SOFT YELLOW MORNING

     After taking the dogs out for a short hike down a little mountain trail through the Aspens, I came back and sat down to sip on some coffee. I found myself staring out at this little spot of flowers to a evergreen there in my "backyard". It was just so intimate and poetic.

DANDELION TRIO

     I had the most wonderful camp site up there in the mountains. It was shaded on both sides by small aspens and the meadow in front was covered with these cheerful yellow Dandelions. There were mountains in the distance. I couldn't call myself a "Flower Painter", but I ended up doing a few of these because they just seemed so happy. I found out that they all close up at night and then open back up in the morning when I was having my coffee, to welcome me into a new day.

SYMPHONY OF GREEN

      I'm back from my painting trip. This is a view from my camp site where I spent most of the week because of altitude sickness. I went from 2,000 feet to 10,000 and although it had never effected me before...maybe age? Anyway I still had a great time.
     Plein Air painting has given me so much joy in my life for so many years. The process of jumping in my truck with the dogs and traveling across the country following my inspiration only. Throwing on my back pack full of my painting equipment and hiking to the perfect spot somewhere in the mountains, on the coast, by a river, under a tree, or even on a main street of a big city. Where ever it is, I am there at that moment interacting with the environment, the lighting, the weather , the sounds. I see colors out there that I have never seen in a photo, period. It takes far more time and effort, but to me it is so well worth it. That feeling of intimacy with nature is something very, very special.

Characters In Truck

   This was a field study I did on my trip last year with my good friends Carol and Penny.
   I'm gone on another paining trip to Colorado until June 27th. I like to get away from AZ as much as possible in the summer. It gets a little warm for plein air painting.

BIG GREEN 1947 OSHKOSH W700



    This truck made a stricking first impression on me when I came across it. I seemed to be saying I'm "ready for anything", bring it on!

'29 FORD AA C Cab

   I painted this truck twice, this is the 6x8 version done a little looser than the 6x6 done later. This is when trucks had a whole bunch of character. They weren't muscle, or sleek, or fast, but they got the job done and you could fix them with a pair of pliers and some bailing wire.

PINK DUMP TRUCK

     What can I say? It's a Pick Dump Truck.