Winter in the desert; Palm Springs area plein air

"Andreas Canyon in Winter"

10" x 12", oil on canvas

painted en plein aire

We spent a week down in Palm Springs right before the Christmas holiday visiting with the family, doing fun holiday stuff and plein air painting.  I was watching the weather reports and got out on the sunny days in between storms.  The winter storm on Dec. 13 gave us the beautiful contrast of the purply gray-blue San Jacinto Mountains with a dusting of snow and solid white at the peaks.  And cold!!!  

In the next 2 photos of the scene in Andreas Canyon (near the equestrian area) you see how cool the light is, and how few visitors were out in the Canyons.  I was thoroughly chilled after painting here from 1 to 4 pm because promptly at 3 pm the sun drops below the mountain ridge! Surprise on me! I'd forgotten about that effect of the mountains.  The painting is warmer in color temperature than in reality, I was searching for something to juice up the greys in the foreground to go with the warm temp's on the color of the cottonwoods.

Andreas Canyon

nearly finished

When the sun went down, I pivoted around and sat down on one of the picnic benches to finish the painting .  The light was gone and I thought I'd make myself comfortable.  Not too often do you find a bench to sit and spread your stuff on while plein air painting, to sit down and rest while finishing the painting.  

The Canyons are good for so many who like the outdoors:  hikers, birders, sightseers, horseback riders, picnickers.  It's wonderful to see these canyons intact as I remember them, and preserved.

More paintings to follow and I'm excited about the others!