The Zion Centennial Paint-out “In the Footsteps of Thomas Moran” got underway this morning in Zion National Park. All 21 artists met together at the Human History Museum gallery where we got our first look at Moran’s actual sketchbook and got to see the exhibit already underway of paintings by the participating artists. With a little instruction the artists went to the various locations identified from Moran’s sketchbook and got busy sketching and painting.
We all got together for a group photos at the Human History Museum against the backdrop of the West Temple and Towers of the Virgin.
Each invited artist submitted a painting in advance for a special exhibit at the Human History museum gallery. I am standing by my painting of “The Watchman.”
The first location I chose was along the Virgin River looking north toward Angel’s Landing. I set up my Anderson easel and found a shady spot. It wasn’t long before I shed my jacket as the sun came over the cliffs, and the gnats began a relentless assault. I got a good start on the painting but will need to go back tomorrow morning for some more work (hopefully with a little deet this time for protection.)
Later in the day I started this painting of cliffs looking south near the Temple of Sinawava. I also did a couple of sketchbook drawings from that location as well — one of “The Pulpit” and the other of the “Temple of Sinawava.”
The public is invited to visit the artists as they work, and we had a number of people stop by today. Several people who were at the Museum talk last Thursday visited us. Kathy Richards (left), one of my art collectors, checked in for a short visit.
Click for more information about the “Footsteps of Thomas Moran Plein Air Paint-out”
