Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Red Rock Canyon Open Space

6" x 8" oil on board
nfs

Yesterday my plein air group painted at Red Rock Canyon Open Space.  This area used to be a county dump and before that a quarry.  A small percent (I think 1%) of Colorado's lottery money goes to buy land for parks.  This park is a great result of that money!  Red Rock Canyon is a southern continuation of the rock formation found in the Garden of the Gods.

I plan to use this as a study for a larger piece.


This is the tip of Pikes Peak, still very snow covered.


These almost vertical formations used to be horizontal (millions of years ago) and were pushed up from ground by earth quakes and geologic movement.
You can see the Garden of the Gods in the middle of the background.

8 comments:

Marian Fortunati said...

What a wonderful coincidence. There must be Red Rock Canyons all over.

I told a lady at Gelson's (where I go for bagels every morning) that I was there early because I was driving to Red Rock Canyon. She told me that she goes to the casino near there all of the time.

?????

Turns out the casino is in Nevada.... (She was surprised when I showed up the next morning.)

Love your painting. Can't wait to see the large one you create from this.

One of the guys we painted with posted his painting on Facebook. It's really nice.

I'm so glad that someone in government has the sense to set aside State, National and local areas for everyone to enjoy like this.

Happy Painting!!

Autumn Leaves said...

What a lovely day, place, and almost an abstracted view of the gorgeous rock formations. Beautiful work, Pam.

Nancy B. Hartley said...

Pam, Wow! your blog is wonderful, not just for the beautiful paintings, but for the travel info, an added bonus! I think that the Parks Dept, should put you on the payroll, or the tourist board, or something. So inspiring, and so beautiful!

Kathleen Krucoff said...

I love this area Pam and you have captured it beautifully! My husband and I have walked a few of those trails...he sets up for photography and I snap pictures for glass inspirations. I recognize that one area where you are pictured too.

Wonderful work!

Mary Sheehan Winn said...

I so hope to go there someday. I love love love the Red rocks and your painting!

Karen Bruson said...

Very nice buttery paintstrokes. The warms colors in the rocks work so well with the compliments in the sky.

Pam Holnback said...

Marian, This is such a small world, and blogging has made it even smaller!! Who knew you 'd be painting a red rock canyon today!

Sherrie, Thank you. Sometimes plein airs are done so quickly that they are somewhat abstract.

Nancy, thank you! I just love the out of doors!

Thanks Kathleen, Next time you head this way to photo and/or walk we should meet!

Mary, Thank you. I hope you get here, too. We can paint together.

Karen, Thanks. I love complements. Maybe Mother Nature knew what she was doing.

Jeffrey J. Boron said...

Hey Pam,

What an inspiring place to paint. Thanks for including some of your reference photo's along with your lovely painting.

Jeffrey