plein air road trip

My husband and I recently went on a little road trip.  We left modern technology behind, grabbed our painting kits and headed for the open prairie.

Among other things along our travels, we explored several abandoned homesteads, one-room schools and also an old fort with log buildings half sunk into the earth; we swam in a wild river with sandy banks; we saw our first rattlesnakes outside a zoo; and we discovered a high wetland area with an incredible variety and number of birds.  Also I discovered that the town of Leader, SK has a playground with really big swings in it.  Best swings I've ever played on.

And, of course, we painted the landscapes we travelled through.

Alberta Landscape #77
oil on panel, 10x10 inches

On the high bluffs in the badlands above Dorothy.  About 4-6pm, hot and windy.  Small yellow butterflies which made a loud clapping sound while flying.  Scrub grasses, buffalo sage and a proliferation of low-growing cacti.

Saskatchewan Landscape #1
oil on panel, 10x10 inches

Very high promontory above the convergence of the Red Deer and South Saskatchewan rivers, near Empress, a Mennonite settlement and the provincial border.  About 5-7pm, very windy.  Lichen-covered rocks and that look of softness in the distant hills.  Swam in the South Sask. prior to painting.  

Saskatchewan Landscape #2
oil on panel, 10x10 inches

In the Great Sand Hills.  About 9-11am, hot.  Dead quiet apart from insect sounds and an occasional small rustle of breeze.  Barefoot in the fine, soft sand under a shady tree.  Very relaxing spot.

Alberta Landscape #78
oil on panel, 10x10 inches

Above a vast flatland expanse at the edge of the Cypress Hills.  About 6-8pm, very windy, rain and thunderstorms.  I had an umbrella and crazily continued to paint, umbrella in one hand and brush in the other.  Didn't want to leave half-finished!

Albert Landscape #79
oil on panel, 10x10 inches

Same location next morning.  9-11am, hot and windy.  Went exploring after painting and found a lovely treed valley full of dragonflies and butterflies.  Rested in the shade, listening to wind in the pines.

Alberta Landscape #80
oil on panel, 10x10 inches

High wetlands above Bow river, near Bassano, AB.  5-9pm, not too hot and lovely evening-pink clouds.  We were looking for a road to a medicine wheel and came upon this wetland preserve maintained by Ducks Unlimited.  A lot of water out on the high prairie, and so many types of birds!  Herons, cranes, starlings, blackbirds, ducks of course, some kind of bird that sounded like a bullfrog, and various other types.  It was quite a spectacle of sound and movement.  A surprising little paradise.  

Alberta Landscape #81
oil on canvas, 10x10 inches

Same wetland location as above.  This painting did not get finished.  The light was fading fast and we had some way to travel yet before settling for the night.

apres-painting in the Great Sand Hills, Saskatchewan

What a wonderful, rejuvenating holiday!