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Painting in Mineral King

After watching Marty Weekly paint, I caught the plein air bug again. I wanted to set up in exactly the same place, same time of day, and attack the same scene, using the methods that Laurel Daniel taught back in April.

Following Marty’s example a little bit, I painted 11×14, which is HUGE for plein air after doing 6×8″ paintings with Laurel.

I forgot my camera, so after painting for about 1-1/2 hours, I went back to the cabin to get it. What a hoot to walk away from a wet painting on an easel with a full palette just sitting out there in the elements. No worries because it was an extraordinary day.

This is how far I got in that first 1-1/2 hour.
It seemed to me that the distant mountains weren’t as pale as one would expect, so I took a black and white photo to check the values. Sure enough, not very pale. But what would you expect when they are only 6.5 miles if you don’t cut any switchbacks? I bet they are really only about 3.5 miles away.
Here is how it looked in color.
Trail Guy showed up and took a few photos of some friends that stopped by to check on the progress. (Yes, they are very tall people.)
See? I was actually there painting in Mineral King.
So was Trail Guy. (That’s my photo face, and yes I do wear dresses in Mineral King and yes I do wear them with my trusty Crocs.)
I like photos like this, showing the painting in the setting. (The clouds will NOT hold still so I have to make them up.)
I quit after about 2-1/2 hours, but, taking another lesson from Marty, I knew I’d work on it the next day.

Enough. Come back tomorrow for finishing the painting.

8 Comments

  1. I also like yours better than Marty’s. How could you paint so much faster than he did?

    • Hi Deendie, thank you for checking in on this! Maybe mine was faster than Marty’s because it was smaller. Mine is 11×14, and I’m guessing his is 20×30. Also, in watching him, I was planning, so some of the guesswork and corrections were avoided by mentally painting it in advance.

  2. Don’t tell anyone, but I like YOURS better than his! <3

    • Sharon, thank you. When I see how The Big Boys And Girls Of Art paint, I feel so completely inadequate, as if I am mucking around in a country where I don’t understand the language, and everyone just plays along, nods, smiles, and wishes I’d shut up and go away. And yet, I prefer my realism in spite of the lack of monetary validation.

      • “Realism” YES!! I know Picasso sells well, but I prefer your style. And besides, it’s pretty cool to know the artist personally!

        • Likewise, it is pretty cool to know my “collectors” (even that word makes me cringe slightly at the pretentious sound.)

  3. Wonderfully Jana Botkin, filled with your love and intimacy with the scene! And with the fresh look of not being overworked. With just 2 1/2 hours It’s a wow.

    • Louise, just wait until tomorrow, because I couldn’t stop there on the painting!

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