Snow in the Shadows

Snow in the Shadows

Oil on canvas, 10x10

The days are warm here - well, warmer than back East - but the nights are clear and brilliant and very cold, and so, in the shadows, the snow holds on tight. 

I get the idea to paint the snow in the shadows, and I start looking, first for the snow, and second for a place where I can pull off the road and set up to paint. 

This is always a tall order, and out here, it's no different. At least there are no ditches along the roads here, as there are in so many other places in the US. Here, there are not many roads, well, not many paved roads - and people drive fast! I understand, they are covering long, long distances. But sheesh, drive the speed limit and they're right on your tail. And I drive far below the speed limit, usually, looking, looking, looking. I am a constant annoyance on the road.

I made this painting a couple days ago. Since then, the days and nights have cooled dramatically. So I might go looking for more snow in the shadows, I like this painting so very much. 

My painting in the landscape

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Around the Area

One of the back roads in Fort Defiance. The red dust gets all over everything, washing cars and houses and trees and pretty much everything into a somewhat monotone color. 

This area is at a very high elevation! I see this sign on the road from Fort Defiance to Ganado. 

These yellow rocks above are on the way to Gallup, on the highway. 

The yellow rocks below are on the road from Gallup to Fort Defiance. 

 Sheep and a llama hanging around near the Hubbell Trading Post in Ganado. 

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Dog of the Day

The first place I stop to paint snow in the shadows is guarded by this fierce - or apparently fierce - dog, who rushes out, barking wildly at me, as I pull into the driveway. I do not test his ferocity, but go looking for another spot where there's snow in the shadows.