I began painting these spontaneous watercolors on location about 10 years ago while exploring the splendid San Juan Mountains of Southern Colorado.

 

Hiking in high country with painting gear while searching for that perfect shady spot by the river, is a great adventure. I love setting up so that my toes brush the clear cold water, then I can scoop it up to use directly in the painting. Folding quietly into the shadow of forest, meadow or canyon is an intensely solitary, visceral and rewarding experience.

 

Plein Air painting is a gamble, in my experience, with at least as many failures as successes. Lacking the polish of studio work, these pieces capture the vitality of the outdoors. An alchemy occurs in the mountains making these efforts incredibly rewarding. Elements of ever-changing weather and light amidst these giants awaken me creatively and calm my soul.

 

In homage to the wind, rain, sun, bugs, boulders and rushing water, here follow a few of the watercolors resulting while immersed in the rugged magic of the Colorado Rockies. Each piece is an honest, rough-hewn record of place and time, and together they comprise my nature diaries.

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If you are interested in finding out more about purchasing a Plein Air painting, please visit my shop or contact me.  All comments and feedback are most welcome.