Tetlin NWR (Yarger Lake) plein-air painting

So I don't know who this person is, but I like their quote:

There is an undeniable urgency when painting outdoors – nature's so grand, the canvas so small. It takes the human mind with all its grand abilities and complexities to sort through the overwhelming visual feast set before it and re-create on canvas the essential components of such beauty and wonder. - Jan Blencowe 

My thumbnail sketch here is pretty sketchy, to say the least. But ... we had a great time watching the birds and other wildlife at this little lake in the Tetlin NWR.

We think this little sandpiper is a Lesser Yellowlegs.

 It is sometimes hard to tell.  He was getting pelted by the rain! (We were in a blind.)

Bonaparte's Gull

 We saw beaver, muskrat, Sandhill Crane (heard them too!), 

Spotted Sandpiper, grebe, scaup, Common Goldeneye, Mew Gull, Gadwall (?)

and

 I did a teeny painting! (see above quote)

Summer Green   6x8 inches,  oil on linen

White River plein-air painting

We stopped for lunch at a pull-out overlooking the White River 

in the Yukon Territories, Canada. It was warm with a slight wind.

Side note: In December of 1991 on our way to our new home -Juneau- we stopped at the White River Roadhouse to have lunch or pie or something and
I got my 100 year old sourdough starter from the owner.
I still have it and it makes good sourdough hotcakes, breads, etc!
Right kids?

Set-up and oil sketch.
This one most definitely needs work to be "finished".

 I brought my water soluble oil paints on the trip because of the easy clean-up. I used the same little bottle of water the whole trip! (ten paintings)

Road Trip! First sketch along the way.

Greetings! 

We (hubby and I) took a road trip up to Fairbanks and the Brooks Range 

to visit family and friends, camp, see the sights, and ... PAINT!

This is the very first thumbnail sketch (2x3inch) before a painting sketch ... i feel i have more painting sketches than finished paintings.

I actually don't like the idea of going back and working on my plein air paintings ... but in reality, if i want to have a painting i am happy with, i most likely will.

If I keep doing this, perhaps there will be finished paintings in one to two hours!

Thanks for looking in!