Scott's Slot

 I painted this for my son Scott's Birthday. His lively wife Belinda sent me photos of Scott hiking a slot canyon in southern Utah. 

Great Blue

 This one is part of our personal collection. A few years ago we visited Texas Hill Country, staying in State Parks that were at lakes. This magnificent Great Blue Heron was just offshore, not 10 yards from our trailer. The morning was misty and presented a diaphanous atmosphere.

For daughter-in-law Jenise

 This Orca Whale is from a Haida image spotted on a fence on Sitka Island Alaska. Jenise has quite a collection of whale art.

For Grandson Justin

 Justin sent me some photos from a dive trip he did in the Caymans. I think this fish is a grouper. Watercolor on Yupo.

From Cathedral Wash near Marble Canyon AZ

 

Collared Lizard 

2021 RECAP

 Well. .  . . this is for the few of you who check my blog from time to time.

2021 was another year of avoiding people and enjoying our self-imposed isolation in our 5th wheel trailer as we visited new places and old favorites.  We did limit our treks somewhat, staying mainly in Canyon Country and the Rocky Mountain West. We continue to love the lifestyle and the freedom it affords us.

We are wintering in southern New Mexico State Parks; colder here than southern AZ, but we love the ambiance of the Land of Enchantment and we love the state parks. 

I did a fair amount of painting in 2021, mostly doing gift paintings for all my kids and grandkids + a few special friends. The last pieces I posted on the blog were in June, from Lee's Ferry at Marble Canyon AZ. I am now posting all the pieces I've done since then. Stay tuned!

Marble Canyon #1

 We spent most of April at the Lee's Ferry campground at Marble Canyon AZ.

This is an incredible place: the put-in for rafting the Grand Canyon, the historic immigrant ferry across the Colorado River and the Lonely Dell outpost settlement, bordered by the Glen Canyon NRA, the Vermillion Cliffs NM, the Grand Canyon National Park,  and the Paria-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness. 

Painting inspiration abounds. These three pieces are my captured memories.

1) An old - and oft photographed - work truck at the historic Lonely Dell Ranch. Spotted this on a hike into the Paria-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness, and simply could not resist.

2) We had a rare rain one night. The next morning the clouds were lifting over the Vermillion Cliffs. Brief but Spectacular!

3) Marble Canyon itself, looking downstream. This is where River travelers enter the Grand Canyon NP.