Plein Aire Paradise

Crystal River 2019

For several years Julie and I have taken an autumn vacation and often end up on the Crystal River. This may be the most beautiful of Colorado streams. It was the sight of Marble Quarry to build the monuments in Washington, the foot of McClure Pass and the Home of the C

oke ovens that fueled the steel mills in Pueblo.

It is my hobby to paint plein air landscapes, and so as a sixty fifth birthday present Julie allowed me the day to stand along a bike path between the village of Redstone built by the idealist John Cleveland Osgood at the turn if the twentieth century and Carbondale on the Roaring Fork River. It was a perfect day. Right temperature, no wind, and no on lookers. Just me, my devoted wife and my pochade box. So, the dreaded 65 was not so bad after all! Below is the final result, an oil on canvas.

A few other out door attempts have been pleasant as well. This Pastel of Wave Hill along the Hudson, and the Brainard Lake along the Peak to Peak Highway in Colorado were done on perfect still days. the Pastel of Helen Hunt Falls was done during a Hail storm, saved by the refuge of a store awning.

Other attempts of Water colors and oil paintings have not done as well, due to changing weather and wind, and light. Working in these elements makes you appreciate the Masters like Monet and Van Gough who loved working in the open. The oil painting of Crystal River largely finished on site, was completed in my office at home.