Half Dome from the Merced River

Studio Akimbo
559 658-2663
info@trowzersakimbo.com

Artist's Comments

This started out as another beautiful day in the park, when the wind began to gust. I immediately took down my shade umbrella, before it blew away and worked under my large straw hat. The wind hit the back of my pochade box (portable paint box and easel combination), blew my painting from the easel and dumped the tub of water in my lap. I weighted down the easel with my backpack and continued. The uneven powerful gusts made it necessary for me to cinch up my hat tightly under my chin. Not enough, a sudden pounding tore the hat from my head and carried it out into the river. I quickly rushed out into the water, in my hiking boots, to retrieve it before it disappeared downstream. Returning my dripping chapeau to my head, I persevered on my bucking easel. When my hat returned to the river a 2nd time and a passerby pointed out that my stuff sacks were sailing down the beach, I decided to call it a day and finish this watercolor in the studio. I'm sure at least one tourist, on the crowded beach, went home with a video of the crazy artists cursing and flaying at the elements, in this VanGogh tableau.