Gear Fest

What's all this mess, you ask? The living room floor is Gear Central right now as I am packing for my ice climbing trip to Ouray. (BTW, the artwork is not coming with me.)

Most often traveling by vehicle, I tend to overpack. Noah would be pleased, though, as I often have two of everything. :-) No problem! It all fits in my old Toyota truck. Now if only the truck can make it over Monarch Pass tomorrow... keep your fingers crossed!

I'll try to post pics from the road this week if I have the chance. That is, unless this middle-aged body is thrashed from not having climbed for well over a year...!

Finding Your Way

Finding Your Way

6"x6" collage/mixed media

on 90 lb. watercolor paper

Some old topographical maps that I have wanted to experiment with came out of storage for this collage. The image of the trail near the center is from a photo I took up on the Highline Trail in Glacier National Park, printed on tissue paper, of all things! It was a little tricky to get the tissue to go through the printer. Had to cut it to 8.5"x11". I do like the somewhat transparent effect it has in the piece. The compass was done the same way, printed on tissue. (I also used some tissue images in the "Chill Factor" collage below.)

I still enjoy working with different typefaces/fonts. Collage explores that in different ways than simple calligraphy or signmaking.

Chill Factor

Chill Factor

5"x5" collage/mixed media

on 90 lb. watercolor paper

Guess I have ice on the brain today, getting in the mood for climbing next week. (Is that like having an ice cream headache? Not quite!)

The climber in the yellow jacket in the piece above is actually me, a few winters ago, climbing in the Canadian Rockies. Although I am not an overly bold climber, I still enjoy the physical activity as well as the form and beauty of the ice.

Cold, Cold Kitty!

January still has a frozen grip on us here in Colorado. It's cold, cold kitty out there! An overnight below zero Fahrenheit temperature is the price we have to pay for those clear, cloudless days. Thankfully we have winter sports! And down jackets! As I am fighting the typical run-down, post-holiday tiredness, I'm looking forward to an upcoming visit to Ouray, CO, to participate in the Chicks with Picks all-women ice climbing week.

Collage is on my mind today. I was contemplating my sluggishness in picking up the paintbrush and/or pencil this week. Often, cutting and pasting something together will ignite the creativity fuse. The huge stack of postcards I have in my art box could be a starting point. Check out the interesting blog, "A Collage a Day" by Randel Plowman. Interesting concept!

January Views

I was out for a walk/run above town today. It is still January! Small ice chunks were floating down the Arkansas River as I crossed the F Street Bridge at downtown's edge. (See photo)

I often run to the top of the "S" but today the small peaks east of Tenderfoot Mountain beckoned. Further along, the mostly snowpacked road/trail was quite peaceful. Couldn't hear noise from town.

About an hour up from the bridge, the road divided and became less snowpacked. Electing to post hole for a bit, I chose the right fork. After attaining the next rise, figuring snowshoes would be a better option past this point, I decided to retreat. I snapped a few photos of the valley below as I descended. I can't wait to go higher! :)

Inspiration: A Favorite Hike

Upper Grinnell Lake in Glacier National Park is one of my all-time favorite hikes. This out & back trail, an approximately 12-mile return from Many Glacier Hotel to the upper lake and back, is popular -- for good reason!

Begin at either Many Glacier Hotel or the Grinnell Glacier Trailhead (located at the Many Glacier Picnic area). While hiking along Swiftcurrent Lake, pay attention! Both black and grizzly bears frequent the Many Glacier area. Trail postings can be checked at the hotel bell or transportation desks. There is a great write up of the hike here.

If you start early, you might be lucky enough to catch the reflection of Mt. Gould in Lake Josephine (photo). Reminiscent of the Maroon Bells in Colorado, Mt. Gould is one of the most photographed and recognized peaks in Montana. Its angled summit rises atop the Continental Divide.

The trail climbs moderately from the junction on the north side of Josephine, hugging the mountainside beneath Mt. Grinnell. Impressionistic painting comes to mind during mid-summer, when the slopes along the trail boast some of the most colorful and diverse wildflowers I've ever seen. (See photo for bear grass "Q-tips" and pink subalpine spirea.) Views of the turquoise, glacier-fed Lower Grinnell Lake are attained as you ascend toward the hanging valley above.

As you attain the moraine at the top, scan the cliffs above for mountain goats and sheep. Cresting the moraine, you are greeted with the milky, iceberg-filled Upper Grinnell Lake. Notice the waterfalls draining from the shrinking Salamander Glacier on the rock wall in front of you (see photo). The arete, or knifedge ridge, above the Salamander traces along the Continental Divide. Relax and enjoy the view, you deserve it!

Work in Progress!

Here's a 18"x24" painting I'm currently working on. It has a long way to go yet. I'm still having trouble with getting the lighting correct for photographs, and the original colors are slightly richer than this.

Colored pencil has generally been the medium of my choice. Mixing colors involves overlapping many layers & colors to achieve the desired effect. I'm new to acrylic and find a lot of challenge in mixing the paint to the color I have in mind!

With my last painting, I learned not to sketch out the whole design at once. The effect was that the paint did not completely saturate the canvas where my sketch was (although it looks fine on the wall, if you hold it up to a bright light you can tell). Now I'm experimenting with establishing the background first (mountain, rock wall, & lake) and then I'll be adding a foreground later (icebergs!). Stay tuned!