Today it became apparent that the detail work has to happen in the a.m. The broader base-coating work is for the afternoon when the wall is too hot for my brushes to behave. This was a frustrating learning experience, but forward motion happened anyway. I moved the truck forward another 4 feet, and now I am painting at the HALF-WAY MARK!!! See that crack/seam to the left of Tulare Peak (the one on the left side of Farewell Gap)? As an aside, have you ever noticed how many people let their diesel engines idle incessantly? It occurred to me that perhaps it wasn’t good for this truck to run for 30 seconds, so I became one of Them: those people who let their noisy smelly diesels run for no apparent reason. I hate to sound like someone who makes her own yogurt (I do, but that is beside the point), but it is Really REALLY annoying to listen to and smell diesels idling while I paint! But I digress. . . here is today’s work:
Slightly better than yesterday. I found myself in that weird middle-aged dilemma – reading glasses or sunglasses?? Opted for the reading glasses and found much more information in the photo – funny how that works! Goodbye, Banjo Guy.
Mural, Day Twenty
Looks sort of icky in the early layers, but you have confidence in my abilities, right? Say goodbye to Banjo Guy – he will be gone tomorrow.
Mural, Day Nineteen
First, before showing you the day’s progress, I want to tell you about an esteemed visitor today, Mr. Ron Hughart. He has published a wonderful autobiography called The Place Beyond the Dust Bowl and is about to embark upon a book tour. I am very proud of Ron, and have to confess that he is the victim of the second portrait I ever drew, way back when. You can find his book here: http://www.amazon.com/Place-Beyond-Dust-Bowl/dp/1892622173
Today I crossed into the 2nd third of the mural. I photographed it this way because is appears further! I even pulled the truck forward. . . wasn’t sure about driving an automatic and had to call Keith to inquire about the parking brake. It was the first time I have ever driven to Sawtooth – had to go there first to make some subtle changes, which LJ coached me on yesterday. Here is the day’s work without all the porkadelia in the way. 
The sky looks pretty good in this! These photos help me understand that progress has been made, because today I was just sure that I painted the same snow patch over and over and over again.
Mural, Day Eighteen
See the vertical seam on the left? That marks 1/4 of the mural. There is solid paint on the first 1/4 of the mural now. Not all the details are completed, but visual forward motion is taking place. The truck is a FANTASTIC platform for painting! Today PBS interviewed some Exeter dignitaries and me, and filmed me detailing those trees. I’m sure I look fat, make weird faces and say stupid things, so I may not let you know what program and when. (I really don’t know!)
A Day in Mineral King
On March 8 we took the Trackster to Mineral King. There was a little traffic on the road on the way in: 
It is a small convention of the unconventional! It was fun to see Sawtooth and Mineral Peaks after painting them so recently (albeit from a different view, angle and time of year). 
It was an uncommonly beautiful day with great snow so we skied a few miles up to the place where Soda Springs is in the summer (no visible sign of the rusty spring under the snow, but we may not have gone up far enough – hard to tell with the landscape so wintry!)
After we returned to the Trackster, we cruised around a wee bit so I could photograph the Honeymoon Cabin. Thought you might enjoy this starker view than my usual depictions. 
This is how Timber Gap looked on the way out – hard to believe I stood up above it to take all the photos for the mural last June! I had to take many photos of trees this time because it is easier to see the shapes against the snow than against the dirt, rocks and other growing things. Guess you could infer from that last sentence that this was a most unusual business trip. However, the Trackster doesn’t have an odometer nor do I want to include it on my tax forms as a work vehicle!
Mural, Day Seventeen
When I got to the mural this a.m. there was a beautiful sight to behold awaiting me!
Now I can paint without bars in my face or blocking my arms or casting shadows across my work. This is WONDERFUL! (Huge thank you to Keith!) Another wonderful thing: an angel named Susan brought me some of those little handwarmer things – Wow, what a lovely thoughtful thing to do! Thank you, Angel Susan!
Next step: re-detail these mountains and snow patches, add a detailed layer to the more distant trees, and then re-detail the closer trees. Isn’t this working platform grand? 😎
Mural, Day Sixteen
See how far away and small my completed work appears from the sidewalk end? Lest you despair, there is a bit of camera distortion!
Today I painted from Sawtooth to Mineral Peak and then put the base coat on the trees below the cabin “snapshot”. Note the changed roof on the center cabin, the completed chimney on the cabin on the right, and the ROAD that is not a STREAM!!!
Mural, Day Fifteen
From this angle and perspective, it might appear that I am quite far down the wall. That fits under the category of Appearances Are Deceiving.
Here you can see the subtle differences in sepia colors. You can also see how much happened today! “Snapshot” #4 is almost finished! The weird part is that the road looks a bit stream-ish, and the stream looks like a blur at the bottom of the scene. That will require some thought.
Lots of very satisfying detail work today!
Mural, Day Fourteen
It looked like showers were likely today, but I bravely commuted down the hill prepared to paint. It was a beautiful day with intermittent boiling brilliant sunshine and overcast chilly breezes. The sunshine let me really see the details in my photos; the clouds made it possible to see the paint on the wall – a perfect combination!
First, I finished this. (maybe. . . I never quite know when I am fnished!) This is on a slant, but I straightened it for this viewing. I added a shadow beneath it. 
Next, I mixed a new shade of sepia (notice the subtle differences in color from one “snapshot” to another?) and began the 4th “snapshot”. (Remember, the old Mineral King Store is finished on the east end.) Had to finish off the mountains above and do some taping. That weird tan spot on the bottom left will be the recipient of much detail later on. Again, it feels as if no real square footage was covered today, but today’s “snapshot” is about 6’x8′! (Didn’t want you all to think I am slacking off here!)
Rainy Days and Wednesdays. . .
. . . might just get me down! I am profoundly grateful for the rain and snow; the problem is not knowing how to plan! Wouldn’t you know that it was supposed to rain on Monday so I stayed home and it didn’t rain? Tuesday was drawing lessons day so I couldn’t paint on the mural and it was beautiful out! Today I almost had a twitch from wanting to work on the mural so badly and it rained me out! All is not lost – have a look at a finished oil painting. There are more, but I am saving them to show you tomorrow in case it rains again. (“perish the thought”, “bite my tongue”, and all those uselessly superstitious but hopeful sayings)
This is a commissioned piece, so if you fall in love with it, you will have to wait for more rain so I can paint another for you!