FWIW, have taken this bus twice - not-Curry to Mono Meadows...thoughts: 3 buses/ times daily - Jumped on the earliest - 8:00 not-Curry/ 8:30 Lodge. I bought my ticket at the kiosk the night before, but spaces were still available up to departure in July. This is not a shuttle but a round trip tour package, complete with witty patter from a knowledgeable driver. With the constant park roadby markskor - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Quotechick-on Gaylor, Granite, Dog... not allowed. I'll find it in the regs somewhere... Was told, long ago, north/ far side Granite was OK...searched but cannot find any regs saying different. Probably I'm wrong, as usual.by markskor - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
another, in progressby markskor - General Discussion
There seems to an ongoing boot evolution. Days past, when Vibram soles were still stitched on, you bought your leather Sundowners or Voyagers...went through a lengthy break-in period (read blisters)...then enjoyed them for decades - thousands of trail miles...probably resoled them a few times too before finally giving up the ghost. Today, lightweight and throw away rules. Glued-on soles, a &by markskor - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
As slow here...(15' walls of snow lining the streets here in Mammoth)... Two stages...notice: - Paper edges taped down...(yes slightly wrinkled but that's what happens when on the back of another painting). - Pencil lines, which will be erased later, - Under-painted mountain areas. - Finished painting...also note how the colors of the matte board compliment the painting colors.by markskor - General Discussion
Quotewaninggibbous ... the backpackers shuttle leaves at 9 AM, meaning we would have to stay in the valley the night before (where?). With your mailed receipt for the already guaranteed TM Wilderness Permit in hand, you could stay over Valley BP the first night - one night - (Just explain things to the campground Ranger - as logistical problems are common early season - Yosemite is flexible therby markskor - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Quotewaninggibbous That's great to know about the flexibility. Yosemite has an enlightened approach to its backpacking guests...will try to accommodate all requests/changes if possible. Other than a few (necessary quota) rules, you can go almost anywhere in the park on just one permit. The one major requirement is that someone in your party must always have a permit in hand stating - starting THby markskor - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Before you finalize your summer's travel reservations - plane flights, car rental, etc...(BTW, Congrats on getting your Cathedral reserved wilderness permit...nice job!) Realize that you can easily add a few days to your already reserved (Cathedral to Happy Isles) trip plan when you pick up your wilderness permit in person when physically at the wilderness permit office in Tuolumne Meadows. Yoseby markskor - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
QuotebalzaccomI'm still struggling with the idea of changing what is actually in the photo to make a better painting. So far, I'm losing that battle. Sigh...get over it! If you want your picture to look exactly like another picture...that's what cameras are for. As the artist, you can move things around...maybe slightly reposition a mountain or lose a few trees...think of the power you have iby markskor - General Discussion
Dramatic improvement...now the subtle differences there in the background mountains creates a lot of interest. Kudos to you...however.. Let's talk a bit of art theory again. Notice your great treeline...BTW, nice improvements individually there too, but... All your trees are exactly the same distance apart...the treeline almost looks like a set of fence posts.........I I I I I I I. Preciousby markskor - General Discussion
Watercolor paper is not paper - Watercolor paper is mostly made from cotton rag. Today's most-used papers...an automated process injects cotton pulp onto a mesh cylinder, then the paper is pressed, dried by hot rollers, cut, and dried. You'll often see watercolor papers labeled as - 90 pound, 140 pound, 300 pound. One Ream or 500 full Imperial sheets (a full sheet) - 22" x 30" of 140 pby markskor - General Discussion
Last summer season, worked as a cashier in the Tuolumne Meadows store, and Jamie (the bosslady), agreed to let me hang 6 or seven of my watercolors (shown above) in both the store and grill. As again planning to work there it again this season...(too much fun),... so, if in the TM area, stop in and say hi...old fart - silver hair and ponytail. Will hopefully hang a few more again too... markby markskor - General Discussion
First off it is Sierra...never Sierras...sigh.. Nice plan but maybe a bit ambitious for only 2 nights - three nights would make a much better trip -. (I would just tell the Ranger to add another day when you pick up your reserved permit and take a little more time to enjoy the journey)...YMMV Have you ever hiked at altitude? 9.000+ foot elevation? Acclimate? Suggest if starting Cathedralby markskor - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
QuoteJRinGeorgia ^ I disagree. Inspired irresponsibility is still irresponsible. Sort of agree - Walking up to/trying the cables in winter is a grand adventure - legal, and many times having been written about....been there. However, not knowing enough as when to turn around when (even though skilled), they arrived at a situation they were obviously unprepared for... idiotic and a possible Darwby markskor - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
A few more quick suggestions...just because...might even help your game. Don't know what paper you are using but I use 140 cold press...the rough side,,,(Also known as NOT).... I like using the Arches Ultra white, and usually paint on half-sheets. You must let things completely dry before painting a darker color over it. If you are in a hurry, a hair dryer can speed up the drying process. Asby markskor - General Discussion
Balz...nice trees!...you're learning! They could be straight up though. (Just an FYI...any critique is not meant as negative. It's just easier to point out the same mistakes that I went through too.) As you have probably figured out already, watercolor is a thinking man's (or woman's) medium...actually more time should be spent pondering than painting. Unlike oils or acrylics, you only get oby markskor - General Discussion
A bit concerned about teaching you too much here...you will be better than me soon...lol. Anyway, a bit more theory. - The reason I enjoy watercolor is that you cannot control it. You can do everything right, but when it dries, strange things often happen. Try to embrace the uncontrollable....That's the art. Watercolor make use of transparencies...much like the light coming thru a stain glassby markskor - General Discussion
. "There is a lot of white in it..." . Well, yes and no...but a nice job nonetheless...getting better each time. Values: Let's use a scale of 6 different values, where 1 is pure white, and 6 the darkest black.. What you call "a lot of white" is really closer to a 2. As a suggestion, make 10+% of the picture pure white...tops and sun edges of hills and mountains, gleam mby markskor - General Discussion
Today's lesson - save the whites Watercolor has no white...just the paper. Before painting your scene, take 5 minutes first to do a Value Study. ...quick, rough sketch, deciding where the darks go, and where to save whites. You, the artist, decide where to put the contrast - Parson's Lodgeby markskor - General Discussion
Quoteparklover . There are a lot of idiots out there. Respectfully disagree. In Yosemite when someone free climbs the nose route of El Cap or ice climbs the Yosemite Falls ice dome...or dons a flying squirrel suit and bombs off Taft...or slack lines Lost Arrow...or hang glides off Glacier...all part of our local culture - lauded, televised, admired. But if you're competent, know what you are doby markskor - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteDave I'm assuming the cables have been removed for the winter. Would this person have been trying to use the cleats and poles attached to the granite? Or are those removed too? Cables are never removed...however, they were replaced last decade or so. Now, they just disengage all the poles and wood slats...stack them at the bottom near the glove pile area. The cables then just lay down agaiby markskor - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Improving nicely Grasshopper. Now about trees - sigh - yours need a little work there too. Sierra trees are not telephone poles...branches? Additionally, you can see light through the holes in trees... Branches should all slightly different too. The more the slight differences, the more natural. .by markskor - General Discussion
Briefly talked about use of values - (darks and lights) used to make your painting pop...so, here is your quick Xmas art lesson. As a painter, you have an obligation to establish a center of attention - something to tell what the picture is really about. Whatever you choose, (you are the artist - could be someone's eyes, nipples, a tree - whatever), but you need the sharp contrast of a very darkby markskor - General Discussion
Hope this the right place to post....feel free to delete or move if not allowed here. Cleaning out gear closet and found my old bear can - Garcia model 812 - same model they rent in Yosemite. Free to good home...Merry Xmas. psduo@aol.com You just pay postage (Whatever is the cheapest rate?) or pick up yourself if in Mammoth Lakes.by markskor - Backpacking and Hiking Yosemite and the Sierra
Balzaccom - The link worked...BTW, Smedberg is one of my favorite places too! RE: art lessons. Rather than preaching about the many subtleties of watercolor,...here are two excellent books for you to read,.. Both highly recommended. (BTW, the first one - many often refer to as the "bible".)...I use this as my in-class teaching text - Tony Couch - Watercolor, You can Do It! . Justby markskor - General Discussion
Balzaccom... For some reason, cannot view your recent pics....interested though.. BTW, Never a problem to talk art theory, even here. As for myself, been trying some snags.by markskor - General Discussion
QuotePineCone I never knew there were any elephants in Yosemite however! Well, there is Mammoth Lakes... Actually, the Boss Lady of the Tuolumne complex - Jamie - likes elephants...'nuff said there.by markskor - General Discussion