Week 38: my artist residency continues!

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, Colorado

Hello, hello from snowy Colorado!

This was a slow week — so I’ll keep it short and sweet! :)

Artist Residency

I still can’t believe that this is the view from our backyard!

Tuesday marked the second week of my residency here at Canyons of the Ancients National Monument (CANM). We had to skuttle our plans to go dispersed camping out on the landscape since the snow has made the roads a muddy mess, and we didn’t want to rut up the roads — or get stuck! So we’ve been staying put here at the bunkhouse.

Tuesday was also the day Jason took the van to town and got new shoes (tires) put on the van after the unfixable tire incident two weeks ago.

This is the official “residency” — we’ve been sleeping/cooking in the van since we’re sharing the house with an intern. We’ve been taking full advantage of the showers, tho!

Last week the table and chairs were covered with over a foot of snow!

I had a hard time this week with everything going on in the world — it’s really hard to art with a heavy heart.

I tried painting Sleeping Ute Mountain several times — had fun painting it and learned a ton but I definitely need more practice.

Here’s a little more info on this sacred mountain, from Visit Four Corners:

According to a Ute Indian legend, Sleeping Ute Mountain represents the resting figure of a great warrior god who was also a chief. The story tells that he fell into a deep sleep while healing from injuries sustained during a battle against “the evil ones.” Different variations of this legend exist, each adding unique elements to the tale.

This is the scene from the Visitor Center right next door to the house where we’re staying — what a view, right? I can understand why the ancient peoples called this area home.

I didn’t get that peak right at all — sorry, Sleeping Ute!

This week I also got to use my tripod easel and practiced painting some trees. The reference photo is from the day before we arrived at CANM when we were camping in the forest in the San Juan Mountains. The moon came up through the trees and it was so peaceful.

Practicing trees in the house with my Cup Easel.

Jason got me this easel for a present and I’m really loving it so far. It’s made by Cup Easel in Canada and I had it sent to my friend Sally’s house when we were visiting her in Palm Springs back in January. J also got me a few add-ons to hold my brushes and an iPad. It all packs down really small too — super important when you live in a van.

My Art Toolkit palettes just fit on there — and speaking of Art Toolkit, I have a post up on their blog all about the color RED if you’d like to check it out.

In other news, Friday I came down with a cold so I didn’t get to go out in the field with the law enforcement ranger — I was really looking forward to that, darn! I’m feeling better today, just have a little sore throat.

Sketch Walk

Today (Sunday) I went on a sketch walk right from the van, and sketched Domingez and Escalante Pueblos, pottery shards that a volunteer brought from her house to the Visitor Center (she has special permission to do this), and Sleeping Ute Mountain again.

Pottery shards that a volunteer brought to the Visitor Center from her house a few miles away. It was so cool to be able to hold them in my hand.

I put together a quick little video if you’d like to come along with me:

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It’s amazing what a difference doing some nature journaling and sketching can make to my mood — I’m feeling so much better. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and the pines and junipers smelled so good. Needed that.

Sleeping Ute Mountain on my sketch walk.

I also met a bunch of locals and got a ton of tips on where to sketch next.

Alpenglow!

We were treated to an alpenglow show twice this week, woo hoo! Can’t wait to try and paint these scenes from the backyard:

Well, that’s it for this week!

Thanks so much for following along on our adVANtures — it’s so great to have you along for the journey! — Lisa & Jason