I thought you might enjoy a sampling of studies that I did back in October. I’d intended to travel all the way to Zion National Park, but after a late start I called Robert Moore, a friend and mentor who lives near the Idaho/Utah border. So it was that I stayed at Robert’s studio and painted the area for four days. I never made it to the desert. Check out the studies and I hope you’ll see why: (Click on any of the images for enlargements.)

What a quiet, subtle, and peaceful corner of the West! I’m starting to work in pastel on location again, and I’m really enjoying switching back-and-forth between oil and pastel. The moonrise piece was especially satisfying. I finished it with the aid of a headlamp, so I really had no idea if the piece worked. Currently I’m working on some larger pieces based on a couple of the studies, so I will post those as soon as they are done.

I thought I’d throw in a picture of Robert Moore. Here he is, working on a 30×40 on location!

I managed a 9×12, but I was still happy. It’s hard not to paint well with Robert. He is generous, kind, a great critic, and he can paint with two brushes at the same time! And he does a great imitation of a Russian painter contemplating the beautiful reflections in a mud puddle.

Posted by Aaron: December 17th, 2007 and filled under: Field Notes .
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