Plein air: Blackfoot Canyon

By: Kristina Lyn Heitkamp

May 30, 2016

Rex and I started the holiday weekend with a spontaneous trip to Spokane, Washington for sushi and electric guitars. We ended the uncultivated excursion along the Blackfoot corridor, atop a mountain in the wind.

The late spring day began with a fierce zephyr. But that did not deter Rex and I from getting out to sling paint on a canvas or words on a page. We drove up a dirt path, climbing the canyon road. As we neared the top and the end of the road, we stumbled upon a family out for a hike. After a quick hello to the friendly folks and their furry kids, we set up to plein air write and paint. Quickly we discovered that it would take a little creativity and ingenuity to hunker down against the wind. Rex held his canvas steady on his easel, while I braced my chair with my backpack. It was a bit tricky writing with one hand while the other held the page, like playing tug-of-war with the pugnacious wind. I gladly accepted the challenge. Just have to keep the page from turning.