Saturday was a paint out with the Pastel Society of Colorado. We were supposed to go to Rocky Mountain National Park but since the call ahead, said there was 2 feet of snow on the ground, it might be better to stay closer to Denver. We all met at Delaney Farms in Aurora. I have painted here before and I am starting to like it more and more. As I get better with seeing the potential for shape relations and the location being close to home, this place gets more and more attractive. I love pastels. There is such a surprise at each painting because I don't try to match each color or value but have to decide to use what I have to make the painting work. Maybe there is a life lesson here. Be happy with what you have.

Windy, windy, windy, but we painted any way. Any place in the open was not the place to be. So most of us went to the back streets where there was some shelter from the wind. It was nice and warm but the wind made for precarious conditions. This painting was done with one hand on the panel and the other hand with a paint brush. I think I got some sun. Better pack the sun screen next time. :-)

Wow, what a beautiful day. Ya gotta love Colorado. Here at the Colorado Rail Road Museum in Golden, there is so much to make a painting of that it gets hard to settle on just one spot. As I get braver I will try paint larger and include more and more. Spent most of the morning taking pictures and enjoying the cars and cabooses and engines. This quick sketch was all I had time to do before heading back to work. I think it has the potential becoming a finished piece, if I get the time. It is a qwerky little crane that just wanted to be painted.

Here at Sterne Park the weather was pre-rain. It seemed like the clouds would open up and start drizzling any moment. But we got lucky. It stayed cloudy, but not wet. It is a challenge for me to paint a gray day. I know the colors are more intense and the values are closer together but still, its a gray day. Its OK though because it helps me appreciate the many sunny days. There are tulips and daffodils blooming everywhere so Spring is just beginning.

The week of the 6th was windy at Rky Mnt Arsenal and this week it was even more windy. Although the sky was blue and the temperature was pretty good, the morning wind made painting a very difficult task, so Nick and I went for coffee. Here is a painting that is on the easle in the studio. I hope those who could stay longer in the day could find some shelter and get some painting done but earlier it was just too windy. The wind blew my hat off and of course it found the only spot of water in the entire park. he he he