Blog text and images by Patricia Banks​©
 
Greetings from the southwest!
 
It’s hard to describe the enormity of the canyons and deserts we’ve seen here, not to mention the amazing variety. It is even more impossible to take pictures that do justice to the grandeur. So, do believe professional photographers’ beautiful picture books for half the story, and just know that the full spirit can never be captured.
 
The weather gods have been having a blast. We are never sure what to expect! Having left Cameron, Arizona, wearing t-shirts and sweaters, we were lucky to take our coats with us to the Grand Canyon “just in case”.
 
About 10 miles from the Grand Canyon, the temperature dropped to freezing and the wind was blowing snow sideways. We actually turned around at the gate to leave because the Park Ranger told us they “were not expecting this storm”. Within about one-half mile back down the road, the snow stopped and the sun came out! So we turned back toward the park and took our chances. In this one day, there were a lot more snow flurries, hail, rain, and even a few brief blue gaps in the heavy cloud cover. Sheets of rain and snow were dropping into the canyons. The wind was so cold, so strong and gusting, that we were careful not to be blown over the edge. Although all this weather made painting impossible, it did make for fun and challenging photography.
 
We are determined to enjoy everything that presents itself on our adventure, and we hope to someday return to explore the spectacular Grand Canyon trails again!

Art Adventures - by Patricia Banks©
Published in Nanaimo Magazine & Voyager Magazine - May 2016

“Your best asset is you! Celebrate you!” These words set the tone for a great painting workshop I recently attended in Tucson, Arizona. They were the words of Matt Smith, an exceptional teacher and talented American Plein Air (outdoors) painter.

Matt explained how he wanted to be the best version of himself as an artist, not a second or third rate version of someone else. I think this is good advice for all areas of one’s life. It is always refreshing to see artwork that is unique, created by an artist who has become one with their subject; an artist who has vision and a distinct style of their own.

A few, (well, many), years ago, while in university, I had an English literature teacher who was kind, but ruthless in requiring her students to find their own writing voice. This was indeed a challenge when first starting to write, but by the end of the term, each student began to emerge with their own distinctive style. Defining one’s artistic voice can be equally painful and tedious. There is so much to learn. It is often easier to adopt what one likes of someone else’s style, especially when quality technical information is limited and trends and opinions are abundant.

Matt Smith’s workshop was refreshing. His presentation included many examples of other artists’ work, both living and dead. He generously praised other artists and highlighted their unique styles, qualities and skills that were evident in their paintings. He further guided the workshop attendees with invaluable concrete technical information while he applied his knowledge and skills with intuition and finesse in his painting demonstrations.
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Even if it feels like we are going against the flow, it is crucial to know yourself and express yourself in your own special way. Above all else, painting is a form of communication. So say what only you can say. And remember: “Your best asset is you! Celebrate you!”

​Blog text and images by Patricia Banks​©
 
After the Plein Air Convention, in Tucson, we headed north hoping to beat the blistering heat. Camp Verde, in the Verde River Valley was a few degrees cooler, but still plenty hot for us!
 
It seems this trip has been all about deserts and canyons since we left the green and rainy Pacific Northwest. Strangely enough, we have had a full gamut of weather conditions throughout the trip. All of the various desert areas have slightly different micro-climates, making each one unique.
 
We stayed near Montezuma Castle which was built around 1100 CE by the Southern Sinagua Indians. No one knows why or where they went after 1300-1400 CE. These cliff dwellings are about 100 ft off the valley floor and have 20 rooms.
 
We spent a day at Red Rock State Park, where we hiked in Oak Creek Canyon and near Sedona. The trails are filled with people walking, running and bicycling; all enjoying the outdoors and the incredible scenery. You could hike for years on the numerous trails that vary from easy to challenging, and never hike the same one twice. Luckily they are well marked.
 
Everywhere we have been, we have enjoyed pleasant conversations, learned helpful tips, and heard interesting stories from our fellow travelers, as well as everyone we have come across in one way or another. This has been a real blessing!
 
Looking forward to posting more paintings soon.

Blog text and images by Patricia Banks​©

We arrived in Phoenix, where we stayed two nights to stock up on supplies and do errands. In a day, we went from ski jackets to an Arizona heat wave! Then, southward on to Tucson and the Plein Air Convention.
 
Our original plan was to camp at Catalina State Park, so we did not book a hotel. As we entered the convention venue, we were fortunate to hear about a room cancellation. We jumped on this opportunity and were very glad to have a break from camping, especially with the extreme heat in Tucson, and the long days of exciting convention activities.
 
The Plein Air Convention and Art Expo was a fun filled, information overload, and product packed convention, attended by over 900 artists!
 
Each evening, we all went outdoors to paint at one of the pre-arranged, stunning, desert locations. We even painted one night by the light of the moon! Of course, it’s hard to see what you're actually doing, but that might be a good thing!
 
We’re already booked for the Plein Air Convention and Expo next year in San Diego! #PACE17

​Blog text and images by Patricia Banks​©
 
We had planned to go to Los Angeles and visit the Norton Simon Museum of Art, which has a wonderful collection of Renaissance Art; alas, another time. We drove east along Highway 20, following the gentle rolling hills, beautiful, round oak trees, and pretty spring flowers.
 
We stayed in Oakhurst, just outside Yosemite National Park, where we dreamed of a few days painting and hiking. The weather had other plans. Heavy rain storms out of Mexico were on their way the next afternoon, and another storm was on its heels, out of Alaska, which would bring snow. So, the next morning we quickly toured the highlights of Yosemite and by 3 p.m., the monsoon rains began. With the windshield wipers on high, we could barely see the continuously winding mountain road, at 25 miles per hour. Sleep was brief that night as the small river next to our site had risen more than 10 times its volume within three hours, and wasn’t expected to peak until 7 a.m.! We left early the next morning for the Arizona desert.
 
Crossing the Mohave Desert, threatening clouds loomed in all directions. It rained off and on, but mostly on. We stayed in Parker, beside the Colorado River, on the California/Arizona border. In the mountains, the roads curve from side to side. Through the desert, they go up and down following the terrain like a large old-fashioned washboard.
 
On Highway 95, it was soon apparent that several “washes” or spontaneous, uncontrolled rivers of flooding water, mud and whatever… were sprawling all over the place. These washes crossed the roads at the low points and it was often difficult to tell how deep they were, or, if indeed the road was washed out below! These conditions didn’t seem to deter traffic, so we kept driving unaware of what was ahead. The severity of the flooding continued to build and it was pretty scary!
 
As we gingerly made our way through a large wash covering the road, a big transport truck came barreling toward us at full speed. It shot water and mud at least eight to ten feet in the air, completely covering our vehicle and trailer – it was blinding! Unable to see anything, we stopped dead in the middle of the wash only to have a second oncoming truck cover us again.
 
We still haven’t gotten all the mud out of everything, but we did survive to enjoy our next adventure!​

​Blog text and images by Patricia Banks​©
 
The Smith River is our constant companion as we cut diagonally across southern Oregon to Crescent Beach in northern California. It is considered one of the crown jewels of the US National Wild and Scenic River program. We stopped to take photos often and were spell bound by the incredible variations of deep blue and deep green turquoise colours of the water. The Smith River originates in the high Siskiyou and Klamath mountains and is joined by several forks along the way to the ocean.
 
We thought you might like to see a little more of the Redwood Forest – it is so enchanting! It beckons you with delight to explore what’s around each bend on the trail - a stunning shaft of light illuminating an ancient world, the trickle of a brook, the cascades of a stream, the multitude of tender ferns and flowers beside giant trees and all put to the background music of a variety of sweet singing birds! The clean air and peaceful energy is totally renewing.
 
Moving south and inland to a dryer climate, we stayed at Clear Lake in northern California. It is the largest of California’s natural lakes (five miles wide by nine long) and for all reasons it could have been the beautiful Okanagan Valley in B.C. It was rural, tranquil and quiet in the off season, but judging by the local tourism infrastructure, a vacation beehive of activity in the summer season. In this area, the towns have names like Nice and Lucerne, and by the look of many of the huge and spectacular waterfront Mediterranean style villas, you might think you are actually in one of those beautiful European vacation spots.
 
Lots of hot country lizards happily sunning themselves too!

​Blog text and images by Patricia Banks​©
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We’re on our way to the Plein Air Convention and Art Expo in Tucson, Arizona! We are doing a circle route, visiting some of the most beautiful places to see and paint on our scenic tour of western Canadian and American Parks.
 
Here is a photo of my new painting "Stream of Life" to spark your enthusiasm! Come along with us and enjoy the ride!
 
We headed south from Vancouver, B.C. and stayed overnight in Centralia, Washington, just south of Seattle.
 
Our next stop was in the Canyonville area in southern Oregon – a gorgeous place in the mountains with pretty Jordan Creek behind us – headwaters of the Umpqua River. Away from city lights, the night sky is really dark and the stars are spectacular. We named as many as we knew – which weren’t very many – so we just admired them all!
 
In the morning, we turned west at Grant’s Pass, leaving the high speed of Interstate-5, behind. We took the Redwood Hwy through a spectacular narrow canyon and winding road, following the stunning green and turquoise colored Smith River, which tumbled and cascaded through the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, in southern Oregon and northern California. The Smith River flows out to Crescent City on the northern California coast.
 
The lush mountain terrain of the Redwood National Parks, with their incredibly big trees, reminds me of home in the rainforests of beautiful Vancouver Island – only with even bigger trees! My two forest paintings called “Nurturing” and “Stream of Life” will be displayed in Tucson at the Plein Air Convention Art Showcase.
 
Camping in the middle of nowhere is so quiet; I can hear at least three owls in different locations, hooting to each other in the trees. Amazing!