Plein Air painting

I took on a challenge and joined the plein air painters of Idaho this week.  I met a few of them at the Swan Falls Dam on the Snake River in Murphy, Idaho. It was a long drive from Boise, the last 20 miles were through a barren landscape of a valley with weeds (that part is in a conservation area for Birds of Prey).  I wondered what I was getting myself into.  Then I arrived at the dam area. That was beautiful and I met some artists painting at the top with this view:

We chatted briefly and I continued on the road to the dam. Magnificent cliffs of basalt and rhyolite surround the Snake River.  I struggled to remember how to set up my French easel (I haven't used it in years, but finally got myself organized and painting). Very challenging to paint outside with bugs, wind etc. but worthwhile and I will try again next week at a different location.  I am very glad I joined and met these wonderful artists.

I brought 2 canvases with me, a small 8 X 10 and a slightly larger 11 X 14.  I brought them home and finished the 11 X 14 so it looks better.

I did not add the geese into the painting. I decided it was enough with large shapes.  I learned a lot and will bring the right colors with me next time. The color palette in Idaho is completely different from what I painted plein air many years ago in Vermont.  At home I was able to fix the painting better. I also learned that pigments are different even though they use the same name, it depends on the manufacturer and I can't use one at home that is different than the one I took with me.  I removed a bug from the painting too.

The week before, I finished a painting from an old photo. It was from my visits to Mojave California to visit family.  I heard the America song on the radio about the horse with no name in the desert and I remembered the photo with the Joshua Tree.  This is an 11 X 14 also water mixable oils on stretched canvas.  I am waiting for it to dry before posting to my web site.  Too much glare on it, but I did take this photo.