Adventures of a Painter: Day 36: Tower Creek near Tower Falls (7/10/15)

Tower Creek, watercolor.

One exciting thing I forgot to mention a few days ago is that I sold two paintings! To an awesome couple I met at Old Faithful on Fourth of July. I met up with Angela on my last night in the Tetons to give her the Old Faithful painting, and she bought ether painting of Mount Owen too! We had a glass of wine and talked and it was so nice to spend time with a new friend. She is incredibly kind and genuine, and offered me a place to stay in San Fransisco. Thanks Angela! :)

Tower Falls were deserted this morning when I visited after securing a campsite. I hiked down past the falls to the Yellowstone River, hoping to see a glimpse of the base of the falls. The trail is closed...I thought about going down it anyway but the word "arrest" on the sign deterred me. I went back to my campsite and cooked breakfast (I was feeling adventurous) which was good because just as I finished eating it started to rain. Hung out in my car and worked on my blog until it cleared up. I went back to Tower Falls to find it PACKED. just jam packed with people. There's one small viewing platform and no other place to view the falls, so I decided if I really wasn't to paint here I have to come early in the morning. I went back to my campsite and decided to venture into Tower Creek, where Moran did a loose watercolor sketch. I decided to try out my little travel watercolor set. I packed my small day pack and stool and walked from my campsite on the trail to Tower Creek. It was a lovely spot to work...quiet, secluded, surrounded by pine trees. I'd been running around all day and had just felt antsy to get outside working. Working with watercolor was different - much quicker, less detailed, freer. It is something I could see myself doing on long hikes or bike trips when taking oil paint wouldn't be practical, or when the goal of the trio isn't for me to spend a few hours painting. But I also get similar, if not better results in my sketchbook with notes about color, because the drawing can capture more detail then I can with watercolor. I'm happy with how it turned out and I'll do a few more on the trip, as a nod to my Admired Artist.

After spending about an hour in the creek, I decided to drive into Canyon to update my blog and talk to some rangers about my plan for the Canyon area. I got a milkshake at this retro diner in Canyon Village and a fun mom couldn't believe I was old enough to be engaged (I'll love this in ten years, I keep promising myself) and I chatted with a cashier from Taiwan working here for the summer who said "goodbye Mrs. Emily" as I left. It's got a nice ring to it, maybe I'll go by my first name when I become a Mrs.

I don't want to sound ungrateful or not enchanted with Yellowstone...but I haven't been incredibly inspired the past few days. Maybe it is a mid trip lull. I am excited to get to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone because I think it will be the most magnificent landscape in the area, and is what most strongly captured Thomas Moran's artistic eye (there's a reason he didn't do massive oil paintings of geysers and hot springs after his trips). I didn't realize until now how much I thoroughly enjoyed being in mountains. The Tetons and the Rocky Mountains really were highlights for me on this trip and both places I was sad to leave, and felt I was leaving too soon. So in addition to many other things I am developing a taste for the landscapes I am most drawn to paint.

Hoping to be caught up very soon so I can do more reading - but it's overwhelming, I have three books on Moran and Yellowstone full of awesome info and insights. So much to learn!!!