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To live and enjoy every day to its fullest, use my gifts to help others, I travel to wherever passion finds me.

What Will She Paint?

So many friends I met here...!

Thursday, July 09, 2009

SNOW IN SUMMER

In the valley at 4000 feet I look for shade, because the sun is burning hot. Many people wear a cap or hat to protect themselves from sunburn or heat stroke. It is summer!
Still, the closer we come to the North gate of Yosemite, around 8000-9000 feet, it gets cooler. When I am 10 min. outside, I need a jacket, because there is almost always a cold wind blowing.



We were here mid-June, and the white spots are snow! Please click on the image,
it's gorgeous to see this view enlarged!
The snow invariably strikes me as odd, because I'm dressed in a T-shirt and shorts.



Three trees at Tenyea Lake. A great place to have lunch, fish, or just relax can enjoy the beauty of the surroundings. On the right side of the right tree, you may see a white snow patch on the background mountains. To see it better, click on the image.



Teneya Lake 12 x 16, Oil, St.Germain

No stone unturned, or I'll paint it! As you know by now, I start my landscape paintings plein air. This spot is a paradise for painters and photographers, since there are so many views of this lake, and mountains tops nearby. This is the right side of the lake, where people sit on the rocks. There are also picnic tables underneath the trees. A little more to the left there is a sandy beach, but I prefer to lug our cooler a little further to have more privacy.




You see it accurate: the mountain on the left has a rust color!
Again, more snow, especially above the tree line.
I have the feeling that I'm reaching the "ceiling" of the earth, while clouds loom bigger and bigger, and I feel smaller and smaller.

Not far from the North Gate of Yosemite. The perfect spot to paint, except for the big mosquitoes here. Still, patches of snow here and there, and so peaceful and quiet. I have never seen another human being here (maybe because of the mosquitoes!)
In the winter, when everything is white, this place is even more stunning, since the snow is also reflected in the water.

24 comments:

neetzy said...

Hi Jeannette,

I was in Yosemite Monday. I wish I had my paints! We saw the snow on the mountains. I may use some of my Cali photos for "points of departure". I do not like to totally rely on photos but there were so many beautiful places out there!

Jeannette StG said...

Neetzy,
I wished I had known it before that you would go - to bring your paints! Maybe you can come back another time to paint plein air?

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Oh WOW Jeannette. What a lovely place. I wonder why there are no other people there? It is such a lovely spot, I would spend hours there, camera in hand of course. :)

Your photographs are stunning and your painting makes me want to dive ito that lovely cool looking water. :)

Unknown said...

It seems the same that I remember in Colorado. I was even caught in a mid August snow storm in Yellow Stone!
I am getting my self together and may paint soon some of those older photos from Colorado!

Jeannette StG said...

Joan,
Thank you! This is a more remote area, but still some people though. The more serious hikers and nature lovers come here.It's 1 1/2 hours drive away from the valley where most people congregate.

Wish we could have stayed here longer, but the drive to our cabin from here is a little over 3 hours.
Some of these pics were taken by hubby, so your praise also goes to him.

Jeannette StG said...

Joey,
Wow, that must be the strangest feeling to be caught in a snow storm in Aug.! Hope that don't only get to paint from photos from Colo., but you can paint it plein air! Nothing is impossible, right?

Gaelyn said...

I was snowed on in June at the canyon so am not surprised to see snow on the mountains at Yosemite. It looks beautiful, from down in the valley. I like your painting by the lake. How fortunate to find a secluded place, even if you had to fight off the mosquitos.

SILVER said...

Hi old friend. Not sure you're an award free blog or not. but i have you on my thoughts of one on my blog.

Jeannette StG said...

Gaelyn,
Are you saying that it began to snow while you were on the job in June? Wow! Does that mean that the "winter" longer this year?
In Yosemite we drove up to the N-Gate. So we were at least at 8000 feet when we took these pics on the side of the road.
I read your link to the story about the hikers - you're right - it's funny!

Jeannette StG said...

Silver, thanks for asking - Yes, I like to keep my blog free from awards,
because I want to integrate it with my art website eventually.
Thank you for thinking that much of me!
How are things with you?

DUTA said...

Breathtaking pictures of things that usually don't go together like snow and summer, snow and trees.

And your painting of the lake - ten points out of ten.

Jeannette StG said...

Duta, exactly - don't you love it when that happens?
Thanks for your kind comment about the painting!

crochet lady said...

Beautiful views! Your lakeshore painting is lovely. I hope you do a mountain scene.

Rosie said...

Wow, what spectacular photos and your paiting is super - the lake looks wonderful with it's mixture of seasons:)

Jeannette StG said...

Thank you, Jen! Maybe I will do a mountain scene. I never get enough of these views!

Jeannette StG said...

Many people love to live in California, because there are so many things combined in one state, beach, desert, mountains, city, country. Also most of this state is not how the media portrays it!!!

gianlucio said...

Hello Jeannette, welcome to "art in the world", I hope to soon see your work published somewhere.

Carol Murdock said...

What an amazing place Jeannette!
Thank you for sharing it and your art!

Jeannette StG said...

gianlucio
Thank you for wishing me well!
Hope things are going well for your art?

Jeannette StG said...

Carol,
it truly is a little paradise (well, almost)! Happy you like the painting:)

S said...

Hey~! Wow, such a scenic place. I'd love to sit in the midst of those mountains and read a book. I love the last photo with the reflection.

Sreddy

Jeannette StG said...

Sreddy,
Yeah, I can see sitting there in a fold-up chair with a book and a snack and coke on the side LOL
I would too - can read at any place:)

Gaelyn said...

What is normal about weather anywhere in the world? And what does it take to wake some folks up to why?
Yes it rained, snowed and hailed on me within about 10 mins at the beginning of June, at 8800 feet. And now it's "unseasonably" warm at almost 90 degrees F.

Jeannette StG said...

Gaelyn,
You brought up an interesting subject! When in Holland there is a 10-degree difference within one day, everyone is talking about it, but not when there is a big windstorm in the winter, because that is "normal."
Here in California, even if it blows "a little" (My measurements-haha), everyone is complaining about the wind factor, and how it effects their driving.
Worse, when raindrops start falling, they don't know how to deal with it, and people suddenly go 40 (or less!) on the freeway!!
Now, I would call snow at 8800 feet in June a big deal!
Sorry for the 90-degree weather - yesterday it came to that here too, and I told hubby to get some food - the worst is cooking in such weather in an un-airconditioned house (I'm spoiled, and I know it!)