Along the Paintbrush Trail

"Yellowstone" 12 x 9 oil on linen. Our blogs from Trio Fine Art usually talk about some aspect of observing, and then applying paint in response to these observations. I will use this month's blog to digress a little and offer a few stories about painting in wild places like the Tetons, Yellowstone, and their surrounds. We live in big, wonderful and open spaces that we share with a lot of wild critters. Painting outdoors often involves encounters with them. Now take buffalo. I am always thrilled to meet up with buffalo on the painting trail.  We all know them as big, shaggy and awe inspiring representatives of the real West. They are also fast, nimble, and often cranky. Sometimes they resent human intrusion anywhere near them and may portray this annoyance with unfriendly gestures and sounds. If you are anywhere near them when they display this behavior, I would suggest that you move back to a safe haven. Leave your paint box if you have to. I've never seen a buffalo charge a paint box. They can also fool you and show their "sweet" side. Fellow painter and pal, Greg McHuron and I were painting near the Hunter ranch in Teton Park while a herd of buffalo was  grazing a 1/2 mile away. We, of course, were concentrating on our masterpieces and did not notice that the herd had moved right up to us and was passing through our area. We were next to our vehicles and were in no danger, but the buffalo were that unusual variety that seem to like art and milled around us with no aggressive tendencies. I would not suggest that you try to duplicate this encounter because you may get the non-art-loving variety. It's hard to tell the difference. Moose on the other hand, do not care if you are an artist or typical tourist... keep your distance!  Though I've seen moose many times while out painting, my most unnerving encounter came during one of my earliest forays into Teton Park soon after my family moved here. I was painting just South and East of the Moose bridge over the Snake river trying to capture a likeness of the Tetons and totally absorbed in this effort. Suddenly, a large, dark shape appeared on the bench below me accompanied by a bellow. My first reaction was... BEAR!  I played some basketball as a youngster and though never a great leaper, I did a 36" vertical that day. I should have had a selfie to satisfy the doubters out there (my flip phone doesn't take selfies). Bill in the plein air painting process. Photo from Buckrail.com. Deer and pronghorns are often just curious and will move in for a closer look. The autumn seems to bring smaller animals and birds in closer since they throw caution to the wind in their search for food before the harsh winter sets in. I was painting Teewinot near the pasture adjacent to the Taggart lake area when a wren landed on my backpack. He next hopped over to my palette and then settled on my hand as I was preparing to lay down a stroke. What caused this? Did he not like the color? I put it on anyway. The magpies are the bravest and most comical of spectators. They often will perch next to you and carry on a one-sided magpie conversation with a steady stream of gibberish. It is hard to tell what they really think of the  work, but they do hang around for a longer time than most of my visitors. One little guy that you may be lucky to see will be a weasel (a.k.a., ermine, if winter). They will pop up in log or brush piles, stare at you with that Alfred E. Newman face, disappear and the reappear in seconds about 25 feet away. They are fast! Be forewarned! Cranes don't care for company at any time.  You might be 200 yards away from them and they will put on a constant stream of noise until you move. I don't paint near cranes any more. "A Yellowstone Specimen" 8 x 10 oil painting. You might be thinking that I haven't mentioned bear encounters. Here it goes. I was painting near the Lucas/Fabian cabins on a beautiful summer day and had made a pretty fair effort. The afternoon light was changing, so I packed up and started back to my old Wagoneer. I carry my French easel on an old hunt pack frame and when I walk, the brushes rattle in the metal pans so much that I sound like an old Yankee peddler. I was near my car, when suddenly there were two splashes in Cottonwood creek next to me. A grizzly sow and cub had just plunged in about 25 feet ahead of me. My noise-making made them aware of my presence, and they ignored me. I, of course, was not that calm as I slowly backed away and stood behind a power pole. The bears would not move away from the vicinity of my Jeep, and I had to take a wading detour across Cottonwood creek in cowboy boots. The next morning, I bought bear spray. I hope that you are somewhat enlightened about the wildlife encounter possibilities. Some of these things may have happened to you. Use caution and enjoy your blessings when you are fortunate enough to mingle with these wonderful creatures along the paintbrush trail. Behind the Brushes "Along the Paintbrush Trail" Bill Sawczuk