August 13, 2007

I have never heard of Gateway – but I have heard of the Unaweep Canyon. The arid landscape of Grand Junction has given way to a higher valley within the canyon. I have stopped at an information marker over looking a lush meadow that sits below Thimble Rock. I read that Unaweep is Ute for “the canyon of two mouths”. It is 2500 feet deep and 1.7 Billion years old. It is an ancient river bed of the Gunnison River. Like the Black Canyon, it carved magic into this canyon as well – beautiful! There is an old homestead, and adobe ruin at the base of this rock formation.

For a first sketch (fig 1) I have moved back into the opening of a canyon, as I hope to get good evening light on the Palisade. Cloudy tonight . The Palisade is very sculptural and changes drastically as you move around it.

"Summer Light" 9×12

August 14, 2007

This AM I am up early looking for a first light view – cloudy again.
Wow! – what a show, can you say pure cadmium chroma!

I like this scene as it has such dark silhouette tree shapes. I also like the fact I can record this hay meadow (as a golf course may take it place. What an intro into gateway. It is not Zion or Arches or Canyon De Chelly… but it is just as big – its Gateway.

"First Light on Palisade" 6×12

Just went up John Brown Road and am going to paint a full sun view of the Palisade.

"John Brown Road" 8×10

August 15, 2007

Saw some great light – for a second. It went dark on me so I was not very far into this view – I’ll fix it later.

"Painted Palisade" 6×12

Note: the brevity of entries made on the remainder of this first trip was in combination of some flat light days, which also gave me time to explore and survey this country. There has been a lot of driving all over in an effort to find vantage points and to get a feel for areas of opportunity so far as first/last light scenes. On the 16th I drove all the way up John Brown Road to nearly the La Salle Peaks. I then drove back down and out on the plateau to see the Dolores River valley below.

August 16, 2007

Good tree up John Brown Canyon – might be a good season study. But I will come back to paint later.

Up to the top of John Brown today. Hard to paint up top. Views are gianormous. Not a nice place in a storm, rained hard (I got caught in a really scary lightening storm with heavy rain, and I was introduced first hand to the forces behind the reality of what has made the geology of the area).

August 17, 2007

Mornings are clearer – I plan to paint this scene tomorrow morning

Nice river reflections – dark green trees – Palisade glow

"Reflections of the Palisade" 9×12

"Sunrise on the Palisade" 48×30

August 18, 2007

Better sunrises and sunsets (the past two days) – the light on the latter has been quick

"Palisade Sunset" 6×12

August 19, 2007

Really nice white church in town

"Changing Seasons" 7×8

I’m painting the tree before I leave.

"Summer Tree" 7×8

October 14th

Early mornings are the best way to start at Gateway. I drove in late last night, so I could not see anything. I was pleasantly surprised by the color in the trees. A fair amount of gold, and green hanging on. I like when a single tree has a mix – turning from green at the bottom, to gold at the top.

"Autumn Palisade" 7×8

The gold makes the sky so blue!

October 15th

Backtracked up Unaweep Canyon – spectacular – more color than I have ever seen! Purples blending to reds. Classic golden cottonwoods. They are so on, fully turned, and no drop of leaves. Spent the day just shooting color.

Love this scene!

 "Autumn in the Unaweep" 32×40

October16th

Drove back into Utah. The canyon light is spectacular! Did a painting this evening that I really like now (I thought it was not going so well, as I had to paint it so fast). When I got back to the room I was surprised (helps not to critique a painting in the dark).
(fig 9 “Evening Colors”)

"Evening Colors" 8×10

October 17th

Flat light today. Color is leaves are brighter back in the canyon. Started one piece, too flat, so I shelved it. Will check photos to see if it can be fixed.

"Gateway Seasons" 9×12

Wow there are some great leaves. The plateaus are so blue due to cloud cover. There are some good colors in the sky, even at midday. Oh ya, saw a bear this morning! Clouds have given way. This is a trip of sunsets! I have seen some good ones.

Sublime view – dark shadows – direct lighting on trees – wood is white – silvery highlighting.
Could be a nice view, especially if you pumped in the reds of last light.
“Sublime” is to evoke the full spectrum of human feeling and emotion, from fear, to elation and peace. It is important to celebrate the untouched look of this landscape; lone and dreary, stormy, turbulent, illuminated and magical. Sunset is as much a feeling as a visual experience. So fleeting…
After the first flop of the day I was not sure I could get a good painting today. The silver light kept me going, and I am so glad as I really like the feel of this sketch.

"Autumn Grandeur" 6×12

It has those turning leaves, the sky was really moving – thought it was going to rain.
(titled painting)
The river has like no paint on it – I love when that happens.

Painted a sketch for Fall Fest Festival (journal drawing) It sold. Lee Bowden grabbed me (General Manager) and we took an awesome 4 wheel ride. We chased the sunset back into Utah. The colors in this country are fantastic, 6-8 minutes of a land on fire! I was so taken by what I saw that I did a memory painting back in the room 9digital camera helps give clues). I was really happy how it turned out.

"Chasing a Sunset" 6×12

Going back into Utah tomorrow as Lee has given me the 4w to use.

October 18th

Bright sunny morning for a ride. Took lots of shots. A friend of Lee’s, Aimee Waters went with me. We found a petroglyph rock along the trail.

I could spend hours looking for these things. A nice deer and snake. I imagine that this valley is filled with drawings. We went to an old school house, then all the way back to the trails end. So
remote, beautiful views at every turn. Now my second trip, I am energized by Gateway. It is so inspiring. I cannot believe that someone has dropped me into this canyon – and I get to paint whatever hits me. I have offered the property right of first refusal on the sketches that I paint on these research trips. TAG has indicated that he wants them all. Needless to say, that adds to the excitement each time you set up to paint. Like Taos or Santa Fe, this could be a significant place for artists to pour out “the love” of painting from life. Aimee has gone back and I have stayed on to paint the old school house.
(journal drawing)
Great subject with Autumn stand of trees, but, I like this view but I will loose the lighting. So I will paint something with some red rocks in background.

October 19th

I have been back several times into the Utah Canyon. There are so many views. So many knarled trees and rocks. It looks like a garden of the gods. I spent a magical sunset tonight! Everything was cast with an amber orange dominate tint. Fiery Clouds – got some great photo reference.

October 20

Trees around Palisade have begun to get better color setting in. I am thinking that the bigger (autumn) painting ought to be an afternoon scene. Less Palisade light due to sun’s orientation, but lots of purple shadow to set off warm leaves. Challenge will be tree grouping – construction in foreground – disguise with leave drop.

"October Glow" 40×32

Painted lone autumn tree last.

"Autumn Tree" 7×8

Had a great meeting with Tag Galyean last week. He assembled all the trades and crafts to talk vision and to share views. He asked me to come and show sketches. He is always about team – this project has one.

We were pounded by some snow. I was about to put off going (due to I-70 corridor). In talking to the property, I had learned that they had gotten lots of snow – so I had to go, even if it was a day late.

February 5, 2008

I got here in time to do a small sunset along the river. Great color, red rocks and a blanket of snow. May have the large winter scene right off the bat. We will see how long I can last – its cold! So much color in winter!

"Sunset Snow" 7×8

February 6, 2008

14 degrees and its cold. 7:22 AM Cloudy and no morning glow on the Palisade. I painted anyway. It took four warm-up trips in the truck. There were these soft wonderful colors in the sky (touches of turquoise and butter) – and it was constant and held on through the painting. The Palisade is a cold dark silhouette looming over a snow laden valley. I wanted snow and I got it (ouch)! Speaking of the snow, My house keeper has lived here 8 years and has never seen it last like this one. So, mother nature has given me a rare winter to depict (turns out more last big snow like this one was in 1959). Temp was 16 degrees at the completion of the morning sketch.

"Winter Palisade" 6×12

I have returned to the same spot as first night painting. There is a classic winter in Colorado coloration in this view. There is perhaps more color to paint in winter than at any other time of year – especially if you can get along the river as the willows are on fire. Every color from blackish purple, Indian red, red oxide, cadmium red, orange & yellow, and peach. Water is dark – the reflections are easily seen both the warm and the cool. The snow is the best part. Middle ground is usually darker so the lights of snow and blue of sky just pop. I love the fully spectrum of cool and warm in the snow – from purples to buttery yellows. I got here much earlier today to detail a better start for a 9×12 sketch.

"Colors of Winter" 9×12

February 7, 2008

Mornings have been cold and grey. Two days without first light on the Palisade. As the day unwinds there is some better light & by evening some great color. Really cold for the most part today, so, I spend some time on some touch-ups.

February 8, 2009

Finally – got a good sunrise today. Classic color in the hay meadow today. Clear and warm, plan to paint hard to get some studies in.
Went down next to river by the bridge. No leaves offer a view of the palisade. I like the willows and the stream color and will paint the following view…

"Winter Willows" 8×10

Additional sketches from the day were:

"Winter Light" 7×8

"Canyon Road" 7×8

Under 18, it reads: Foreground should go shadow with diagonal silhouette in the tree line. Snow on the Palisade is still holding on good – question will be the setting light shadows and highlights.

February 9, 2008

Caught a very nice sunset today. With yesterdays production weather, it may be good to leave tomorrow and rest up for a week of larger summer production.
Items of Note: saw a bald eagle couple yesterday. They gave a nice show. Saw some wild turkeys near river. The wildest thing out here was the melting snow and the muddy road – slick at times!

"First Light on the Canyon" 6×12

This mornings study was a simple scene with great light in this middle area over the tree tops.

"Winter Pallette of the Dolores" 32×40

May 19, 2008

Prior to coming to Gateway, I was on the Navaho Reservation near Kaibito. We traveled up from the desert through the diverse and varied southwest country. Always a joy to behold Monument Valley at last light!

May 20, 2008

Onward through the Canyons of Moab. For the first time I drove the back way through Castle Valley (to Gateway). What an incredible and varied drive! The Colorado River Canyon turns into an Indian Red or Vermillion land. As you climb toward the Manti La Sal mountains you enter lush grazing meadows. You turn upwards into a mix of scrub oak and alpine foliage. Higher up, the La Sals soar above alpine meadows and streams. Runoff is beginning to saturate the land. Cattle have been moved up to graze in these pastures. Then the familiar descent down John Brown Road, the landscape is distinctly more arid, the rock formations on the mesa’s are rough, red and stained. Junipers and pinion and grasses mix with the new leaves of spring. How beautiful are the fresh new leaves which vibrate against the red and purple backdrops. Extreme contrasts of light and dark, complimentary warms and cools.
I am very excited to return to Gateway – the familiar terrain is a welcomed site. The change of the season’s and the warm temperature is also welcomed. I left a cool Denver to suddenly be in 85 degree days. Wildflowers are dotting the scenery. This could be a good year for them as the winter moisture was good this year. I returned to what was a favorite winter scene on the back side of the Palisade along the deloros River. It is full – 3000+ CFS

"Spring River" 8×10

Warm afternoon light with purples and greens

May 21, 2008

Some scattered light last night. Clouds cleared off enough to offer a nice sunrise. Spring light!

"Morning Palisade" 6×12

Painted (another) morning view – wind chased me off – pretty windy now.

"Morning Shadows" 8×10

Clouds continue to roll in and it looks like it will be scattered enough to offer storm light. The bright setting sun on the rock formations make for stunning compositions. I love the combination of warm land and cool sky. The sky also carries such drama and mystery as the rains blow across.

"Drama of Geology" 6×12

A ribbon of light stretched across this scene as the storm clouds pushed through.

"Spring Palisade" 8×10

"Evening Light of Spring" 9×12

"Afternoon Meadow" 6×12

May 22, 2008

Very somber and dark outside today. Not much of a sunrise – just a touch of light rested upon the scene outside my room. It was brief but dramatic. I plan to work out on the patio today as the weather does not look to lift anytime soon today. I feel I can paint and push that (light) moment into the view. The pallet today is so somber – a very different mix of color from what seems typical when painting here. I feel that some of my decisions about mixing color and composition is stronger on this trip. I really have been excited about returning to Gateway. The colors and wildflowers have surpassed my expectations.
(fig 23 drawing/ small painting 4 of 4 )

At Lee Bowden’s request, I returned again in June to paint upon selected rocks that were being incorporated into a Medicine Wheel alongside the Deloros river. I painted twelve petra glyph replications upon perimeter rocks that surrounded the tee-pees of a wellness and therapy center.

On Fathers Day, Lee took us on a sunrise to sunset 4 wheel adventure. We saw everything north, south, east and west that he could cram into a day. The greatest thing about the gateway experience was the depth that the opportunity gave to spend so much time in a single area, and the chance to revisit special places in sequential seasons.

It was an extremely challenging exercise. All of the elements heaped upon the burden of packing, lugging, and moving my equipment. Many of the field studies were painted off the back of an ATV, others were created under the protection of the back door of my SUV. Every morning was early, the days were long, and the winds and rains frequent. If you were not sweating then you were freezing to death (at least there are no bugs in winter). Food was a constant labor in itself preparing lunches and snacks to satisfy my never ending appetite. In the evenings, restaurant was closed by the time I returned from the back country. Microwave dinners soon fell short to the lunches. I am proud that I did not lose a single valuable piece of equipment, or drop a sketch into the dirt. Upon my return home from Gateway trips I would often need physical recuperation for a good 3 days before I could resume normal and effective studio production.

The process tempered me and I feel it honed my skills like no other experience could. It forced me to quickly learn and embrace a subject matter that I was less experienced with. Observation and trial and error were continually the keys to learning how to better depict the subtle harmonies of this southwest wonderland. It also revealed to me the drama of light in landscapes that few can ever witness outside of such a wild, remote and vast typography. I had so much time to be with my thoughts, to breath in the scenery, to read and study other kindred spirits in the writings/ paintings of artists I admire. of Inness, Cole, Church, Moran, Payne, Bierstadt, Gifford, Homer and Hill. Each was utterly connected to the views that they depicted. Each also depicted a quality of the life force, an artistic acknowledgement of God as the originator and central point of all life, and that everything in creation could be taken as evidence of the divine order of the universe.

"Evening Grandeur" 32×40

Nearly forty field studies were painted on location, in addition to the 8 commissioned pieces. All of these works have been added to the collection housed in the Gateway Canyons property. In addition, I continually am painting views from this year of discovery. To date, I have produced over 50 Gateway images, and yet, I feel it is just the beginning of what I might be able to voice of this land.