I still wasn't done with Pioneer Basin. I did another painting based on a black and white photo that I took on the 1967 trip with my dad. I used an old Rolleiflex camera with 2 1/4 inch square film. It was a great camera and made very sharp images, but it got stolen when some kids broke into our house in the early 70s. Dad and I were wandering around the basin when we came across this little tarn which made a great view with the high peaks of the Mono Divide beyond it.
We spent a few days in a cabin at Tamarack Lodge in Mammoth Lakes. It was the first trip that we were able to do since June when Maureen came off her horse and broke seven ribs. We borrowed a portable oxygen machine that made it possible for her to handle the high elevation. We had some very cold weather but enjoyed the beautiful location. One evening I saw a pink sky out of the window and hurried out to get a photo by the lake in front of our cabin, and it inspired this painting.
One day while we were at Mammoth, we went up to Lake George and walked along the shore. Maureen was not able to do any real hiking and this was a good alternative. The lake was all sparkles and I wanted to capture that in a painting, I tried a method that hadn't used before. With an old toothbrush I splattered masking fluid onto my paper over the area of the lake. I hoped for nice little round droplets but it turned out pretty messy. I went ahead and quickly finished the painting, but felt that it was not as good as I wanted. Looking at it now, I think it is not so bad.
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