The Process

Have I mentioned that the mid-section of Yosemite Fall is my favorite place to paint? Well, it is and I did two different studies this week of this dramatic area of Yosemite Valley. In this blog I'm showing the "start" and the "finish" of one of them. It was cold to paint outdoors, but not unbearable like a couple of weeks ago. I am working for my April show, so painted an April waterfall from other paintings done previously. Nobody wants to see ice paintings in April and May, right? I know I'm so done with winter by April . . . no matter how long it lingers.

I'm using some new oil paint made by Vasari Oil Colors in New York and I love them! They are hand-made and I've chosen some grayed-down colors like "Caput Mortuum" and others like Jasper, Ship Rock, and Cedar. Dense paint which gives me the edges I love to make with brushes or knives. Softer color than my usual palette, this is an experiment. See their paint at www.shopvasaricolors.com.

The Patagonia Internet site (www.patagonia.com) is selling the new Tee shirt with the Cerro Torre image of mine printed on it. The second shirt, a Yosemite image of Half Dome, will come out later in the year. I can hardly wait to get one. This company does some great things for the earth, and I am very pleased to be associated with them. Check it out.

ON THE EASEL: Finishing a large painting of El Capitan and working the new paint with knives and brushes. I am so happy to be painting outdoors again. And very grateful for my returned good health. Be well. Penny

2010

New Year's day was cool and I got the heat started in the studio right away, but then I got stuck in the house with Sadie (cat) on my lap. I did go out the evening before to enjoy the El Portal Progressive Dinner where we hike from house to house, eating and visiting with libations. It is a remarkable little town where I live and there is so much to hear and to say. At midnight, we danced and welcomed the New 2010.

The studio is busy with several starts and stops and these are examples of works in progress. I always think I'm done, but then on second look, I see something I want to change or add. The process of painting for me. There does come a point when I know when to really stop and I honor it!

The little Christmas cactus is blooming it's heart out at the cool window and the mountains beyond. Sun. This next week designing a tryptich . . . a new challenge. Fun! Happy New Year once again. Now let's get on with it!!

Monday Morning

Monday Morning means a lot of things to many of us. It's been my goal to get back into a solid routine of painting and I chose This Monday Morning as my goal. Actually I took a few days to organize the studio, clean it from Open Studio, and yesterday started a new painting. Here it is on the easel -- it's a work in progress!

I started the painting in acrylic on canvas from another painting done last year done en plein air at Glacier Point, let that dry overnight, and this morning came in with the oil paint. This is my new gig -- or one I'm trying out. I love the loose quality of acrylic paint but I also love the wonderful texture of oil paint. I also love mixing color in oil. I don't in acrylic. Being a Perfectionist, I want both. Time will tell.

In-between holidays are giving me a jump on getting my new painting routine refined. Up early, build a fire in the house, turn on heater in studio, drink tea, gather strength, and make my way "to where the magic happens." (Someone said this to me at the Open Studio!) Sometimes the magic goes right into the garbage can, but this is the way of all things, yes? Some good, some great, some OK, some worthy of the ugly white trash bin.

Happy New Year to you loyal blog readers -- I've been remiss late this year because of that 3-month vertigo event, but am now determined to write once a week and share both the magic and the mistakes. Be well.

Penny

Christmas at The Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite

These images of a smart little ringtail cat visiting the Ahwahnee Dining Room during several of the Bracebridge Dinners are so wonderful. I've shamelessly borrowed them from Facebook from a Hotel employee and friend to share with you.

Many of you know about the Bracebridge Dinner -- a wonderful food and music celebration that was actually started in the 1930's at the Hotel. Ansel Adams was originally a part of the design of the event in the early years. He was really quite a thespian. When I came in 1964 I worked at the Bracebridge as the person who passed the cheese and crackers after the dinner. Since folks ate much more than normal, they were not too hungry, but I had a great time visiting with everyone in my beautiful velvet gown. In those years of working in the dining room, I observed ringtail cats, California ground squirrels, and even a bear in the little bar at different times!

The ringtail cats were always in the rooms of the Hotel when I first worked in the dining room. People complained their apples were stolen, or the banana from lunch had bites taken out of it. Then the Hotel put real screens on the rooms, so it all changed. But it's tradition that these lovely creatures inhabit the Hotel area. What a resourceful little cat! The stage at Bracebridge goes across the alcove, and I'm sure the cat spends daylight hours resting and at night frolics with the Squire and his Lady and guests trying to eat the apples in the great wreaths.

Merry Christmas to all!

Rainy Day Fun

The El Portal Open Studios on Saturday was a great success in spite of rain, wind, and dark skies. Groups of wet people went from house to house to see twenty artists' work. We made hot snacks, had live music, and it became a real El Portal Happening. Thanks to everyone who came and brought their good cheer. I think just being inside with the fire going was enough to make folks happy on a big winter day. It was festive and is sure to occur again next year on the same weekend.

I received a notice from YOSEMITE RENAISSANCE that one of my entires made it into next year's show -- out of 742 entries! I'm thrilled. It is a watercolor with mixed media (ink) of Mt. Dana and Mt. Gibbs in the High Sierra. It is going to have a good wide frame as it has a lot of detail. It's a new style I'm developing and having a lot of fun with.

I am feeling so much better, walking every day, eating modestly, and looking forward to a routine in and out of the studio. There is a lot of very wet snow in the Valley these days, so plainting en plein air is challenging. But I am going to paint many big rocks this winter. I'm working in oils again and really loving them. And the studio is so tidy . . . .

More Watercolors

I did quite a few watercolors this summer in the High Country and after putting them away for a while, I just brought them out. (Still cleaning the studio . . .) and I've decided to show them at Open Studio this Saturday. I'm working with pure watercolor and archival ink.

The painting of Half Dome is done on "Yupo" paper, which is plastic in part and is sort of like painting on tile. The paint sits on top rather than soaking into the paper. I love doing watercolors in between oils and acrylics. Each is so different but I love moving from one to the other!

Hope to see you Saturday!

Come See the Studio!

It is always fun to clean the studio, re-arrange my tools and paint. My friend, Laurel has helped me this year and she is so much better organized than I am. She hung the paintings with an eye to color and style! I feel happy to share my home and studio with everyone. This Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. twenty different artists from the Yosemite foothill community will gather once again to share our work. From metal to paint to beads, it's varied and really amazing! We are all very different, and yet we all have the desire to share our ideas. Art must really be seen by another to have the connection between us. I can paint all I want, but unless I see a glimmer on someone else's face, it's only of a fleeting value to me. Then, I'm on to the next idea! I am motivated through a desire to try new ideas out. It is why I make art. I'm always thinking of the next painting.

I am showing paintings, large and small at my studio and home. Watercolors, oils, acrylics. Matted and framed pieces. I made some lino cut notecards of the full moon. Notecard sets of "Sunrise Runner," (coyote running in front of Half Dome), and have many photographic prints of paintings which make great gifts. I'll be doing a painting demo . . .as much as I can while visiting and talking! Becky Caraco will have her luscious glass beads and jewelry and much more. Sally Owens will show her stunning watercolors of feathers, cones, and flowers. Gail Dreifus will be here playing guitar, and we will have hot cider, cookies, and snacks for you. And there are more artists at different locations here in El Portal and also at Briceburg.

We hope to see you in El Portal on Saturday -- let's celebrate the holidays!!