Along the Trail - Plein Air Painting

Last weekend I had a great opportunity to go to the Sierras - and took it!  I had a great time as there is nothing I like better to do than to go camping.  AND... I spent the weekend painting.  What could be better?!! 

Usually, when I camp with friends, I hike because that's what my friends enjoy.  Only painters (and maybe fishermen!) would understand the desire to stand (or sit) in one spot for 3-4 hours while you are observing majestic splendor.  This time I chose to paint.  As a result, I walked for 15 minutes and spent my entire time with my foot propped against my tripod (due to the wind) observing and painting.  My friends, on the other hand, spent 4 hours slipping on melting snow and bushwhacking through the tough vegetation due to a missing trail.  The timing was perfect!  I completed my first piece just as they arrived with cuts and bruises.  We all had a great time!

 Packing for the trail.My pochade (small portable palette that sits on a tripod) is an Open M Box.  The day pack is from Mystery Ranch.  This view includes the contents of my pack and all my painting gear.  The goal is to travel light.

Everything, including the wet painting, on my back.I am wearing a light weight SPF jacket.  In my pack are the following items: Water, map, sunblock, snack, compass.  Painting gear: palette, tripod, paint, supports, turpenoid, paper towels, painting gloves, brushes, one palette knife, trash bag, wet canvas carrier.

Around my neck: camera.

Along the trail.

Only a 15 minute hike in, but still there were lovely views everywhere, like this deer who never saw me as she quietly walked down the stream.

Enough paint for the entire weekend... and beyond.

To the left is my palette: white, two of each of the primaries and an earthtone.  In this case: titanium white (permalba), cad yellow pale (Winsor Newton), yellow ochre (Daler Rowney), cad scarlet (WN), permanent alizarin crimson (WN), French ultramarine blue (WN), ceralean hue (DR), burnt umber (WN), and a touch of Indian yellow (WN).

I have a tendency to think the best view will be around the next bend, so on this occasion I made the point of stopping at the first sight that I was interested in painting.  The trail actually ended up going past those mountains in background.  Another 15 minutes and I would have been there.  Next time I'm traveling that far although I am not dissatisfied at all with my decision to stop.

Sketch - 15 minutes

Approximately an hour into painting.

I had not toned my canvas before arriving, so I used Indian yellow and turpenoid to rapidly color my canvas.  I drew with a brush and then painted directly onto my canvas.  

2 hours into the painting.

Comments

[Laurie]

Lovely!! Any plans to organize a paint-and-camp workshop?