Other painting.

I saw another picture in the AZ highways mag. I liked the way the
sunlight filtered down thru the trees. I decided to use the idea in a
painting. I started out with a mountain in the far background, but
didn't like what room was left on the canvas, so painted it out and
decided to show sun coming down thru the trees this way. Started out
too light so I darkened it up, then it was too dark. I lightened it
up a bit, and added some big trees and a stream that changed course
right away. I wanted a cougar in this painting but already had one
with rocks so painted in a dead tree for him. Tree changed positions a
couple of times til I got it where it didn't look cluttered. Damn,
that cougar needed something to do besides walk up a tree, so added
the squirrel for lunch, if he could catch it.
Granny

Other painting.

T saw another picture in the AZ highways mag. I liked the way the
sunlighr filtered down thru the trees. I decided to use the idea in a
painting. I started out with a mountain in the far background, but
didn't like what room was left on the canvas, so painted it out and
decided to show sun coming down thru the trees this way. Started out
too light so I darkened it up, then it was too dark. Added some big
trees and a stream that changed course right away. I wanted a cougar
in this painting but alread had one with rocks so painted in a dead
tree for him. Tree changed positions a couple of times til I got it
where it didn't look cluttered. Damn, that cougar needed something to
do besides walk up a tree, so added the squirrel for lunch, if he
could catch it.
Granny

paintings

This painting is nothing like I started out. I started with a cliff
on the right side. and a big waterfall in the middle, Got it from a
picture in AZ highways mag. Didn't like it so I painted the cliff out
and added trees and mountains. Didn't like the way the waterfall
dominated the paintings, so took it out and added more mountains and
trees. I wanted a cougar in the painting so added big rocks for it to
live on. I have to have water in a painting so added pool and stream.
Had to change course of the stream a couple of times til I got it
where I like it. Added the top cougar, then decided he needed a
friend. The bottom cougar started to look more like a racoon, and I
was about to turn him into a big rock, when he started to shape up.
Finally I got the darn painting to where I like it.
Granny

Everybody is sick of the snow....

... but not me.  I just need a couple more snowstorms.  That should help get me through the long summer months until I can slide on the snow again.

Ok, I'm piling it on thick, but I do enjoy winter.  Actually I can't wait for summer as it is the season for fishing, hiking, backpacking and berry picking.  Today I tried to squeeze in one more trip to the hill to get some snow-sliding in otherwise known as snowboarding.  I went up to Lookout Pass, which is a bit of a drive for me but it is worth it for the quality snow.  Actually, it is a faster and easier drive compared to the treks I made when I lived in Colorado.  There were days I would be in traffic for 2.5 hours just to get a taste of the fluffy goodness.  It seems ridiculous that people put so much time/effort/money into skiing and snowboarding.  It does seem like insanity, that is until you have experienced floating down the mountain.  At that point you've caught "the bug" and you will join the legions of other snow-loving nut jobs that constantly watch the weather then drive up to the mountain when others are thinking "drive in that crap? up to the mountains?  noooooo way buddy!"

Today was a pretty good day.  The first run went pretty well the snow was nice and the wax on my board was holding up pretty good.




After my first run I thought I would try to kick it up a notch and try something a bit more challenging.




The second run went pretty good as well so I thought I would try another challenging run.  However, on the third run I bit off more than I could chew.  I had to stop a couple of times just to scope out a line that I thought would work.  I slowed down too much and tried to make a sharp turn.  Yep, I leaned downhill into the turn and instead of turning, I flipped over.  The good news is that there was enough fluffy snow that it didn't hurt.  I did have to dig snow out of my pants though, that kinda sucked.