Painting at Ida's

This morning I drove down to Ida's ranch in the Minden area to paint.  We drove up the old ranch road to the creek and then hiked in the rest of the way and looked for a spot to paint.

I started with an watercolor underpainting.  Sometimes I take longer at this stage.  Doing the creek was quite complicated, and I wanted a good base.  Next I did a loose sketch of the rocks with vine charcoal.  I haven't put much pastel on yet, but I started to in the focal area.  I can continue working on this at home.

Ida and her dog companion were too cute to not take picture!

Ida painted the creek from the other side, with a lower vantage point.  Here is her painting:

She really captured the browns of the rocks under water and the lovely green plants along the edge.

Study of water rushing over rocks

12 x 9 pastel on brown Canson paper

This morning my friend Kathy and I went to Galena Creek to paint.  I did a study of water rushing over the rocky creek.  It was a beautiful morning and we finished up just as two bus loads of school kids arrived for a hike!  Good timing!

Two days of plein air painting!

My friend and I enjoyed 2 days in a row of plein air painting.  We went to nearby places and only spent the morning.  You can learn more at renotahoepleinairpainters.blogspot.com   Here are my paintings:

Aspens by the Creek

Twaddle Ranch

Starting a Plein Air Painting Group

I just started a second blog - called - "Reno Tahoe Plein Air Painters".  I have a painter friend I paint outside with, and we thought it would be good to get others to join us.

I am still working on this new blog - getting widgets and stuff set up....it is still a work in progress.  But you are welcome to stop by and check it out - even if you are not in the area and cannot join us.  Go to www.renotahoepleinairpainters.blogspot.com.

Our plan is to post where upcoming paint-outs will be, give directions, and a little blurb about the place with pictures if available.  If you live in the area and want to keep track of upcoming events - one of the best ways is to click the button (widget) that says "subscribe by email".  Every time we post an upcoming event, you will receive an email with the first few lines of the post, and a link so you can click right to the blog to read the rest.

Another way, if you are a blogger, or if you just filled out a blogger profile, you can click the button "follow". You will have to go to your blogger dashboard each day to check the blogs you follow.... so that is an extra step.

We are hoping that other painters in our area will help plan paint-outs in their area and post their schedules on this blog.  This would be good for painters in Carson City, Virginia City, Minden and Garnerville, South Lake Tahoe, Incline, Truckee and North Lake Tahoe area, as well as other surrounding areas.

Hope to hear from you!

Colored Pencil Magazine - an inside peek!

Colored Pencil Magazine is a new (1-1/2 yr old) magazine.  As I mentioned in a recent post, they contacted me, asking permission to use one of my pencil drawings they saw on one of my blogs.  I said yes, and I bought the issue in print.  Here is the September issue.  The cover is done by an amazing western artist.  If you like horses, cowboys and ranch life - you would love the 4-page spread on Mikel Donahue.  For info, go to coloredpencilmagazine.com

Well, here it is!  My first debut in a magazine!  This is the Table of Contents, and my watercolor pencil drawing of the barrel cactus is there....

Then, on page 20, my drawing and credits also appear in the Gallery: