Tuesday, February 21, 2017

A morning at Enchanted Rock State Park

With the February weather pretending it is March instead,  this warm bright day was perfect to enjoy the park.  Enchanted Rock takes its name from two great rock domes. The climb to the top is ok for cub scouts and up, but not quite something for me these days. I climbed it several times with Jackie years ago.  All of the youngsters in our family love an outing there.

To show me some of the most scenic spots along Sandy Creek through the park today, I had for a guide a friend named Robert Deming.   He is a member of Friends of Enchanted Rock, a group of volunteers who help protect and maintain this great natural area.    Robert was a good sport as I required considerable assistance up and down the creek banks to visit three water falls and a number of spots of quiet beauty.  In my defense,  recent rains had cut deep gashes in many parts of the path and the going was plenty rough.  Robert documented these with his camera as we went along so the uneven spots can be addressed in time for the thousands of tourists who will come soon now.

I am not sure I could haul my painting gear along here to paint. Can you see the heron in the center left above? 





View from the front seat of Vanessa where I parked to paint.  Soon I will have my happy rolling studio out in these hills for blue bonnet season.



Not much color in the park yet, hard to get enough contrast in my painting.  8 x 10 oil on panel

  After Robert went on about his day, I stayed a short time and painted a small oil sketch from the front seat of my car.  The value of this is not how great the little painting is not, but rather how much joy I had being there and doing this.  As ever the story is not about the destination but about the journey.  e