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Last time I left you good folks, I had tried to go to the Driggs, ID plein air event and didn't get there. If you recall I had transmission issues which turned out not to be as serious as it could've been but by the time they got it fixed, the event was half over and I would've only had one day to paint.

Since then, I've been busy in the studio getting a commission done and catching up on the "business side" of being an artist. I read that a professional artist really only gets to spend roughly 25% of his or her time in front of the easel, actually painting. I do have an assistant, my wonderful wife, so that helps but it is unreasonable to think that I spend all of my time painting. In fact there are a number of misconceptions about being and artist and leading an artist's life, but I'll save that for another post.

Two weeks ago I was in Steamboat Springs, Colorado for their plein air event. Had a really great time. Met some wonderful people and absolutely loved the country up there. Unfortunately, the event was in the same time slot as the Escalante Plein Air Festival, so I had to choose. Not that I don't like the red rock landscape of Utah, after all that's where I am type this, but I really wanted to go experience the Steamboat country, and I'm glad I did. I'll go back there.

The Steamboat Art Museum, who sponsored the event, is in an old historic build on Lincoln Avenue which is the main drag through town and also doubles as Hwy 40. Steamboat is an old ranching, skiing town and has become a bastion for the adventure seekers and fly fishermen and hunters. Much like Pinedale, WY has become as I mentioned in my previous blog post. Anyway, the hosts at SAM were wonderful. I got acquainted with Shirley of the Wildhorse Gallery right across the street from SAM. Another very nice gal.

I was camped at the KOA in Steamboat and was fortunate they had the Yampa River flowing through the property. I meandered over that way and saw my next painting. I was even fortunate enough to have a fly fisherman show up and we both spent a great day at the office.

The fall colors were in full swing and when I glanced over my left shoulder seeing this view filled with such awesome color I knew I had another painting.

Here's a pic of yours truly painting at the Wolf Run Ranch for the quick draw event. Kind of a neat place with some characters in costume for us.

There's no rest for the wicked and the righteous don't need any, so they say. After a weeks rest at home I headed over to Moab, UT for the Red Rocks Arts Festival which is happening right now. I've always enjoyed coming over to the desert to paint. I feel so blessed to have such diverse landscapes within just  a short drive for where I live in Western Colorado.

I found a campsite with fellow artist Lewis Williams and we parked our trailers on BLM ground. We pretty much have the place to ourselves with only a couple of other campers coming in and leaving the next day. Only one other one staying in our immediate area. I'm off to a good start painting watercolors for this trip, getting a good one right out of the chute. This will be my competition piece if I don't do a better one between now and Friday.

Yesterday we had a quick draw event at the Castle Valley Winery near Moab. A quick draw event is where the artists only have a short limited amount of time to get a painting done. Quick draws will usually run anywhere from as short as 1 1/2 hours up as much as 3 hours which was the case for this one.

I often will do a watercolor for these events because, for me it is quicker to finish. I'll then varnish the painting and pop it into a frame with no glass or matting. They make a neat little painting.

The organizers came by and caught me in action. Thanks for the photos ladies.

I woke up this morning to wind and rain. This what we have on hand for today.

If I can get out of the wind or it dies down, this'd make for a great painting. I suppose I can do in the studio if I have too. With the cold blustery conditions today, I'm holed up in camp tending to domestic/admin chores...i.e. doing this post.

Wednesday, we'll paint in town. I've been doing a few sketches getting warmed up for that event. I'm really looking forward to Saturday when we'll go out to DeadHorse Point and do another quickdraw. The sale starts today.

I let you know how it all goes next week