GRAND Canyon Jan 29, 2011

Friday evening, January 28, 2011
I left Sedona right at 3 p.m. after class, a quick stop at the Art Center (Karen, I saw Shirley and she said to say HI); a zip across the highway for a bit of fur for my seatbelt neck-protector-to-be, and here are some of the sights on the road:

On the way, I saw some crows by the side of the road and wasn't much impressed until I zoomed by and saw a BALD EAGLE with the smallish (compared to Mendocino Ravens) black birds. I was chuggin' at about 60 so couldn't get a picture, and there wasn't any place to pull off or turn around just then, so I have the visual in my mind. Maybe I'll see more on my journey. I hope so.

My time with Karen Ely was just what I needed for my soul. ***Karen and her friend Pat who dropped by last night to say HI***
A little mothering meant I got clothes washed and had a comfy place to sleep, a bubble bath, breakfast on the table every morning, and a friend to talk to about my life. She was also there to back me up with the rv issues, and I'm so grateful for the rides to and from my painting class with Michael Chesley Johnson in Sedona. Karen's business, A Woman's Way, is really popular and getting more so all the time; she's off to Esalon for a retreat next week. I wish her huge success and much gratification in her work.

I headed to Sedona for my final day of classes with Michael Chesley Johnson.

I saw this on the way:

and caught the photo while driving by!!!

My last session was really great.

This isn't quite finished in this photo.  But it's pretty good so far!

The Stone apple barn in Sedona

Michael Chesley Johnson and his appreciative student!

I feel that after my lesson with Michael today, and my shopping spree, that I'm re-starting my trip. I feel great, the rv works, I have new skills, and I'm ready for some fun and beautiful sights. If I do this again, it might be nice to have company... girlfriend? man friend? dog? cat? turtle?

and

GRAND CANYON! I made it! I had all of about 10 minutes of light before the whole place went pitch black, and I whipped out my easel and set up my pastels in about 25 seconds, put some colors on a 9x12 and laughed at myself for my impetuousness and result. A woman came up behind me and expounded on how BEAUTIFUL my painting was. I'd put pastel to board for about 2 minutes. I laughed. 


The rv is working GREAT... I'm all plugged in at the Grand Canyon, lights on, heater roarin', water hooked up, and I'm thinking about what to put in my salad for dinner. I bought lots of goodies at the health-food market in Sedona before I left, so I really don't ever need to eat at a restaurant!
Karen encouraged me to go into Utah and over to 4 corners and down thru NM; I'm at the mercy of the weather. I also found out I can camp outside the park here (got my Senior Pass) on US Forest roads, 1/4 mile off the main road, anywhere! That's great news, and I'll probably do that tomorrow night, or maybe stay here 2 nights. We'll see. Wonder how much painting I'll do... or if I'll just rest. My right arm still aches but not as much; I hope to find a place WITHOUT furriners to paint the Canyon. Is there such a place? an Artist's Hide-out? I don't dare climb down the wall and sit on a ledge... or do I? We'll see what I can discover in the morning.

This photo I took last night, and I'll paint it when I return.  It's BEAUTIFUL!!!  I'll do a big version:

Saturday morning, January 29, 2011 7:00 a.m. from Hopi Point on the south rim of the Grand Canyon. I arrived here about 45 minutes ago after spending a quiet night in a campground where I drove in and out without having to register. Thanks for that. This morning, I woke up around 4 a.m. and made some coffee, returned to the warmth of my heating pad and pillow to read awhile, and then got dressed and drove out about 6.
     I wanted to be sure to have a spot on the rim somewhere so I could catch the first rays of the sun. Right now the east horizon is past red to an orange and yellow with the ever-lightening sky a blue-green to indigo above. I can now wee into the canyon but I'm waiting for the first sun's rays to highlight some of the points.
     Last night, the sun set WAY too fast to capture a "live" pastel. I tried, but failed beautifully! Ha! I realize the best way to paint the light is to sketch out a map of the high and low points, and then one magical moment of shadow and highlights. Once the marks are on the paper, since everything changes so quickly, I would be able to see the shadow color and paint it where I'd drawn the shadow edge; not what was happening "in the moment". It's like taking a picture of the moon in transit across the sky with my little camera... the shutter speed is too slow to capture that exact moment and the result is a blur. Same with trying to paint what one sees. The shadows move too fast to capture.
     AK! Alas. Another rv has pulled up into my secluded parking lot. I hear voices and the solitude is lost. I'll grab my camera and see if there's enough light to get a photo.

First Light from Hopi Point

So beautiful.  Yes, that's SNOW!

See this rock I'm standing on?

I sat down and hung my feet over the edge

that little rock up there on the right is where I was standing.  While I was out there, I suddenly flashed on the rock letting go and falling... and I lightly stepped back to the relative safety of the trail.  Nobody else was around.  It was a beautiful meditative morning.

Meditating Raven on the mule fence. No mule ride for me!  3 hrs for $100+... I already had my morning hike-about!

ok... time to hit the road.  I'm taking 40 to NM!