Californian Adventure

Half Dome

During my family's John Muir quest in August we not only visited Glacier Bay, Alaska where through his observations he advanced the understanding of how glaciers shape the landscape, but we also made it to a few significant spots in California.

Yosemite Valley obviously was on that list.  We also explored the coastal redwoods of Muir Woods, poked around his house and fruit orchard at the John Muir Historical Site in Martinez, and gazed in wonder as the setting sun cast its golden glow on the Grove of Giants (which he named) in Sequoia National Park. 

I had the opportunity to sit with Half Dome for an hour or so and paint this watercolor while my son caught the light of the setting sun on the massive granite face with his camera. Plein air painting is truly a meditation. I almost enjoy the experience more than the final product, especially when the air has cooled off after a very hot day.

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