Yellowstone's many moods...

You can’t beat the variety of choices I have when I go into Yellowstone to plein air paint. In the late spring and throughout the summer, I go in to paint just about every morning, so I like to mix it up. It keeps things interesting – and me learning! Here’s a tour of my last couple mornings….

North Twin Lake
6" x 6" oil
by Shirl Ireland

Wednesday morning was a foggy one at North Twin Lake. When I first arrived I couldn't see much at all. But I knew it would lift and I love to capture those subtle color shifts when it does.

My easel set up at the edge of the lake as the sun starts to peak through.

Some beautiful Trout Lilies at the edge of the lake. Sometimes called Glacier Lily, Fawn Lily, Dog Tooth Violet or Adder's Tongue. Grizzly bears dig up the edible bulbs.

My 'morning commute' isn't bad - just a couple bison on the roads at this time of day....

This morning, I was off to Norris Geyser Basin. It was a 'flat light' morning, but I knew where to go to find some glorious colors...

Cistern Spring
6" x 6" oil
by Shirl Ireland

Cistern Spring’s colors are species of visible algae and bacteria, that each require a different temperature environment. There's a handy walking trail with a deck above, so I had a perfect perch to paint from.

Steamboat Geyser - along the trail to Cistern Spring.

I'm always in awe of Norris Geyser Basin, so I thought I'd throw in a little 'geyser trivia'...

When Steamboat Geyser erupts, it can rocket a column of scalding water two to three times the average height of Old Faithful. Steam roars for 24 hours after. But unlike Old Faithful, Steamboat’s eruptions are very unpredictable, occurring 4 days to 50 years apart. When Steamboat Geyser has a major eruption, the deep pool of nearby Cistern Spring drains almost completely.  Gradually, within a day or two after Steamboat’s eruption, Cistern begins to refill.

The coast is clear

This was a surprise. So I had to wait until after the wedding to post this one....I was commissioned to do a plein air painting for a wedding gift. It was for a couple who had a cabin in the hills that was a special spot to them. A plein air painting of 'their spot' would mean something to them over the years.

Great idea for a gift. But I had to sneak up there and paint while they were gone. The arrangements were a little complicated to be sure both of them would be occupied for the day - which didn't give me much leeway for painting times.

Usually, I like morning light so I wanted to get up there as early as possible on our 'pre-arranged day'. When I woke up it was REALLY windy - the nemesis of a plein air painter. Uh oh.

As I circled the property looking for the 'good angle', I found one that was in the trees and tucked down in just enough that my easel wouldn't blow over while I painted. I set up quickly, knowing the wind usually picks up as the day goes on. It did. I finished up just in time - before my set up was blown off the hill!

Sometimes I find having the 'fire under you' while you're plein air painting helps. Keeps you from dawdling on the details. (Remember, I like a good challenge!)

I hope I captured the quintessential inviting quality of the cabin that will bring them fond memories for many years to come...

A New Life Blooms
by Shirl Ireland
8" x 10"  Oil  Plein Air

A record was set.

The longest EVER (since records have been kept at least) that Yellowstone Lake had ice on it was this year. The ice-out was just a few days ago. Winter was trying to hang on this year...

Yellowstone Lake - newly free of ice.
At an altitude of 7733 ft., with 110 miles of shoreline and about 400 ft. for it's maximum depth - ice-out can take a while!

Near Mt. Washburn there is still a lot of snow in places.

But there are signs of Spring... A bull elk in velvet growing this years antlers and loosing his winter coat.

And the wildflowers are starting at lower elevations. This is Balsamroot.
 A Yellowstone wildflower show can be spectacular. With all this moisture, it may be a phenomenal wildflower year.

Into Yellowstone I go....

If you stand in Yellowstone National Park from 5 AM to 7 AM - it's amazing what will pass by. I do that a lot this time of year. I'm usually holding a paint brush, but other than that I'm very still and quiet. Often wildlife doesn't seem to notice me. So I get to see some AMAZING things - sunrise being one of them. This morning, a beaver was going about his business while I was painting. Then an otter stopped by on this way down the river. I shared some time with a fox too, but that we before it was light enough to get a photograph. Not a bad way to start the day....

My painting is in the foreground with 'my subject' beyond.

busy beaver

otter passing by

otter swimming

'Tis the season...

Plein air painting season is kicking in - and I love it. I paint outside year round, but this is DEFINITELY the season when it's the most comfortable. As long as I remember sunscreen.

Since I first started painting outside many years ago (something like 14 years ago now!), I've been addicted. This is my latest plein air study - you may recognize the barn. It's in the Tom Miner Basin area, north of here. An absolutely gorgeous spot that I've painted in other seasons. It's quintessential Montana up there....


9" x 12" oil -  Plein Air study by Shirl Ireland



Yellowstone Squared continues....

I'm still 'picking away' at my Yellowstone Squared project. I definitely want some moodiness in there. At times, Yellowstone can have an almost surreal quality that I want to be sure to convey. When I have Yellowstone Squared completed and assembled, it needs to depict different seasons, night and day, snowy and sunny, misty and clear, etc. etc. My goal is to show the full scale and vast scope of Yellowstone. I want to have it ALL in there, not just those blue sky moments. So here's a little 'moodiness' to add to the project....

6" x 6" oil on linen by Shirl Ireland
- part of my Yellowstone Squared project

Our Yellowstone Zoo

I've been stalking birds on our property. I love this time of year for it. The variety of the birds is amazing. We've had some Western Tanagers, Yellow-rumped Warblers and Lazuli Bunting that have passed through lately. Here are my best shots so far....

Western Tanager - male

Yellow-rumped Warbler in flight



Yellow-rumped Warbler - you can see where he got his name.
(Another fitting name... they are sometimes call "Butter-butts".)



Western Tanager male, having a 'family dispute' with the Western Tanager female at our bird feeder.



Yellow-rumped Warbler

I'm still at it, so there may be more to come....stay tuned.



A very different view of Old Faithful

the subjects of the day
from the Yellowstone Heritage and Research Center

Yes, that's an Old Faithful ash tray, with a Yellowstone Park souvenir letter opener and nail file, too. (The letter opener was from 1940, so it gives you a little historical perspective.) I was at the Yellowstone Heritage and Research Center this morning for my weekly painting session in their archives. This one was Curator's Choice.

I like that for a change - having someone else choose my subject matter. Makes me think harder... "How do I ever make THIS a good painting"? But I'm known to like challenges.

I went for a strong composition... make Old Faithful the focus with the letter opener as a secondary interest. The nail file I used as my "lead in". Play up the geyser, minimize the lettering. Go for juicy paint - mix up the textures and brush strokes, keep the piece fun and interesting to look at. Get the essence of the souvenirs without adding too much tiny detail. Go for a dark background to set it off - a hint of black velvet could be appropriate in this instance!

It will be framed and added to my 'Yellowstone Heritage and Research Center wall' in the Gallery. Stop in and see the collection as it grows if you're passing through Gardiner this summer.

Yellowstone Relics by Shirl Ireland
8" x 10" oil on linen

Our Yellowstone Zoo... photos taken from our windows

"our" elk calf, now able to stand and walk.....

The elk calf that was born in our yard is now big enough to follow his mother. So Mom and baby have now moved on. "Our calf" was born on the early side, but there will be LOTS more to see in Yellowstone in the next few weeks.

June in Yellowstone is a great month to see the beginnings of the 'next generation'... great horned owls and ravens are fledging, coyote pups are emerging from their den, mule deer, pronghorn, moose and elk calves are born, sandhill cranes will be hatching, etc. etc....  AND June is mating season for grizzlies, so you never know what you might see!