Sometimes you get the bear...Sometimes the bear gets you!

Pocket Sketching Becomes Dependable

In trying to graduate to bigger paper and not use the pen (to go to large traditional watercolors), I have been forced to accept again how valuable the pen is. Here’s a dreadful attempt of a beautiful resort. The right stuff was there: I certainly wasn’t! You are not alone: I get bad sketches too, and lots of also-rans. (There’s a super use for them. See the next blog!)

Bad Sketch

The Double Eagle in Mesilla

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​The trip started in Las Cruces, NM with my grandkids. We ate at the Double Eagle in Mesilla,
an amazingly beautiful 1800s home where the Gadsden Purchase was signed. When people
rode west from here, they rode into hostile Apache territory. The sketch is from the ultra-elegant
bar. (no one noticed I was sketching.)
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From there we drove to Santa Fe. If you go, don’t miss Meow Wolf, a warehouse converted into
74 artist-created rooms with a mystery entwined. It is exciting. We ate common fast food to
save for Geronimo, the best restaurant in town. Make reservations far in advance. It is
perfection in service, décor and prep. I’m a “foodie”. This will be the best of the trip.

The Bar

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​Next was Chama for the Chama/Antonito Railroad. If you go, sit on the right (starboard) side of the train: it gets all the views. Beautiful ride and will be spectacular with aspens in September. I drove back up the highway and did several sketches.

River

Highway

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​Next was Ouray, then Telluride, CO, where we 86 year-olds didn’t adapt to the elevation, but the scenery was phenomenal. The car did well. I got a great sketch of Red Mountain during a roadblock. Next we stayed with friends Rex and Denice in Montrose at 5000’, an elevation where we could walk again. A local man grows peonies for people to pick at no charge. The sketch was done in the car while Dale drove to Orem, Utah, where we are now. It’s the best peony sketch I’ve ever done.
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​The mountains here are one of my major destinations for sketching. It’s just light...time to
explore!!!

Happy Sketching!
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