6" x 8" oil on panel
nfs
I just got back from a 3 day trip to paint at Palo Duro Canyon State Park in Canyon, Texas with 10 other artists/friends. Canyon, Texas is about 10 minutes south of Amarillo in the Texas panhandle. Palo Duro Canyon is the 2nd largest canyon in the US. Palo Duro means "hard wood" in Spanish, after the mesquite and juniper.
Palo Duro Canyon State Park opened in 1934 and contains 29,182 acres of the scenic, northern most portion of the Palo Duro Canyon. The Civilian Conservation Corp of the 1930's constructed most of the buildings and roads still in use by park staff and visitors.
The Canyon is 120 miles long, about 20 miles wide, and has a maximum depth of more than 800 feet. Its elevation at the rim is 3,500 feet above sea level. Palo Duro Canyon was formed by water erosion from the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River. The water deepens the canyon by moving sediment downstream. Wind and water erosion gradually widen the canyon.
Our first two paintings were done at the southern end of the park. It was partly cloudy with the sun going in and out, causing the incredible colors of the rock to change before my eyes. I painted just the center of the far ridge.
9 comments:
I like the painting, Pam - nice plein air feel to it. But what I really love is that I learn something with so many of your posts - you should write a BOOK!
Thanks Kelley, I guess after 28 years of teaching there'll always be a teacher in me!
Pam, Welcome home, sounds like a fun adventure. I agree with Kelley, your posts are so educational! I love sseing your wonderful art and learning new things.
Hope you enjoyed the Lone Star State. Didn't realize you were here. Palo Duro is an interesting area - I used to drive past it on my way to the NE corner of the panhandle. Long way between trees up there. Lovely painting and such rich colors.
Fantastic color. Your loose style works so well with the look of the rock.
I admire you plein air painters and what you are able to do with adverse conditions...beautiful!
Beautiful. I love the simplicity of this one.
Cathyann, there will be many more to come!
Nancy, It was a really fun trip. I hope to do more like this.
Debbi, Palo Duro is a beautiufl area. Hope to go back. You're right, up at the top of the canyon there weren't many trees.
Thanks Gwen, Even w/ the partly cloudy weather, the colors were amazing.
Dana, Part of the plein-aire fun is the weather!
Thanks Natalie, You have to be quick and simple w/ plein-aire.
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