Bears and More at Yellowstone National Park

Picture taken through scope

I wanted to see a bear when I visited Yellowstone. My workshop started on Friday. The class is with Hannah Hinchman a wonderful nature journalist.

The Illuminated Journal was action packed and filled with adventure. It was Sunday morning when I saw a Grizzly bear feeding on a baby calf bison.

On Saturday we learned that a calf bison had been hit by a car and had to be put down by the ranger. The rangers wanted to move the carcass farther back from the road but the bison gathered around and wouldn’t allow it. The next day the grizzly moved in but for awhile was in a stand-off with Mama Bison. Many Bison gathered around the dead calf in what the Wildlife expert called a Bison Funeral. After standing for awhile all the Bison left to another valley spot. The grizzly moved in to feast. The wildlife expert said the grizzly was young and too thin to survive the winter without this food.

I was staying in a cabin at The Lamar Buffalo Ranch and in the perfect spot to view the grizzly through scopes and with my eye. The cars keep coming by to watch the grizzly.

Meanwhile The Illuminated Journal class was in full swing. We stayed at the ranch with our buffalo friends and investigated Rose Creek and the area where the Buffalo roam.

Cabin 12 and Buffalo passing by

We journaled at Soda Butte. As we were leaving a huge Buffalo suddenly appeared across the river. They are so huge but move stealthy and can be fast. Don’t mess with a Buffalo.Friday a.m. on my way to breakfast at Lamar Buffalo Ranch someone called to me and asked if I’d like to see the wolves through the scope that was set up? Yes, yes and yes!

Looking through the scope I see 3 black wolf cubs laying in the grass by the tree line. A grey wolf sits to the right. My friend calls me to another scope and I see a black wolf moving along with ssomething big hanging from his mouth. I’m not sure what it is but it’s a big meal! I tear myself away to get ready to go to Lost Lake.

Lost Lake Event Map

On the last day of the Illuminated Journal Class we go to Trout Lake. The Reflections there are awesome

Trout Lake event map\

The class ended on Monday night. I headed to the Grand Tetons and found a camp spot at ColterBay.

The next day I started off with my bear spray down the trail to swan lake. A young man was also on the trail, he walked ahead of me. Soon I saw him raise his hands in the air and start walking backwards. I looked and saw a black bear on the hill side coming our way.We both walked backwards quickly and had our bear spray out and ready. My heart was beating fast. The bear kept coming toward us but at a leisurely pace.

We finally turned the corner and walked away. The young man worked at the Tetons.

Was I ever glad to happen upon him taking a hike. Hi

My next stop is West Yellowstone to visit my friend at her new condo. We are on our way to Cody, Wyoming and then back to Yellowstone National Park.

Postcards from Wrightwood

Monday morning and my  friends  and I are heading North on Route 15 for our girls getaway.   3 days at the mountain cabin to relax, sketch, walk, eat, talk and have fun.

We made postcards with 5 little sections for various people.  It’s a fun project.  I wish I would get one!  Colin had cooked steak for us before we left.  Diane heated it up and we had steak salad for dinner the first night and the last. We wanted to thank him with one of our postcards.

We enjoyed the Lake at Wrightwood.

Flossie at the lake and her sketch.

Watch out for BEARS!

Pauline’s sketch

Carol’s sketch

Maureen’s sketch

Sketching at the Lake.

We are excited to see a Christmas Summer tree on our walk! Decorated with flip flops, sand buckets,shovels and other summer fun.

We walk by the Mile High Pizza place.

Diane’s Sketch!

More Wrightwood Wildlife!

The Vacation ends at the Grizzley Cafe for breakfast.

RELAX YOUR AT THE CABIN.

WE DID!

Ghost Ranch,New Mexico: Travel Journal

El Farolita

Closed department store

lunch at El Farolita

New Mexico has so many hidden back road places.  My travel Journal class took us to a few of these spots.  We went to El Rito.  The lunch at El Farolita was not to miss.  It looks completely abandoned until 12 noon on the dot.  Than suddenly it is all filled.  The food is good.

The next day we went to Los Ojos.  More people but very small and many deserted or run down buildings.  There is a thriving weaving store “Tierra Wools”.  They spin and dye wool from sheep in the area.  They have many weaving looms to make clothing items.  It was a fun town to sit and draw.

Sedona and on to New Mexico

 

Leaving the Grand Canyon, I traveled to Oak Creek Canyon in Sedona and took it easy for a week.  The weather was good, warm in the afternoon but cool at night.  I made a fire every night and enjoyed the evening.  I didn’t find any vortexes but enjoyed Mexican food.  Aren’t both good for your spirit?

I met 2 woman at the Airport Mesa who where looking for a vortex.  I looked at the view!

The campsite was in the trees and very nice. The tree gave me peace!

Pine Flat Campground site 33.

Javelina Cantina was a wonderful lunch with a Margarita of course!  Good for Well Being!

 Next stop in Gallup, New Mexico at the Red Rock Campground.

It was a nice almost empty campground with a post office right there.  $20. for a site with electric and water.  Hiking trails but it was too hot to hike!

On to Santa Fe.  I had this nice spot A, right by the office with my own swing.  I had stayed here in October with Bob and Bev.  This time I found the swimming pool and no rain. Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu the next day.

I have a lot to tell about all I did and saw at Ghost Ranch! My next post!

 

 

Painting at Santa Paula Airport

Over the mountains and through the woods to Santa Paula.

My friend encouraged me to go to Ojai on Sat.  We would go to Santa Paula Airport

on Sunday for their Open House and Paint Out.Santa Paula is a small airport that doesn’t have big time security.  How refreshing  It seemed like a throw back in time.

Santa Paulo is a small airport.

It was scary for me because I had never drawn or painted an airplane before.  It was a beautiful day and the air seemed filled with excitement.

My favorite painting of the day!

My friend and I walked around looking at all the planes. Lots of small colorful old and new planes.

 

I started to paint and needed to measure proportions and look at spaces between

the wings and body of the airplanes.  I was painting with watercolor.

My friend was painting in oils.  She will have an open studio on April 9 with the Ojai Open Studios.  Karen Lewis and Linda Taylor will exhibit their work at Karen’s Studio.It was windy, planes were taking off and people walked by.  People had their hangers open for display.  It was so

interesting.

 

What a great day.  They have an open house the first Sunday of next month.  I wish I could go again.  I think my friend will go.

Back in Ojai

Rainbow in Ojai

Dexter the CAT

Route 66

It was a fun Trip.  The ART Center was getting ready for a psychedelic Party.

San Clemente State Beach

I had lots of company, eating, walking and painting.

I was happy to have my great niece and her friend camping with me.  They put up their new tent!

• Diane and Colin come for dinner!

The Chief at work

Dinner party

 Painting Party the next day!

Annie’s Paintings

Chad’s Paintings.  They both did such a great job.  I couldn’t believe that hadn’t been painting forever.

Campfire and a book. 

My walk to the pier.

Monday and my friends came with their lunches and sketchbooks.  We had a great time sketching around the campsite, talking and walking to look at the ocean.

The next dayI spent working on watercolors of the ocean and trees.  I did the same scene 4 times going from realistic to more abstract.  I just found this slide show feature.  Perfect for this project. Can you figure out which is most abstract?

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The tree nearby painting from realistic to more abstract.

I had such a good time I was sad to leave.  Until my next trip close to home.

Path to the Beach

South Carlsbad State Beach

Time to Go Camping

camping right at beach

painting by Vanna

Oil painting at site 22

I needed to get out on a trip in Vanna.  I hadn’t been camping since October and I was feeling like I forgot how to leave town and get on the road.  The road was 1 1/2 hours down The 5 to South Carlsbad State Beach.  I had never been to this campground but had read about it.

Beautiful Sunsets

Each evening the ocean and water brought a  different light show.  It was spectacular!

I had a campsite right by the ocean.  Coffee and breakfast from the back of my van while listening to the surf. What could be better than this?

Painting by the back of the van I could hop in an read for awhile.

Painting away in watercolor and oils a few people stopped by to see what I was up to.

Watercolor View across the street.

 

Oil of view across the street

I thought the fence was to keep the squirrels out of the campsite!  BUT, no

 it was to keep me from falling over the edge.  Later the squirrel tried to visit my campsite.

It’s good I had this practice trip.

I forgot the most important things: plates but I made do.  It felt so relaxing to hear surf night and day while painting, reading and eating. Oh Yes, walking on the beach and riding my bike around the campground.  I was a happy camper!

November in New York

A ticket to the Whitney Museum of Art to see the Frank Stella Retrospective.

Some of his work is very exciting to me.

Frank Stella Epic Painting. This is the painting that you first see when exiting the elevator.

“Wooden Star”, Frank Stella, 2014

“Black Star”, Frank Stella, 2014

Women and mens room.  I hope the non-English speaking people can understand this??

I love all the balconies at The Whitney

Indoor Frank Stella sculpture

I love the views from The Whitney Museum

Indoor Frank Stella sculpture

I like this Stella sculpture.

“The Fountain”, 1992. Woodcut, etching, aquatint, relief, drypoint, collage and airbrush. Artist Proof, by Tyler Graphics. Mural scale print on 3 mammoth sheets of handmade Japenese paper, from Moby Dick Series.

Print by Frank Stella

3 Frank Stella sculptures

Statement by Frank Stella “There is an energy- and excitement-in the newer work that the stripe paintings didn’t have.  I don’t think you can do it all at once.  That’s why you’re lucky you have a lifetime.”

Frank Stella smoke prints Cigar smoke, Untitled late 1980’s

Print by Frank Stella

“You can only take advantage of those gifts that you really have- that are part of your character, and you’re lucky to be born with these gifts”  quote by Frank Stella.

Leaving the Whitney I find a lobster roll.

Lobster roll with pickles

I’m here for Thanksgiving with my son, daughter-in-law and 3 grandchildren but in between I visit as many museums and sights in NYC as I can.

beautiful sunset looking toward the Hudson    River.

I visit the MOMA to see the Picasso Sculpture Exhibit.

I also see an exhibit of Jackson Pollock.

“Untitled” Jackson Pollock, 1951

Sculpture Garden at the MOMA

Picasso sculpture of Goat

In between we visit with Ronald MacDonald.  Gourmet Cheeseburger dinner.

Passing through Grand Central Station

I visit Morgan Museum to see Matisse books exhibit.

Matisse had many experiences illustrating books and working with friends.  I wasn’t allowed to photograph in the very interesting exhibit.

A trip to Wave Hill botanical garden in Riverdale.

It’s a beautiful day to do some sketching.

Lunch outside and sketching. A beautiful day.

small leaved Linden Tree

European Copper Beech Tree

Carol and Cinnamon

After days and days of rainy, cloudy weather, it’s a beautiful day.  Cinnamon and I both feel better.

We go out walking at 6:45 a.m. for 1/2 hour.  Cinnamon was full speed ahead today.  Rainy days we are both dragging along.

I  didn’t see all the mountains until yesterday afternoon.  At which point we jumped into the golf cart and went for a ride. 

Cinnamon ready to go in golf cart.

Mountain View

 

I pulled out my sketch book and paints while Cinnamon checked the area for interesting smells. We returned home and sat on the patio watching the mountains and people walking by.  It is such a beautiful view here at Sun Lakes.

I love the shopping and have been to Cabizon twice.  I like the Columbia Store.

New clothes from Columbia

Eddie Bauers and Chico’s Outlet are favorites.

We are off to visit my Niece and her Husband.

Cinnamon ready to go in Vanna.

Seymore in the back yard.

Beth and Carol toasting.

Masie with my foot and shoes.

Succulent plant in the garden.

It’s very relaxing with Carol and Cinnamon.

Another Mountain sketch. all artwork copywrite of carol

A Day at RED ROCK CANYON

Escaping the razzle and dazzle of Las Vegas I head to Red Rock Canyon.

I enjoy the Visitor Center.  Lots of well presented exhibits.

Vanna and I head out on the 13mile scenic drive.

Hiking in Red Rock Canyon

I enjoy the day.

Beautiful views of rocks, sketching, a picnic lunch and hiking.

Back to Las Vegas Strip.

Hershey’s in Las Vegas

New York in Vegas but no blizzard.

Another Lobster roll from Tom’s Urban at NewYork NewYork.

Jelly bean Statue of Liberty

It’s good but not traditional.  Arugula and Lobster?