Spent a great weekend in Arches National Park in Uah. The weather was beautiful with highs around 70 degrees and lows in the low 40’s. Skies were a cobalt blue above and Edward Abbey red rock country below. Fantastic.
It has become an annual tradition to go to Arches the last weekend of October. So far we haven’t been let down with the weather, good times and a few good paintings. Over the years we have managed to take in most of the popular arches that are accessible without a back country permit. Although we didn’t go to any arches this trip, the general red rock terrain was fantastic.
Several nice paintings will come from this. I tried to do a little plein air painting but found it difficult for some reason, probably because I was trying to do the painting with a new set of gouache colors which I have never used before. My limted experience with this new medium was evident and I gave up in disgust. I feel the medium is promising and I look forward to using it but I need to experiment with it some before I just step up to the challenge of plein air painting. I should have reverted to my trusty experience with watercolor but I had lost the enthusiasm.
We had some exceptional Dutch Oven cooked meals. I think the biscuits and gravy with thick cut bacon and scrambled eggs were my favorite. Or it could have been the cinnamon rolls, eggs and bacon too. Or maybe the enchiladas or the apple pecan pie. I don’t know. It was all good. We’ll be back. Looking forward to next year and some experience with my gouache paints.