Blog

Good question.

The short story is that I got the first leg completed...at least that's how I think of it. From St. Louis area in Missouri, to Kansas City.

If you recall I had some difficulties and frustrations with the beginning of the journey. Cell phone problems, cramming to much activity into the journey, blogging, video making, painting, lost focus, yada, yada, yada. Unfortunately, it set the mood and tone for the next couple of weeks. I couldn't shake it. Looking back on it now, the first leg from St. Louis to KS was, all in all, a good experience. It seemed full of maladies at the time but as with most such tings, it was all a result of my attitude...which to say the least was pretty lousy. Everything was taking so much longer than I had anticipated and was costing way more than budgeted. There was WAY more to see and do than what I had anticipated.

The good news was that the weather was absolutely splendid, after a rainy start in Colorado and Kansas.

I couldn't believe how green everything was. It was entirely likely that it would've been impossible to buy a garden hose in the midwest during those 2 weeks I was out there. In fact, I did a little plein air sketch that I called "50 Shades of Green"

My adventure was to begin at Camp Dubois across the river from St. Louis, on the Illinois side as I related in my last blog.

My camping arrangements were simple and self contained. Although a bit limited when it rained. At least while the weather was good, it was ideal.

Here's a little oil I did of the remnants of the fort at Camp Dubois that was constructed during the winter of 1802 and 1803 that the meant stayed in while preparing to leave in May.

One of the frustrations I incurred was that apparently, this was only near the original Camp Dubois and was a government re-creation of what was thought to be somewhere in the region, the original being lost to the Mississippi River...and the course of time.

In fact, I was told that there was actually another Camp Dubois that was probably closer to the original site.

As luck would have it, they were having a reenactment that weekend as well.

After visiting Son Jim in Nashville, I headed back to the trail, picking it up in St. Charles, not far from St. Louis.

Here are a few more pieces done on the trail between St. Charles and Kansas City.

 An over grown landing on the Missouri River at Arrow Rock, MO where travelers on the Santa Fe Trail crossed to continue their journey west to Santa Fe.

Lewis and Clark camped on the river not far from this spot.

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A view across the Missouri River. One of the few along this part of the trail from which one could actually access the  river. With the exception of the power plant, this is probably close to what L&C saw.

As I look back on the journey, I just tried to do too much, which resulted in frustrations taking all of the fun out of it.

Once I decided to get back and stay on track I got some painting done, which was the whole point, but by the time I got to Kansas City, I realized that it just wasn't feasible for me to go all the way to Oregon, doing it all in one trip. I really didn't have the time nor the money. So I decided to take what I had, call it good and head back to Colorado. I'll do the Lewis and Clark Plein Air Painting Adventure in segments, or legs. As I researched other artists who have done it. They all broke it up into segments, a couple of them taking 3 years to do it. Another took 10 years to complete a series of paintings.

That made me feel better and lifted my spirits.

As it is, I have a lot of reference material to work from for sometime, taken just from St. Louis to Kansas City. I've got plenty to do.

In fact, as I write this, I have a show hanging at the Ute Museum in Montrose, CO. There are several paintings, large and small from my historic trails series, the Old Spanish Trail, the Santa Fe Trail and the first leg of the Lewis and Clark Trail.

Besides, since I was headed back...

There were a few things I wanted to do in Kansas on my way back...which I did.

I had come across an article somewhere that told of some silo art in Kansas. Salina Kansas was said to have some pretty spectacular examples and it was on the way home...or at least I could make it on the way home.

It was incredible. An artist from Australia. Guido Van Helton. He has projects all over the world. See more here.

In fact, another town on my way in Kansas, Clay Center, had some murals as well.

SO there you have it.

I got some paintings done, had a good time after all and now I'm in Ouray, in my little gallery studio writing this.

WHAT? Ouray?

Stay tuned and I'll fill you in on the latest developement.

Thanks for following along my friends and remember, stay curious.

I'll see you out there somewhere.