Plein Aire in Shenandoah

The first morning in Shenandoah National Park, I went out early to find a place to paint.  After debating over a few different spots, I found these milkweed pods right behind our campsight.  The painting is  7" X 5", pastel and on a terracotta sanded surface. I really loved working on this terracotta surface it just wanted to jump off of that color.

In the afternoon I found another spot with Witch Hazel trees that I thought were interesting with the last of their yellow leaves hanging on.  Last of Fall is a 9" X 12" pastel on Board.  The Witch Hazel bright yellow leaves were blowing away as I painted.  The wind was really cool and the longer I painted the colder I got.