A trip to Chile: Melipeuco, part 4, a road

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Melipeuco, a road, an itinerant, oil on card, 29 x 23.5 cm SOLD

One of the most successful of the trip- though I must say that I`m happy with the work overall. There`s a big van Gogh influence here, of course, and maybe also something of Gillies. 

It`s funny how sometimes pictures just come together, at other times the thing limps along. It`s quite unpredictable, even after years of working.

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A trip to Chile: Melipeuco, part 3, late afternoon

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Melipeuco, late afternoon, oil on card, 21.5 x 24.5 cm - sold

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A trip to Chile: Melipeuco, part 2, a mountain

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Melipeuco, a mountain, oil on card, 28 x 23.7 cm

(picture damaged and discarded)

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A trip to Chile: Melipeuco, part 1, a misty day

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Melipeuco, trees and shrubbery, oil on card, 23.4 x 19.4 cm  unavailable

Melipeuco,a misty day, oil on card, 18 x 24.6 cm

These are the first from Melipeuco, which is a small town, close to a national park and not very far from Argentina. I`d come here again: it`s varied and pleasant. 

The weather was perfect. I had a bike to get around on.

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Packing for Araucania

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Medium sized case, carriers

Travelling to Araucania

I`m trying to keep weight and nuisance down. 

 I calculate that I can take 32 card pieces to paint on, in the very unlikely event that all the 32 painting sessions that my four weeks in Chile allows are successful.

 I carry these in 4 carriers. The problem with using oil paints is they need at least three days to dry. That's one reason for not staying anywhere for less than a week-  to allow any pictures the time they need to dry before packing between different painting spots. I have thought about using acrylics but I find them nasty in colour and finish.

As things stand, I`m painting in three places: Villaricca, Pucon and Melipueco, though I  I shall perhaps wander down to Puerto Montt for the last few days in Araucania.

The paints and so on fit into this case, along with various other bits and pieces. It`s tight but it`s just about ok. The larger case is cumbersome. 

My trip isn't until after Christmas, but I like to plan things in advance and do things in a good time, unhurriedly. The Brazilian way of doing everything last minute appalls me.

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My Chile trip: Araucania

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Melipeuco

I have added Melipeuco to the list of places in which I will stay. It's close to a national park, called Conguillio.

I think the nature and scenery there might no be so different from here, albeit with snow covered volcanoes and more lakes.

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