Painting once again in beautiful Zion National Park

"Eagle Creggs Vista"  9x12 plein air Pastel

In January I started the year of painting for 2013, by going on a trip to Utah for two events.  First to participate in the Arts to Zion Studio Tour, Jan. 19 to 21.  I had my pastels displayed at the home of my brother Bob Ford along with Bob's  photography, in Rockville, UT.  We had a good number of people that showed up at the studio/home.  I had my "Red Rock Splendor" pastels on display at this event. 

             "Across the street vista"

              9x12 plein air Pastel

This painting on the left was done during the studio Tour, painting in front of Bob's home, looking at the view across the street.

"Red Rocks and Cactus" 8x10 Plein air Pastel.

Also during this week of the Arts for Zion, my two painter friends, Nita Harper and Terry d Chacon, came along to spend some time with me and paint the beauty of Zion National Park.  This was the first time that both Nita and Terry had been to the park,so we had fun discovering where to paint.  We had first painted the Eagle Craggs vista, which was near Bob's home, they also painted around the Rockville area, but when I was finished with the Studio Tour, we went into the park to paint.  Having started early in the day, much of the park was still in shadow, so we drove up to the higher elevation in the park (through the tunnels) and found snow on the ground.  We have all wanted to paint snow, so we found a place to pull off to the side of the road, and we each enjoyed the opportunity to paint snow vistas. 

Me painting my view of red rocks and snow.

Terry d Chacon, me and Nita Harper, all with our snow paintings.  

"Red Rocks and Snow" 9x12 Plein air Pastel.

The next day of painting, was cold and cloudy, but we set out anyway, with multiple layers of clothing on.    Despite the morning gloom and the cold, we each  painted two paintings in the morning, then we all went to Oscars Cafe for a great lunch.

"Cold morning vista" 6x12 Plein air Pastel.

"Great White Throne Vista" 9x12 Plein air Pastel.

In the afternoon of that cold day, the sun finally came out, and we each enjoyed painting in the sun again.  It had been a great four days of painting, and Nita and Terry returned home the next morning.  I also left Zion area for the weekend, and meet up with two other friends  Lilli Miles, and Marsha Phillips, in Las Vegas, to celebrate Marsha and my birthdays.  We had great times celebrating with the highlight of the weekend being, going the to see "Jersey Boys", what a great show.

After returning from Vegas I came back to Zion with Lilli, and enjoyed another two days of painting in Zion. In the time I had been away, there was a fresh new layer of snow in the park.  It was quite stunning at times.  

"Frozen waterfalls"  9x12 Plein air Pastel

"More Rocks" 9x12 plein air pastel.

"Late afternoon vista" 6x12 plein air pastel.

Final day of painting, nice and warm weather.

"Rocks and Trees" 6x12 plein air pastel.

So all good things must come to and end.  It was time to leave Zion and return home.  This beautiful sunset vista was taken outside my brothers back window, such beauty he enjoys every day.  The two weeks was a great time of celebrating the Arts of Zion and plein air painting.  Thanks for checking out my blog, and if you have any questions about any of the paintings, drop me an e-mail, I'd like to hear from you.  Enjoy the art.