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Bridal Veil or Cornelius?

I named this painting the Cornelius Falls, but at the trail head, a sign indicated that it was called Bridal Veil Falls. So why would I name this painting other than what the sign said? Well, because of Tim Ernst, the man who, literally, wrote the book on Arkansas Waterfalls. Tim Ernst is the expert on Arkansas waterfalls because he has made it his mission to visit as many falls as possible and to write about them. I have this book, dog-eared and well used, and swear by it. I will warn you, when Tim says bushwack, he really and literally means bushwack!

Back to the names. The way Tim tells it, the original Bridal Veils Falls is a little further down stream and on another creek. It was the original one discovered by locals. The Cornelius Falls was the first falls you come to when hiking down from the parking lot. It has since been called Bridal Veil Falls. The sign at the trailhead actually says the first falls is Bridal Veil, but according to Tim, it has only been called Bridal Veil more recently because people don't always venture a little farther to the original Bridal Veil Falls. I'm sticking with what Tim says. He's been right about everything, except he didn't write the book taking into account someone carrying a large backpack full of heavy painting equipment! 

The Hike

This particular hike down was pretty easy with a well defined trail and many switchbacks down a steep incline. It was pretty easy to descend until the very bottom. The last bit before reaching the bottom of the canyon, I needed to sit on my bum and scoot/slide down. Not the most graceful, but since Sarah and I were the only ones there, no one else saw me! It was overall a fairly easy hike and worth the trek down and up to see this fall, especially when the waters flowing. I want to come back when the water's flowing and paint it again.

Sarah, who joined me to paint using her pastels, wasn't able to get all the way down with her pastel box. She was able to stop about half-way down the steep incline and set up to paint using her pastels. She uses chalk type of pastels which are dry sticks of pigment with a little binder. It is difficult to mix pastels, so she needs to carry a lot of colors, hence the large pastel box.

The hike back up was pretty easy. Because of the switchbacks it was easier than climbing. Also the switchbacks made convenient places to let others pass or go by safely, or a place to catch your breath! Again, the trek was worth the view!

Other Hikers

While I was there, I got to see other groups of hikers. Its always neat seeing who is coming to see our natural resources, who appreciates them. As usual, the plein air painter was there first. 

On site, I completed a sketch where I laid out the basic shapes and basic composition. I started the waterfall and started on the rocks. I took several pictures and stayed until I was too tired to continue painting. The sun, heat, standing, and intense concentration takes its toll.

Studio Work

Back in the studio is where most of the work was done on this painting. I struggled with this one for a bit. Going to the Plein Air Convention & Expo (PACE18) really helped me to paint the waterfall better. Getting the color, value, and temperature of the rocks on the wall just right, was difficult, but definitely worth the work. I think I painted the water on the falls numerous times, but I'm happy I persisted until I was happy with it. 

The hardest part to get right, was not the water, but the green moss on the rocks. I don't know why it was so hard, but greens are difficult to begin with (ask any artist). I've painted green trees enough to have that pretty good for where I am as an artist. The green on the rocks was due to a combination of moss and algae. It was a brighter, more yellow green than what is seen on trees, especially now as we are moving into summer. The green was almost an unnatural green, like it was a man-made green. Getting the right hue, value, and temperature was challenging to say the least! 

One of the things I've learned from hiking and painting in the Ozarks, is just how beautiful even the rocks are in this gorgeous state. We have such beautiful rocks which are decorated with lichen, moss, algae, and other living organisms which add color to rock formations, such as rocks in and around waterfalls. Being an artist makes you see things you've never seen before and appreciate what is right under your nose. 

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