Cumbres and Toltec Steam Train: Comin' Round the Mountain

"Cumbres and Toltec Steam Train: Comin' Round the Mountain"
19" x 14" Watercolor

Bob is a train buff and I enjoy them, too. So when I planned my Colorado ranch workshop with fellow artist Jeanne, we decided to spend the week before riding two famous steam trains that are remnants of the narrow guage railroads operated by the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railway. The railroad was built for mining operations with narrow guage because it was easier to make tight turns.
First we flew to Durango, CO, and then I drove us 2.5 hours to Chama, NM, where we would board the famous Cumbres Toltec train. It travels over 60 miles at a slow pace over Cumbres Pass (10, 015 feet elevation to Antonito, CO, crossing the boarder between NM and CO eleven times in the process. Passengers board before 10 and arrive in Antonito about 3:30. I just completed this painting based on various snapshots taken when rounding Windy Pass. Here is one of several photos.

Rounding Windy Pass

I wanted to capture the steam coming from the train, the long vista, and the colorful trees using knowledge gained at Steven Quiller's workshop.

We rode in the beautiful parlor car with a hostess to take care of our needs. Midway we stopped in Osier for lunch in a large dining hall, toured old buildings, left some passengers behind who boarded another train to return to Cumbres Pass or Chama. We continued on to Antonito where we spent the night in the Steam Train Hotel. Antonito is a old, high dessert town, now known for the surrounding agriculture. I was amazed that they produce a large quantity of crops. The town itself had a couple restaurants, three liquor stores, a nice supermarket, a marijuana dispensary, and a Dollar store. Like many towns, it is in a slow recovery from the mines closing.

The Parlor Car is luxurious complete with hostss

The Steam Train Hotel occupies a 100+ year old hotel 

The following morning we made the return trip to Chama where we spend another night at the Chama Station Inn, a sweet, local property lovingly run by a family.

The Station Inn in Chama, NM

Plein Air with Friend Jeanne

"Falls Creek"
11" x 15" Watercolor

After friend Jeanne and I returned from Colorado, we were motivated to do some plein air painting. I always love doing it with the watercolor society, but both Jeanne and I live far from many of the locations. With Bay Area traffic, we just have to pass up some places. Because Jeanne was slated for some surgery almost immediately, we had to act fast. I suggested I travel up to the Santa Cruz Mountains where she lives and we find a local spot.

Jeanne's favorite location is Falls Creek in the Henry Cowell  Redwoods not far from her home. We walked in about a half mile carrying our gear and set up next to the creek shaded by Redwoods. I had to improvise on gear as my workshop supplies were enroute, including my field easel. I carried my wooden French half easel and the Quiller full-sized pallette.

When we got done, I was not quite satisfied with my piece. So the other day I pulled out the piece and repainted it. I am much more satisfied with this attempt. I wanted to show the beauty of the place left in its natural state with fallen logs and debris beside the creek. The redwoods are awesome trees and very tall so here we see just the trunks of the three trees. The fall sun was shining in the grove.  I used some of what I learned in the Colorado workshop. I rather liked the "happy accident" that resulted when I was impatient and did not wait for the paper to dry to paint some of the background trees on the right. I will incorporate that technique in future work!