Summer Green

plein air, 9" x 12", oil, 'Summer Green'

Olson Homestead

plein air, 9" x 12", oil, 'Olson Homestead'

The Wood Hollow Fire

plein air, 6" x 8", oil, 'Cedar Hills Beauty'

The 2012 Wood Hollow fire in Sanpete County will go down in history as Utah's most frightening wildfires. Fueled by erratic winds, destroying 160 structures, including 52 homes, and claiming the life of one person.

The wildfire started June 23, 2012 and burned 47,387 acres in 10 days. It was fought by 789 people, as well as seven helicopters and eight airplane tankers. Total costing nearly $4 million to fight.

The 75-square-mile blaze began near Fountain Green when winds caused two sets of high-voltage power lines to either touch or swing close enough to each other to create a surge then swept down the poles into dry brush.

Sunday, June 24, 2012 by my home on 5th West in Mt. Pleasant

Monday, June 25, 2012 in the meadow looking west

Tuesday, June 26, 2012 approaching the range-land

As I drove farther into the Cedar Hills, north-west of Mt. Pleasant, it seemed the fire had shifted to the south. I thought for sure I would never see the old granary again. 

Instead, the wind changed directions and raced towards the north saving the structure and fences on our property. The town of Fairview was evacuated and highway 89 was closed soon after I took these parting shots of the Cedar Hills.

                              

Go Take a Hike!

plein air, 4" x 7", oil, 'Distant Glow'

1st Plein Air Convention 2012 in Las Vegas

plein air, 8" x 10", oil, 'Spring Mountain Ranch, Nevada'

Standards and the Limbo

plein air, 9" x 16", oil, 'Cedar Hills View'

Have you ever taken a shortcut to save time or money? Here are a few examples.

Jaywalking, no-bake cookies, hot gluing merit badges on a scout uniform, drying your hair with the car's heater on the way to work. Not always the safest route or the best quality but at least we get 'er done!

How about computer shortcuts to expedite online time? Easy, fast, and convenient, we want to compress time right? Nothing wrong with that, eh?  

stand·ard  

/ˈstandərd/

Noun

A level of quality or attainment

But what about standards of what matters most. Can they be set and then  changed for our weaknesses or conveniences?                         Does raising the bar make  life easier or harder?        It may seem more difficult at first to raise  our standards but isn't  it like doing the limbo? The lower the  bar gets the harder it gets to do. When  we lower the bar of our standards doesn't life get harder too?                      Does the quality of our                          life change? What do you think?    Can you limbo?

Air Force

plein air,10" x 12", oil, 'Mount Carmel Thunderhead'

What an awesome cloud to watch at Mount Carmel, Utah

Get Ready to Do Something Daring!

plein air, 10" x 12", oil, 'Painted Rock'

Yuba State Park located approximately 25 miles (40 km) south of Nephi, Utah got its name from the individuals who built the dam. Local farmers and ranchers had to build the dam themselves or risk losing their water rights. The men working on the structure called it the U.B. Dam. As they worked they sang a song that stated they were damned if they worked and damned if they didn't. The phonetic sound of the reservoirs name was eventually spelled Yuba.

Visitors with a good eye can sometimes find evidence of the ancient Native Americans that once lived in the area. Rock art, pieces of pottery, and stone tools are among items that have been found around the reservoir.

Sowing Time

plein air, 12" x 9", oil, 'Crop Edge'

PAINT...

plein air, 9" x 16", oil, 'Red Cliffs'

Bloomin' Birthday with Vincent

plein air, 6" x 6", oil, 'Bloomin'

"If you hear a voice within you saying you are not a painter, then by all means paint... and that voice will be silenced."

Vincent van Gogh

born March 30, 1853

Last Sanpete Sunset

plein air, 8" x 10", oil, 'Last Sanpete Sunset'

Changes

plein air, 5" x 11", oil, 'First Day of the Last Week'

Early Spring Camp

plein air, 10"x 8", oil, 'South of Vanity Pass'

Colorado River

plein air, 8" x 10", oil, 'Colorado River View Study'

Moab Green

plein air, 8" x 10", oil,  'Moab Green'

Slick Rock

plein air, 5" x 8.5", oil, 'Slick Rock'

Hell's Backbone

plein air, 6" x 8", oil, 'Escalante' 

Hell's Backbone Road is a 38 mile gravel road that was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930's. The road connects the towns of Boulder, Utah and Escalante, Utah. Halfway along the road is Hell's Backbone Bridge, which is 109 feet long, and 14 feet wide. A 1,500 foot drop is on either side. Near the bridge are spectacular views of the Box-Death Hollow Wilderness. From late spring to autumn, the road, which climbs to more than 9,000 feet elevation, is easily passable by ordinary passenger vehicles, but it is very narrow and winding, and not for the faint of heart.

Hell's Backbone Road is a high country alternative to the paved Utah Scenic Byway 12, which also connects Boulder and Escalante, 27 road miles apart.

This is a photo I took on my first trip across Hell's Backbone Bridge. It was a breath taking moment!

More Trees

plein air, 10" x 8", oil, 'Spring Trees'

Wind Velocity

plein air, 8" x 10", oil, 'Wind Velocity'