Paint Mines

16 x 20 oil on canvas

This is another piece for the upcoming Bear Creek Park Show and fundraiser. The Paint Mines are about 45 minutes east of Colorado Springs. These "mines" were used by the Native Americans for clay and paint. This area was shut off to the public for many years. About 5 years ago the land was purchased by TOPS (trails and open park space) from Colorado lottery money. Land has been purchased all over the state this way. It's been great.

My plein aire group, Garden Artists, painted there early one summer morning. I was really trying to work with the values in this piece. In the early morning, values are usually cool, but the sun on the rocks was warm. It was a fun challenge.