#pleinair #oilpainting #Towsleycanyon #Keltyredwing44 "Towsley Canyon Plein Air" ©

Saturday I am driving down to the Anza Borrego State Park area to participate in the "Borrego Springs Invitational".   As a necessary treat (is there such a thing?) I bought a new plein air backpack to replace my little Ross Store backpack that only holds paint and paper towels and is ripping apart.  The new one is a  Kelty Redwing 44 .  I wanted to take it out on it's maiden painting trip, so we headed out for a quickie at Towsley Canyon.  The pack will hold an EasyL 11" X 14" easel and everything else needed to paint.  I have graduated from carrying 3 items (backpack, easel and tri-pod) to just 1 item on my back, leaving me hands free.  This is a great feature if you start to fall while hiking or just need to grasp rocks/trees for balance.  So far I give the Kelty a 5 star rating....

Oil on panel,  8" X 10"

"Pastel Canyon" ©

50 cars sat outside the entrance to Towsley Canyon Park in the soft morning light, waiting for their owners that had fled the sheets to move muscle. The brush in it's winter nakedness turned the canyon into a palette of pastels.

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

"Cottonwoods Below" ©

In a cold wind blowing I was lucky to get any paint onto the panel today. I met up with a few wonderful lady painters in Towsley Canyon and we painted together. This is my effort, standing on the edge of a cliff looking at the tops of the "Cottonwoods Below".

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

"Towsley Canyon" ©

Towsley Canyon is just south of Stevenson Ranch on the Old Road. I am hoping that the fire past over this lovely valley on it's march to the ocean. "Thank You" is not near strong enough language to cover my feelings towards the fire fighters and to everyone for your good thoughts.

Humble gratitude is flowing with every breath.

Oil on Raymar panel, 6" X 8"

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