The 100K race just closed. Our last runner came in just after midnight, so we were all warm and snug this morning. I painted the sunrise from memories of what I have seen in Bandera, and what I imagined could have been. The temperature was between 29 and 32 all day and night. It rained on and off. Trail running is the only place in my life where people voluntarily push themselves to the limit, and then willing accept help from strangers when they are vulnerable. It is crazy and beautiful all mixed together. So we are headed home with a car of wet, muddy gear and family and friends that grew closer making it so.
Sunrise Bandera, Texas
To all the brave souls running the Bandera 25, 50, and 100k races today, good luck and stay warm!
Sunset, Bandera Texas 5:54pm
8″x8″ oil on canvas panel
We have made an annual camping trip to Bandera, TX the second weekend in January for the last dozen years. My trail running/backpacking husband says there is no such thing as bad weather, only improper gear.
Those funny little plus marks under the cloud are ICE! Perhaps there is such this as bad weather.
My sons are running the 25k trail run…AND I can’t bear the idea of them finishing tired, alone, and cold. So I am becoming a plein air painter that has dealt with some pretty tough painting conditions. Anyone know where to buy a paint brush with a heated handle?
Is Spring Coming?
12″x12″ oil on panel
Is the spring coming?” he said. “What is it like?”…
“It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine…
-Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden
Grey Day, Heavy Mist
10″x8″ oil on panel
Below is my painting photographed in the scene. Pictured is my trusty, little Alla Prima Pochade box, that can hold 4 wet panels. A 4 paining day remains a lofty goal, I have hit it twice so far on this trip.
Wave Watchers
I started with an acrylic under painting in 2 values. I scraped ochre, and violet thinly on with a palette knife, leaving the white canvas to make a third value. Then I mixed some big puddles of paint, and painted fast, waiting for the figures way down on the beach to get into position. I captured them with a few strokes each, cleaning up my mess using the negative space around them.
27 min sunset
I quickly spread a warm, orange-rose underpainting where I saw all the warms. I used acrylic and a palette knife, and was playing with the shape and design of the composition. I wished, as I was painting the sunset, I would have covered the whole canvas, or perhaps put a different color under the non-warm section because I love the way thick paint skips over the heavy textured canvas, and the white skips left something to be desired.
4:43 Sunset Gazing at Destin
10″ x 8″ oil on panel
I started with a panel primed in Naples yellow, and painted fast.
The water is warmer than the air, so it is fun to wade, but my wet feet feel really cold after the sun goes down, and the temps drop into the 40s.
Clouds Building, Crowds holding Strong
Beautiful day to watch the waves, and soak up some vitamin D, even if it is a bit cold for bathing.
Sunbathers and Beach Grass
If are in need of some sunshine, or just a vacation…sprinkle a little sand in your sandwhich and enjoy these next posts…We are going to the beach!
paintandsimple 