The Show is tonight!

I've been painting all week for Plein Air On The Yellowstone, organized by the Livingston Center for Art and Culture. The wet paintings will be hung later today and the Reception is tonight from 5:30 - 9 PM, on Main Street at the Livingston Center for Art and Culture in Livingston Montana. Hope to see you there....

P.S. If you can't make the Show, I'll be posting my paintings from the week here this weekend.

More than meets the eye...

Sometimes decisions aren't made for purely artistic reasons around here. Really. This morning, we needed more sand to make cement for a stone project we have going at the house. We get it by the pick up truck load in Livingston - which is at the northern end of Paradise Valley from us - in Park County.

Soooo....guess where I chose to paint this morning?? Yes! Paradise Valley or Livingston. But I got lucky. The sunrise was phenomenal. I won't give away which spot I chose to paint at (until this weekend) - but here are some of my choices I had this morning....


The AMAZING sunrise this morning. Look at that light on the clouds!



Backlit trees - I like the shapes they create against the sky and distant mountains.



Morning colors over the Yellowstone River. Good shape possibilities with the contrast of lights and darks.



A calm horizontal scene with beautifully subtle colors and shapes.



I know - but from a strictly shapes, lighting and colors perspective - this one looks fun. A very interesting composition. Great variety in the positive and negative shapes.



Wonderful light, interesting colors and a good drawing challenge. A "Livingston" statement.



Oh, the places I go - in Park County, MT

Plein Air On The Yellowstone has begun. It's an annual week long plein air painting event that I've participated in for the last couple years, organized by the Livingston Center for Art and Culture. Throughout the week, participating artists paint outside 'en plein air' in Park County Montana. At the end of the week, we all frame and exhibit up to 3 of our (wet) paintings. It's a lot of fun and draws a good crowd for the Reception & Show, which is Friday August 12th from 5:30 PM - 9 PM at the Livingston Center on Main Street in Livingston, Montana.

Since Friday August 12th is supposed to be the 'unveiling' of our work, I thought it would be interesting to NOT post my paintings here until AFTER the Reception. But, I'll post some photos of 'the places I go' and you can guess which would make the best paintings. Don't hesitate to let me know which spots you choose - it may help me to decide on 'the final three' that make the cut!

Park County is a VERY big and VERY beautiful county with a lot to choose from - Wilsall, to Livingston, to Gardiner and onto Cooke City. Here are some photos from my ramblings the last couple days throughout Park County Montana...


Looking south down Paradise Valley over the Yellowstone River



Near the northeastern edge of Yellowstone National Park at Warm Creek



A Cafe in Silver Gate Montana
(sometimes the scenes that catch my eye need some 'editing', but the bones are good)



Sunrise on Electric Peak

Hope you can make it to the Livingston Center for Art and Culture on Friday August 12th for the 'unveiling'. The exhibit will be hung through Saturday August 13th (11 AM - 5 PM). If you can't make either of those days, I'll post the results here after the fact.

Rusty Old Bucket

Army Bucket  by Shirl Ireland  6" x 6"  oil
artifact in the collection of the Yellowstone Heritage and Research Center

Beginning in 1883, for more than 30 years, the U.S. Army had a presence in Yellowstone National Park. (If you'd like to learn more, click here.) This bucket was found by the Astor Creek Cabin by a Park ranger. The cabin was burned in 1970.

I love to show the variety in the collection of the Yellowstone Heritage and Research Center. This bucket certainly shows that not all are 'pristine artifacts' there. Rich with history, the artifacts are far reaching in dates as well as categories. To drive home that point...wait until you see next weeks subject - (to be continued).

Hayden Valley Sunrise  by Shirl Ireland
6" x 6"  plein air oil

While I'm at it, I'm going to add the 'plein air landscape of the day' - Hayden Valley in Yellowstone National Park. This is where I was painting at sunrise this morning.

Sunrise and fog paintings are tricky. Mix the two together and it's definitely a challenge. The colors, values and shapes are changing every moment. You just have to pick one and go for it - quickly!

I chose a moment when the sun was just rising and created a slight shadow from the fog on the river. (Remember, I love those subtle color changes. Notice the warm to cool shifts.)

Painting at sunrise is certainly a time when it helps to have some plein air painting experience under your belt. This is probably one of the fastest Yellowstone Squared paintings I've done so far. The moment was fleeting. In no time, the fog had totally covered the valley and I couldn't see a thing.



Thought I'd 'pile it on' today, because tomorrow - "Let the Show begin"....stay tuned.



Mount Washburn - where the wildflowers are

An absolutely amazing spot to paint - This morning, the wind was calm, the temperature was comfortable, and the views were spectacular over the fog filled valley. The top of Mt. Washburn is at 10,243 ft. - I wasn't at the peak painting, but I could still see the Tetons that are 50 miles away! (They are to the right of the scene I painted.)

Looking out from my easel....



Mount Washburn Views   6" x 6"   Plein Air   Oil   by Shirl Ireland



AND looking down at my feet....

The area around Mt. Washburn is one of my favorite spots for wildflowers. There's a wide variety blooming right now.

If I could only get my garden to look so good! 

For a breathtaking fireweed display - check out the views around Antelope Creek (near the road from Tower to Mt. Washburn). It's FILLED with fireweed.



Fireweed - from the Evening-Primrose family



But, hurry - it will be going, going gone soon.....

Firehole Lake

There are moments in Yellowstone that photos cannot capture. This morning was one - the essence, the feeling, the sound of the cranes calling through the mist. Ansel Adams said it well....

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs.

When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.

 - Ansel Adams

Yellowstone Waterfalls

So many waterfalls in Yellowstone, so little time. But I'm picking away at them....

Undine Falls   6" x 6"  plein air   oil  by Shirl Ireland

Easy access - I painted from the overlook. I started out when it was just getting light and the moon was out. When I finished up, the sun had come up and the scene was completely different. Time to go. 

P.S. - The wildflowers are still going...



Harebell