Yesterday marked four many years because we got dwelling from our ill-starred and unwell-fated trip to Patagonia, which just occurred to coincide with the begin of COVID. I&#8217ve composed about it setting up listed here, and I don&#8217t have to have to retell that awful and amazing experience. However, having difficulties by means of spring snow yesterday reminded me of how nervous we have been to go away El Chaltén as winter closed in on the southern Andes.

The Complete Enchilada was my next to very last portray just before we lastly still left the glaciers. My remaining a single will keep on being permanently unfinished simply because I was too sick with giardiasis to paint. Ironically, it&#8217s taken four yrs to fully crystal clear that from my technique, much too. Last month, my PCP imagined it was just feasible that my intestine signs or symptoms have been brought on by my outdated parasite mate. Fortunately, it appears she was proper. That&#8217s 1 poor memory of Argentina that I can lastly place to rest.

This painting was performed in the stupidest doable way. Right after two weeks of hunting at glaciers from river valleys, Jane Chapin, Kellee Mayfield and I climbed a mountain to get a unique view. Being reasonable outdoorswomen, we hared straight up the steep hillside. None of us experienced rappelling equipment and we had been instantly in a maze of granite ridges.

&#8220If all your friends jumped off a cliff, would you, as well?&#8221 is a renowned parental issue. Very well, duh. Indeed, definitely. Confronted with a choice of being left at the rear of or keeping with your buddies, you soldier on. The great information is that none of us fell, even descending into a wicked headwind. The watch from up higher than was chic. We hunched down at the rear of boulders as the wind increased in power. All of us painted effectively, though there can be no depth when your easel is bucketing in a fierce wind. It&#8217s also challenging to carry a soaked canvas down a cliff when you&#8217re concerned about slipping.

Argentina is a large and stunning place, but the flip side is that I noticed pretty minor of it on our sick-fated journey. Will I go back? Unquestionably, primarily if I can communicate Jane into it. But not tomorrow, for absolutely sure. This winter has lasted very long plenty of.

My 2024 workshops:

• Portray in Paradise: Rockport, ME, July 8-12, 2024.
• Sea & Sky at Schoodic, August 4-9, 2024.
• Discover your reliable voice in plein air: Berkshires, August 12-16, 2024.
• Artwork and Experience at Sea: Paint Aboard Schooner American Eagle, September 15-19, 2024.
• Immersive In-Individual Workshop: Rockport, ME, October 7-11, 2024.

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