Rutherford Falls
Pastel | Plein Air | 11x14”
Painted on location on Rutherford Trail in Georgetown, Colorado. Awarded Best of Show at the Georgetown Plein Air 2025 Art Exhibit.
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This painting marked my public entry into the plein air world. The Georgetown Plein Air exhibit in Colorado was the first show I ever participated in. We were given several days to create up to two artworks around Georgetown, and I got involved pretty last minute. I brought an 11x14 pastel board with me, which made this my largest plein air painting to date. I had just one day to complete this piece, but I managed to get in two sittings. I started working on it in the evening, but I was rained out in the preliminary stages. So, on the morning of the show, I returned to finish the painting. I chose to hike up the Ruthorford Trail; it is steep but follows a river with continuous waterfalls, and I felt drawn to the contrast of the white water against the dark rocks.
The show went great, and to my surprise, I was awarded Best of Show.
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Certainly winning my first award
I made a lot of new connections with other Colorado painters
I enjoyed getting to know the town of Georgetown and surrounding area. It is so beautiful and rich in history.
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Being my first show, there was a lot to learn by doing, and rookie mistakes seemed to be a right of passage.
I had to do the Rutherford trail twice, rather than just once, making it very literally a challenge to get to my spot.
