12/31/08

FROZEN EN PLEIN AIRE

Sitting on an ice cold rock to paint a picture has to be true dedication. My paints were plopped on the ground beside me along with a small water container. We were above 9000 ft. elevation, and it was October and COLD. Very cold. The mittens on my hands had a place for my thumb and a finger to poke out to hold the cold paint brush.

After completing this small, glazed painting in about 3 hours time, I went on to another one. The second painting, which I will post if I ever find it again, had a beautiful pattern of ice crystals formed in the wash of the sky. The wet paint actually froze before it dried. Nothing like a little help from nature to make painting more challenging. I loved the crystallized touch and turned that painting into an African scene with palm trees (the ice crystals) and a giraffe.

This all happened at a wildlife workshop in the early 90's, and our instructor had dared us to go out into the field that day and paint. Most people from the workshop went on a gambling excursion, but about five of us took the dare - and FROZE. We were out from early morning until almost dark... but we were in the Rockies, in a beautiful area to paint. It was glorious and so, so, so cold. I remember being miserably cold and totally happy, too. And I'll never forget it.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

"SOLITUDE" Gouache and Transparent Watercolor on Bristol Board 12 x 9"

3 comments:

Joan Sandford-Cook said...

THAT'S DEDICATION. ... and what a great result. Look forward to seeing the ice pic. Simply love your work - you are an inspiration to me. Cant wait for Jacksons of London Carol told me about to deliver the YUPO.

Lin said...

HAPPY NEW YEAR, SANDY!! I HOPE ALL THE BEST FOR YOU IN 2009! AND THANK YOU FOR THE INSPIRATION OF YOUR INCREDIBLE WORK!

Dawn said...

Dedication is right! Happy New Year to you and yours Sandy. I want to see the ice painting too. Love the colors here.