We went painting in Lory State Park recently. I chose a promising spot, a little ways up a steep trail. I had to go back to the car to get something, and by the time I got set up, the light clouds had turned into a steady rain. The Guerrilla Painter had been painting (wild roses) from the car, so it didn't bother him! He was far enough along with his oil sketch that he suggested we look for a covered picnic area where I could paint and he could finish his painting from memory (and other wild roses). By the time we found a picnic area, the rain had stopped, so I decided to take a short hike up to a little waterfall. I took my good friend the Shadebuddy umbrella, just in case. The trail was steep and narrow, but I found a level spot for my chair & umbrella just in front of the waterfall and took out my mini sketchbook to compose the basics of the scene. Odd angles, abstract shapes, moving water and close values created a real challenge, and I spent more time staring rather than drawing. I realized that the stone had a grain to it that resembled water. Then the goldfinches started coming, drinking and bathing in the pool in front of me. What could I do but stare? Next, a spectacular male lazuli bunting appeared. You don't often see them, and, again, all I could do was stare. Soon it was time to go, and I hadn't even finished my sketch. From a "painting" standpoint, the afternoon was a total failure...
