Outdoor Painters Society's November paint-out was November 9 - 11, 2023 in Llano Texas. This historic and delightful town is located in the Hill Country. It's most outstanding feature is the formation of red granite on which it is built. It's a tough combination of a variety of other stones. The beauty of it's pinkish to red color forms the riverbeds on both the Llano and the Colorado River. The two rivers come together just outside of the town. zIt is also know to have the larges population of white tailed deer in the nation and hunters come from all around at this time of the year to hunt.
When we arrived on Thursday the much needed rainy season was in full force. In order to paint outdoors it was necessary to find a place for protection from both the wind and the rain. The entrance to Llano s a magnificent white steel bridge which was just the protection we needed and from t you could look back at the county seal Courthouse.
The best view of the Bridge was not under the overhang. This lovely view will have to be reserved for another visit or the comfort of my studio!
The Llano Uplift is will known for large, granite domes such as the one in the enchanted Rock State Park. We didn't make it there this time.
Under the Bridge there is a curved damn which because of the rain was flowing heavily.
The Kingsland Slab area is a favorite swimming place for anyone in the area. However the currents were quite strong and the pot holes that dot the slab were mostly submerged by the roaring current. The distant blue hills are especially beautiful. It was tough walking through the wet sand and deposits of river rocks but the views were well worth the effort. The amount of moister in the air created a misty look to the landscape.
The river at the slab is not deep, but it was in the fifties and there was considerable wind that detoured anyone doing much wading. The misty quality of the atmosphere really gave a soft pastel color to the entire landscape with its rose colored sand and weathered stone.
