Day Eight - Through to northeastern Utah

Today was a day of contrasts. On the motorcycle in the mid morning (have to take time at my campsite to juice my breakfast and pack up the camping tent), I made a quick stop at a sporting super store to pick up some fuel for my camp stove.

The contrast left me shaking my head. Here's this sporting goods store perched on the edge of the spectacular Snake River canyon. Such natural beauty is part of the western landscape, and yet here is this shopping center literally sitting on its edge.

So one walks to the edge of the parking lot and sees this:

And I back up into the parking lot and step to the other side of the motorcycle and take this image:

And you can see that the parking lot is on the EDGE of this gorgeous vista. Now I walk around to the other side of the motorcycle and take THIS image:

Can you imagine working with that view at your front door? For this Californian, who sees natural beauty like this tucked away in the mountains or at least a good drive from my door, this travesty is hard to comprehend.

Back on the road after that quick stop (the light was too flat to paint that vista), I headed south and east to Utah. Coming into the Salt Lake watershed, I could easily see why Brigham Young was enamored with the potential of making this area's natural resources available for his following. But Salt Lake City is no draw for me (pun!!), and I headed around the city and up into the mountains, stopping for the night at Heber City. I found a nice RV park, and set up my camp surrounded by huge homes on wheels, feeling as though they were looking down their noses at me. However, I know that when it is all said and done, my expenses will be far less than theirs! Rather than sit around watching cable, I'd rather be out EXPERIENCING this wonderful world. And I sure did...

The wind was blowing, a storm moving in, and I was rained on during the night, snug in my tent. Tomorrow, east over the Rockies to visit my long-time friend in Colorado Springs.

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Day Seven - Lost a day in Bend, but the SKIES of Idaho!

I'm in Twin Falls, Idaho now. A really LONG nine-hour day on the motorcycle, and not much to talk about the flatness and austere beauty of western Oregon and the rolling prairie in Southern Idaho...but I can paint it! This is a 9 x 12 of the evening last night, caught as the sun was headed 'way off there into the evening. It stays light so LATE here, that I was putting the final brush strokes on at 9:45. I am really, really happy with this one. It's drying in the carrier today.

As you know, day six was spent in Bend, waiting for service on the Red Queen. Lots of time to write and think about directions on the real road and the imaginary idea road of my future.

I've decided that visiting my friends in Colorado has a high priority, so I am headed down through Utah to get closer to the time I'll be with them. I love western Colorado--where my dad was born, in tiny Hotchkiss, in 1906.

Here's the Red Queen amongst all the wide open space.

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Day Five, Delayed in Bend, Oregon

Bend, Oregon, has many attributes, one of which are the Three Sisters mountains to the west. I was delayed by a needed service on the Red Queen (my name for my motorcycle), and so I spent the night in a local motel. The evening sunset is both beautiful and yet portends wet weather coming. So I painted it. The colors aren't quite true (they are better in person), but with the heavy cloud cover and poor lighting, this is the best I could get. I may be wet today on the road, but beauty is everywhere!

I went north on Highway 97 to Bend after a restful night along the Little Deschutes River in this lovely campsite:

 While walking in those bushes (over my head, they are BIG), I saw a coyote that was mighty interested in Sparky, who was on his leash. Bigger than the SoCal coyotes, this one looked well fed and beautifully pelted. A little too up close and personal for me, but I do love the wildlife!

Now I'm headed out east, for parts unknown. I hope to have wifi again, and be able to post more paintings and adventures for your pleasure. Here's the Red Queen parked for the night in the motel. No camping and windy this evening!

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Day Four - Oregon and Rivers!

I finished the 6x8 oil of Two Cows this morning, and am posting it for your enjoyment. It really smacks of California rural to me, with the live oak leaves patterning the sky and shadows. ($225 via Paypal) It's now in the wet painting carrier in the motorcycle trailer. This way of traveling is awesome!

Yesterday brought me inland from the cool coast of California, traveling north on the 101 along and through redwood forests and coastal beauty. Then I turned inland on Highway 199 along the Smith River watershed.  Can you see the color in the water? Who knew--turquoise?

Gorgeous rocks and clear water here, and I will paint it! Experiencing it first-hand is how I get a connection to a subject, and this river is one that I'll revisit many times in the future.

I came to the Medford/Jacksonville area, and think this is perhaps the best place for consideration for me. Today I will do some wandering around the various connected cities, and then back up into the mountains for the trek north and east. 

I hope you're enjoying this journey as much as I am, and please share this with anyone who might be interested.

Thanks!

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Third Day out and finally Cooler!

I just had to leave the 90+ degree heat yesterday, so I headed west--across the great valley of California and to the coastal mountains. It was only a 270-mile day, but I was limp as a dishrag when I finally met the cool air coming over highway 36 to the coast.

Some express interest in how I do these paintings, so I thought I'd share this one "in process". I decided that since I was so wiped out yesterday, I would do this one in two stages, and not do a plein air one. (I was just going to stay in the campsite!).

This is another 6 x 8 oil, taken from the source material along Highway 49--the gold and blue of California. I like to cover the canvas with loosely thick oils, and then spend time tweaking the edges to make the finished image. This covering of the 6 x 8 canvas took only about 30 minutes.  I'll finish it today and share it with you tomorrow.

Today I head up the gorgeous Northern California coast, along the 101 highway between Eureka and Crescent City--the most northern city in the state. Then I turn inland and go into Oregon, to end up somewhere near Medford.

The motorcycle is performing perfectly, and and I captured some of the ride over Highway 36 on video. I'll share the link with you once it is uploaded.

Here's my campsite in Fortuna. It is even CHILLY this morning! But look at those redwoods....

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Day Two - Grass Valley and Painting

Made it to the Eastern Sierras and Grass Valley last night, and painted this 8 x 6 oil before finishing setting up camp. I really like this one because of the poles and wires indicating human involvement, but they are subtle, so I continue to enjoy the patterns of color and value. Called "Pine Evening", it is available for $125 just as soon as I sign it. (I can even mail it to you before I get home!) Paypal works, just let me know this one is the painting you are adding to your collection.

It was a gorgeous (but warm) ride over Highway 49 to get here, crossing several rivers and wandering through huge pine forests.  Today I continue into the high country before coming down to go north again.

Having everything with me in the trailer is a joy. No worries about what I am carrying--I even have my juicer, and juice up fruits and veggies for breakfast every morning.  Here's the camp site with Sparky waiting for the tent to go up. I think he likes it even more than I do!

I came through several towns that were on my list for possible places to relocate, but none of them really meets my needs.  Most in this area are just too dry for me, and with climate change, that isn't going to improve. Last summer's Rim fire in Yosemite in an indicator of that. 

However, this is a fun journey with a purpose and joyful in the paintings I'm creating. Although a solo trip, I feel you are all along with me as you read my posts. Thanks for that. Now off to get on the road again!

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On the Road Again....

Long time... I know. For all of you waiting patiently, I have been undergoing some massive changes in my life. Still painting, but in a different way.

Today I begin an art journey to cover some of the western United States, but in an unusual fashion.... see the image below.

I am riding a Honda F6B, which is like a Gold Wing, but sleeker and totally wonderful to ride. I custom painted it, using those skills I had from the days of painting vans in Europe. The trailer behind is a silver aluminum cargo trailer that carries all the camping gear, art stuff and "kitchen", as well as Sparky's food. Yes, Sparky is with me, watching out for me and also being great company. My concern for his comfort makes me stop more often than I probably would, and that's great for me (hydration) and for the art vistas that beg to be painted.

I have my oils with me this trip, and lots and lots of 4 x 6 and larger canvases. I plan to paint at least one painting per day on this glorious trip, and of course, they will be available to anyone who wants to take a piece of this lifestyle with them.

More on what's happening in my life as these days progress. Right now, I am on wifi for a "free hour" and will have to get this off to you before that time runs out.

The Color System is HERE
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