Rare Light

During this event, we have only three days we can drive out to Shoshone Point.  I decided to spend the whole afternoon there.  It was hot; very hot and difficult to find a shady spot to stand in and paint that still afforded a view of the Canyon.  Almost too miserable to paint, I decided to tough it out.  I still couldn't decide what to paint when afternoon clouds began to gather around 3 p,m.  They cast shadows all over the Canyon and started to cover up Isis Temple.  That's when I knew what I would paint.  I snapped a quick reference photo before it all disappeared in shadow and used the photo as a guide as the clouds' shadows skated across the landscape.  I painted my whole canvas blue, lifted off  paint where the highlights would be and got started.  Here, on this canvas, is a moment of rare light that won't ever happen quite the same again.

And let me add this delightful detail.  A couple of young men from Germany stopped to ask a few questions.  Julian and Tom were enjoying a few final days of their vacation and Shoshone Point was a highlight.  I was nearly finished painting and they offered to tote my gear back to my car, not too far away.  It's a mile walk back to the parking lot, however, so I thought it only right to offer them a ride back.  Besides simply enjoying their company, I thought it would not be a bad idea to have two capable fellows along just in case I bottomed out on the very rough dirt road back to the lot--AND if I had trouble with the stubborn lock on the gate.  No problems driving back at a snail's pace over the rutted road.  Julian jumped out of the car to open the lock and gate and HE even had trouble getting the lock to work.  It finally gave in to his tugging and opened its hasp.  We traded contact information, wished one another well, and went on our way.  Just one of those serendipitous  encounters along the Canyon's rim!