "home". I realized that I had become attached to my "things" and my "routines". It seems that I lose some of my "freedom" when I get too attached to this "stuff". I have to maintain a balance of my travel, painting, and spiritual things with my material life. It's a hard feeling to describe. Everyone has different "priorities" in their life, and those change with time. My top priority in life is to stay as "free" as I can from all the worldly stuff and all the negative goings on in the world. My job is to turn lead into gold, if you know what I mean?

MORAN POINT

     I had to hike around a little to the side of this popular Grand Canyon point to get this unusual view.

     There was a family from Russia sitting together having lunch there under the Pinon Pines. I saw many people from other countries at the Canyon as usual. More and more of them are flying in and renting those "Cruise America" and other brands of Recreational Vehicles to travel around in. I spoke to some of the people and they like them much more than staying in hotels and they are less expensive. To stay at the Grand Canyon camp grounds it is only $18 a day. That is with no hook ups.

CANYON EARLY LIGHT

     I was sitting right off the rim walk on a ledge behind some junipers while painting this one. Everything started out fine and then the clouds started moving in from the south. They put the closer ledge I was painting in shadow. I noticed that there were some holes in the clouds so I continued to paint the areas that wound be in shadow when the sun can back out. Finally the sun lite up the ledge again, just long enough for me to finish the painting. I barely got my stuff packed up before it started sprinkling.

MATHER POINT

     I used to paint at this outlook often a couple years ago before they built a huge parking lot in front of it. It was always too crowded in the past, but this time it was fairly empty so I decided to try it. They have really fixed the whole area overlooking the Canyon very nice. It had a little amphitheatre for the Ranger lectures and a nice walkway all around with plenty of seating, etc. I saw this spot and set my easel up with my new umbrella which I was very pleased with. (Best Brella). It was easy to attach to my tripod and re-acted well to a little breeze that came up while I was painting. It wasn't really hot, but the umbrella gave me just a little extra protection from the sun.