Another Yosemite Painting

El Capitan Meadow  18x24" oil on canvas, studio piece

This is my newest painting, just delivered to the gallery.  It is an autumn scene of El Capitan Meadow in Yosemite with Half Dome in the background and El Capitan there on the left.  Again, this was done from field notes and sketches that I had done.  During the fall you can catch the meadow ablaze in color like this.  Almost appearing like it is on fire!

Yosemite is truly one of my greatest inspirations and favorite place to hike and sketch.

El Capitan, Yosemite National Park, CA

El Capitan, oil on canvas, 40x30"  Studio piece painted from field studies

I just finished this painting this morning.  It was done from sketches that I did in Yosemite National Park this past summer.  I did several plein aire sketches and many small pen and ink and watercolor sketches in my mole skiene book.

When I got home most of my photographs are of El Capitan as viewed from El Capitan Meadow.  It is an enormous view but encompasses so much with all the trees, vegetation, sky, clouds, and the huge El Capitan itself.  The largest single piece of granite in the world.  Remember what I said about being overwhelmed with the scene?  Too much to capture?  I simplified this painting by zeroing in on the enormous face of this rock, showing the pine trees that are dwarfed by its presence. I had zeroed my camera in on a close up scene of the rock face as well as doing a quick sketch of the view I knew I would later want to paint back in the studio.

Get yourself to Yosemite if you haven't been there yet.  There is an entire world in that 7 mile long valley just waiting to be captured on canvas!

Half Dome Sketch

This is another sketch in my Moleskine book I did in Yosemite National Park. I was sitting at Mirror Lake looking up at a huge panoramic view of Half Dome.  When I paint this in my studio, it will be very large and very wide.  I used 2 pages in the book, you can see the seam binding in the middle and the elastic that holds the book closed is on the right.

This sketch book literally weighs just ounces and I carry 2 brushes, one came with the paint set and it is tiny, one is a round brush that is larger for quick washes,  I have a small 7 X 2.5" pan of watercolors that opens up to reveal 12 colors and 3 mixing squares inside the lid. I have a small jar of water that is only 2" tall.  I keep it all in a zip lock bag just in case it leaks.  On this trip to Mirror Lake, I rode my mountain bike so everything was packed neatly and nicely in my back pack along with snacks and water to drink.

Yosemite is so full of stuff to inspire you that it can be overwhelming. Start small if that happens. Sketch just a rock, or a leaf, or just the ridge line. You don't have to sketch the whole forest in one day.  Start with a single tree!  You will appreciate all the field work you did when you return to the studio and put all your sketches, notes, and photographs together to form a painting.

Sketching

When I am out I always have my moleskine book with me and a very small travel pan of Cotman watercolors.  This is a sketch I did of Lower Yosemite Falls.  I sat on a rock at the bottom looking up and throughly enjoying the mist on a hot day.  I usually do a very quick 30 minute sketch.  It is enough information for me to bring home and do a larger painting if I want to.  I also photograph the site and may do pencil sketches as well.  I don't always have my plein aire oil paint set up with me but I try to always carry this sketch book and watercolors.  All of this information is field work that I do to bring back in to the studio.

I try to keep the sketches brief as I usually am out with my daughter or a friend and I want to keep moving so we all have a good time.  This moleskine book of mine is 3.5 x 5.5"  Very small and easy to tote around.