Mon 9/14

I have been working down in the canyon. Of course It is a different perspective entirely and more of a work out. I was pretty far down when a monsoon blew in from both the north and the south west. The wind kicked up dust storms and that made it difficult to work. My paintings literally have the Grand Canyon in them in the form of dust, seeds and insects. I was wedged between thousand foot walls of pink and salmon limestone. It is an impressive spot and I will return there tomorrow. Of course by the time I had hiked to the top the rains had slowed down and stopped when I got home. I encountered a family of big horned sheep on the trail, they are very tame.

Sunset was spectacular so I painted the El Tovar.

Thurs 9/ 10/ 2009

From my perch,

Will work on new painting today. I destroyed the last two days worth because they were not going in the direction I had hoped. I attempt to climb way out onto difficult to access locations to avoid too many distractions from the tourists but the younger and louder ones see me and take on the challenge to harass me in a sense. Not easy to work under those conditions.

Fabulous Monsoon yesterday which I managed to capture.

Everyday is a new challenge to experience this place with paint and create a new image. Also physically I am climbing, exploring and hiking the canyon in search of that special moment or something.

Still working on the big picture (painting) and hope to complete it while I am here.

Welcome!

I will try and post at least once a week with updates of my experience painting at the Grand Canyon.

I am working on a 9' X 5' canvas right now. It is exciting but difficult to move about. The monsoon's rush in so fast it is difficult to keep it dry but I persevere. I've put an image of a coyote I painted on the rim a few days ago.

It has been a challenge and very exciting to paint the monsoon's as they attack to canyon. The landscape changes to another form of what is already a surreal world. I have never seen storm clouds like these. They are huge with winds that whip everything (including my painting) all around and dump rain in long graceful veils into the the canyon. It is like watching a huge creature almost jellyfish like move across the sky with tentacle like trails of rain reaching deep into the abyss. From below billows clouds of fog and dust. Once wet from the downpour the interior of the canyon turns rich colors of purple, red and chocolate. What little foliage there is turns a deep green and exudes the fragrance of sage and pine.

Anyway that is what i am trying to work with at this time. Oh yes did a painting of a coyote cornering a big horned sheep on one of the pinnacles on the rim. Fun stuff!