The weather cleared and all was wonderful. We had to wait but finally it happened although it was Friday, our last day in the area. I did manage to get a couple of watercolors done though. The colors had just exploded overnight. It was spectacular. This one is on the old Wilson Rd. just south of Moose, if you are familiar with the area at all.

The old Wilson Rd. had been closed earlier in the week due to high activity  of bear eating berries, packing on the calories for winter. Bear scat was everywhere. Kathy and our dog Stella sat in the shade of the pick-up with bear spray at the ready as I painted. A couple of fellas passing by said they saw a bear crossing the road just down a piece.

From Moose we headed back up to Flagg Ranch where we were camped. The was a delightful little creek behind the campground that I had wanted to paint all week but I was waiting for the weather to clear. This one was done on Polecat Creek although we neither saw nor smelled any Polecats.

We took one rainy day to go into Jackson for the Fall Arts Festival doings. All the galleries were hosting shows and receptions and the National Museum of Wildlife Art had their special annual show hanging. That was the highlight of the art festival for me. What a wonderful show. I’ve been out of the art scene for a number of years now and I felt like I was just a beginner again. While much was the same, several names I knew, there were a lot of newcomers and a lot of really good art. I was a bit intimidated I’ll have to say. The biggest thing that struck me was how crowded the museum and the streets of Jackson were, not to mention Yellowstone and Teton National Parks, but the crowds at the museum and in the galleries was really impressive. Art seems to be well and alive in Jackson, or so it seemed anyway. One of the gallery owners confided in me that sales were spotty however.

So with the blustery weather it was a great opportunity to through the towel in and have a pity party but we decided to go for it. Even in the rain and cooler temps, we managed to have a really great time and see the area in a different light. Of course the grand finale  with the explosion of fall color and the dusting of snow on the higher peaks was well worth the inclement weather the previous three days. All in all, a good time was had.