Hello again painting fans.
This week we’ll be taking a diversion from our our 2 current paintings, the source photos of which are seen directly below.
Instead, I’ve used my usual acrylics on a 5×7 canvas of a decidedly different nature.
I’ve just recently returned from Zion National Park in southern Utah where not only are the citizens red, the rocks are too. My partners in this undertaking were madame boran and the 10 year old boran2 boy. As if the gorgeous scenery wasn’t stimulation enough, the b2 boy provided addtional “entertainment” with his recent acquisition of a fake accent that can best be described as a cross between that of Groucho Marx and The Fonz. A clearer illustration of TV’s impact has rarely been seen. In any event, he does have his mother’s fine ear for such things.
While there, we hiked, admiring the tall jagged peaks, lulled by the sounds of the Virgin River, the abundant birds and a little boy’s contrived Bronx accent. Actually, the park offers a variety of trails of differing difficulty. The Pa Rus Trail provided our first taste of things. It runs along the floor of the valley with the peaks towering along both sides. This trail is mostly level and paved. As such, it is accessible to both bicycles and wheelchairs. It was here that I became taken with the park.
I was inspired to paint the image seen directly below.
It was painted from a photo as my last attempt at plein air painting was disastrous. The scene is later in the day, toward the time of sunset. I did it fairly quickly, without the fuss and revisions that sometimes take place during the process.
During the last 5 years, I’ve carried similar small canvases on our summer vacations. Each time, I’ve usually painted the scenery on the trip. This is probably the most satisfying of all 5.
That’s about it for now. Next week I’ll have more progress to show you. See you then. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.
Earlier paintings in this series can be seen here.
Paint me a picture of your thoughts.
I’ve enjoyed watching your paintings progress and your photos too. I hope you’ll forgive me for hijacking your thread for a moment. It just struck me how much alike your summer trips and the ones my grandparents used to take are!
My grandfather was a school superintendent. He and my grandmother would always tow a little aluminum trailer he built from Long Island all the way to Phoenix for summer vacation, where he would paint in oils.
He was a plein air kind of guy.

Some of his work from a photo taken around 1945 or so.

The trailer. How they stood the desert heat in that with no AC is a mystery and he almost always wore long sleeves and a tie!

They eventually made lots of friends out there.

Hi ID! Your grandfather was a very good painter! BTW, I’m originally from Long Island. I can’t imagine driving all the way to Az, especially before the interstates were finished. It must have been quite an adventure back in the 40s given the state of automotive technology. This is really a fascinating story.
Thanks! He was quite a guy – stern, but patient and taught me a lot. Keep up your own good work! BTW, have you done your show yet? I forget when it was going to be.
It was a few weeks back but I had to skip it. The b2 boy had fever that weekend. I put some of my things on etsy instead.
very nice b2. your style comes thru loud and clear, even without the overdubbing. indeed, one to be proud of.
and completely ot, but as a car guy l think you might appreciate this one: mercedes resurrects the classic gullwing coupe …beautifully done; imo.
Thanks dada!
At only $257,000.00 I’ll get at least a couple of those. They ought to go well with my ’02 hatchback. But you’re right, it is beautifully done.
only 2? cheapskate…but yeah, l hear ya to be idle and rich…instead of just idle.
def a rich man’s ride.