Garden of the Gods

The Cedar Breaks paintout ended with just enough time for an end-of-summer road trip.  We went to Colorado Springs to visit our friends the Bensons.  Ellen and I hit the road with plenty of junk food.  When we got to the Springs, the Bensons entertained Ellen while I explored and painted the beautiful Garden of the Gods, some ten minutes away from our hosts' home.  The Garden involves rows of huge sandstone ridges, jutting like sharks' fins from the foothills below Pikes' Peak.   They are crazy-looking, lovely pieces of rock and are beloved by the people of Colorado Springs.   So beloved that it's hard finding a place to park if you want to get out and paint them.    I tried early (plenty of parking), mid-day (no luck) and late (some spaces opening up).  This is an afternoon painting from the east side.  Reflected light makes the shadows hot with color, and the westering sun still lights up the edges.   

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