Arches National Park

Plein Air, Oil 9"x12"

Mass Audience

Plein Air, Oi, 9"x12" Cathedral of the Ancient Ones

I debate adding a few birds or a couple of people (dots) in the distance. Unless you are familiar with this scene, you may not grasp the magnificent scale of this ancient rock formation. Anyone who has not visited Arches National Park, this sight, known as Park Avenue, is quite dramatic and breathtaking. In the aprx. 4 1/2 hours I painted, I'm sure thousands of people, many from bus tours, stopped by to take a look and many stood behind me to watch. It's par for the course when you paint on site, especially in areas heavily visited by tourists. Many look at a distance and several will strike up a conversation. I generally don't mind. I just keep painting and they usually have somewhere to go and only stay a few minutes.

Plein Air Moab 2012

Plein Air, Oil, 9"x12"

I'd like to go out West again to paint.  I found the landscape to be a huge relief from being overwhelmed by green. There is more opportunity to paint scenes that seem to go on for miles and miles - because they do. The challenge to this painting was the Mesas in the distance. They appeared to be flat in color which is something we midwesterners don't see. It was difficult getting over the idea that they looked fake.