Arizona still...

 


Having a wonderful time but not painting as much as I probably should, but my excuse is that I am gathering photo reference for future paintings.

We attended church this morning in the open air with the sun shining brightly! We shared the arena with the bikers getting ready for a run. The service was great; real western style.

 

We checked out a possible painting sight afterwards....

Peace of the Desert and the birds

The desert offers up so many wonderful photograph opportunities or just nature-watching, if you aren't carrying a camera! Along with the enormous  Saguaro towering overhead, there are many other varieties of cacti and vegetation to provide shelter for birds and other critters. Each day, I am blessed with the entertainment of another variety. Yesterday morning, right after sunrise, a coyote came trotting down the mountain path....soon his friend followed. By the time I ran and got my camera, they were gone; so although I didn't get a photo, that quick glimpse remains a wonderful memory!

 

Peace of the Desert

 

Today I was able to photograph a bird I have been spotting often; it resembles a cardinal in body size shape and crested head, but it is all black. Then I was lucky enough to spot a pair of hawks...

 

Scoping out a place to paint

Char wanted to walk the wash to see if there was a specific spot to paint that we both liked. I liked it all! It had just rained and was very cold but the sun was beginning to set as we found our way back the trail and I snapped a few for possible paintings.

We may return here to paint plein air if we find time this week and the weather warms up. We will have to watch that it doesn't get too warm or we will have to worry about getting caught in a flash flood!

Traveling to Cave Creek

Energized, even though I barely slept last night, afraid I wouldn't awake early enough, not trusting my cell phone alarm! So I was up, packed, had breakfast and ready to go just after 7:30am. I got better directions to return the rental car and it was a smooth ride. The sun was shining so I didn't mind if I would have to wait for Charlotte...

We drove straight to Cave Creek

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charlotte spoiled me as usual, and brought her famous chocolate brownies for a snack! After some of her delicious homemade soup I headed out for a walk in the hills.

 

 

 

Then I saw this flying HIGH over the mountains....

 

 

 

 

# 30..... Went to a Garden Party

This years challenge has been a little easier this year. I chose things before hand, to narrow the field of choices; that, in itself, can eat your entire day away.

At first, I had chosen the theme of 'western'....but I also didn't want to box myself in, so I had also included several other photos to choose from, knowing how mood affects what we feel and want to paint. I am son=mewhat sad for this to end but as I am packing my suitcases today, the timing is perfect. Another western experience awaits in AZ and there are plans to meet up with some of my favorite painters in Sedona, Jerome and down to Tucson.

With temps here in the 60's, although short-lived, I thought it appropriate to end on a sunny, positive note;

                                                           Went to a Garden Party

                                                                10 x 20" oil
                                                       gallery-wrapped deep canvas



Here is the months worth of work...........now I am excited to be planning some larger, more involved paintings, working on those miles of canvas.........

I hope you have enjoyed this journey with me....stay tuned; I will soon be blogging about fun in Arizona and writing for Hostelling International.

Stay safe and have a wonderful day...........Ruth Ann


                           

# 9.......30 paintings in 30 days

Today's attempt is not anything I am happy with but I did paint........that is my goal. To create some more consistent hours in the studio. It is easy to drift in the mindset that if you aren't selling a bunch, maybe you should slow your painting down, too. That is not really a good idea...yet, I admit to sometimes falling victim to that. The more productive time spent in the studio, the better the mind set and the more creative you become.

The results of today are not a waste, either. Much was learned and there is certainly more failures ahead but the great thing about that is the sooner I get some more of those failures out of the way, a few wonderful creations are going to appear at the end of my brush! It's a matter of numbers. The odds are with us; so I plunder on.

In fact, I started two other paintings after this one.......

                                        Hohokam Path 

                                      5 x 7" oil on panel     $45

# 7....... of 30 paintings in 30 days 2013

Thinking I should really start some projects that have been tossed around in my right brain for several months, so today I plunged in.

Having been bitten with the travel bug a few years ago, I have tried to do as much exploring the landscape as I can. I am saddened to see the litter that I find while hiking. Last year I started picking as much up as I could, on one particular area. Then it dawned on me that I should repurpose these rusted pieces of metal. I wrapped them in newspaper and flew them home with me.

They have been treated to stop the rusting process and  are ready for painting. Each one will have a subject that I have personally encountered and photographed in the area where I gathered the metal. With the uneven surface, it is difficult to get detail but here goes attempt #1..... a Magpie that I followed for some time.....

 

'Alone in the Desert'  

 3 x 8" oil on rusted metal     NFS

 

Comments and suggestions are always appreciated.

 

Thank you for looking........ Ruth Ann

# 5 of 30 in 30 days

I painted this scene in a large format and since it is one of my very favorite places, Sedona, I wanted to paint it again in a smaller size.

I have to admit, I liked it better about 40 brushstrokes ago, but since none of you were here in my studio to grab the brush from me, here it is...

                        Red Rock Crossing in Autumn         9 x 12" oil on panel        $75

                                              Have a fabulous weekend..........Ruth Ann

Day 2.... 30 paintings in 30 days 2013

Well, I am sort of sticking to my idea of western paintings. I always loved the colors of the sky when I captured these photos while exploring the area just northwest of Phoenix. The sun was starting to set and I was trying to navigate my husband to an area where I could get a decent shot that didn't include houses. I allowed my intuition to guide me, and directed him to take a right or left, urging him to just trust me; we ended up in this beautiful clear area and when I saw the statue backlit, I knew someday I would try to capture it in paint.

                                                            9 x 14.5"  oil on panel

I would really appreciate help in a title for this one.........any suggestions????

Have a wonderful evening and may he shine his light upon you......  Ruth Ann