Spring break for the older ones, April 6, 2019. Rockville, UT

I signed up for an "Art Adventure" and Gail, Eric, and Matt came, too. We love learning. It was an opportunity to listen to author James Aton talk about one of our favorite local artists, Jimmy Jones. Jim Aton wrote the book about him, knew him, loved him. "Everybody loved Jimmy," as Mr. Aton said. And we did this field trip ON the actual property and grounds and yards of the home Jimmy Jones built in Rockville, Utah.

Gail and I met with others and boarded an SUU van in Cedar City and rode down there. We stopped in La Verkin and picked up Matt and Eric, join a caravan of others and headed out again. It was supposed to be an outing from 9 am to 1 pm, but it went much longer. The road to the property is rough, to put it mildly.

Jim Aton talked about Jimmy, his work, his home. Another local artist, Brad Holt, also share his personal experiences of being tutored in art by Jimmy Jones and passed on golden bits of wisdom pertaining to becoming a better artist. It was good. Not that I'm going to be an artist, but just in case, you know?😉

The exterior of the home. Metal decks were added later, to replace the worn wooden ones.

Can you see Gail and Eric listening to Dr. Aton?

Check out the VIEWS from this home! Is there any wonder he built his home here? It took a long, long time. Outside rock work alone was 14 years in the making , but only because only one person did it, and only in winters. And Jimmy added on, too. There were other cool things. It is built directly on the bedrock.

This photo is taken through glass, thus the leg reflections. Its a chunk of bedrock that IS the floor of this room.

The views. They are awe-inspiring, to say the least. This is from the deck. There are many decks, many windows. His main studio was in this home.

The trip was limited to twenty participants.

After we learned a liitle about the home, the owner, etc., we moved around where another local artist had set up for a demonstration in pastels. Arlene Braithwaite is an amazing artist right here in Cedar City. And my kids went to school with her kids. One of her kids is a celebrated Young Adult author (Allie Braithwaite Condie).

Arlene and the Southern Utah Museum of Art provided us with materials , and after the demonstration and comments, questions, we found a spot and went to work. At least we tried.

Arlene came around to offer compliments and suggestions. She is a great artist AND a great teacher. Gail and I had fun. Eric and Matt had fun. Eric commented to all in the shuttle on the way there, asking if this is a "safe place to practice bad art"? Because, he said, "I plan to try really hard to do great 'stick figure' mountains and rocks." Ha ha.

Here's Gail, all settled in, ready to go. We had to master the art of seting up a folding aluminum easel first! I ended up setting mine up just to her right, in front, but not blocking her chosen view. And i was on on an ant hill. She ended up focusing on the purple flowers to her left.

Below:

Brad Holt painted in his blocky oil painting style during the 40 minutes we had to try. Brad is a master colorist. He gets it. Sometimes you might think, surrounded by this awesome beauty, how could you go wrong!? Well, you can. (Not him. Me)

We did take a group photo at the end. I hope I get a copy of it soon. I'll add it when I do.

Eric, Gail, Matt.

Above. This is the view I chose. There was not a cloud over it when i started. Arlene said to choose your shading and shadows, place them, and don't go back. Yikes!!But it is Pleine Air paining and the light changes all the time. Hard to do.

I focused in on this smaller area, below.

And this is what I ended up with???!!!! Humph. Colorful camel humps.  Proof that even surounded by all this beauty, great teachers and help, it's evidence that some people just ain't got it. 

BUT, it was a really fun (long) day with wonderful people including family, friends, co-workers. It was GLORIOUS, being in Zion National Park, or close enough to see and enjoy, without having to deal with crowds and parking.

Pleine air pastels.

 Check!