Let's Take a Walk

Original oil pastel drawing on Bristol paper

Measures approximately:  7" x 9"

Completed in 2010.

All rights reserved.

The landscapes and secret sanctuaries of central Minnesota look to me like living art.  I finally found the time this weekend to begin a series of plein air drawings and paintings that I have longed to create for years now.  This is from a group of three pieces created at the Lower Sioux Agency Historical Site.  This is where the Dakota War of 1862 began.  The battle here was lead by Thaóyate Dúta also known as Chief Little Crow.

These plein air pieces are begun in the field, first sketched in graphite and then with oil pastels.  I add the finishing layers at home in my studio, mostly because my butt falls asleep sitting on the hard ground.  And because we have mosquitoes here the size of small hummingbirds. 

This was a nice wide mown path through tall grass that wound around a bend.  Flanked on both sides by tall old tree guardians.  A lovely place for a quiet walk.