Corona Arch Time Lapse

I had a scrap piece of watercolor paper staring at me yesterday and my fingers were itching to paint a starry sky. I have been to Arches National park twice and neither time was I able to explore Corona Arch, which is just outside the park. Maybe next spring??

Time lapse video of a watercolor of Corona Arch near Moab, UT. Materials: Daniel Smith Watercolor Paints Pocket Palette: https://art-toolkit.com/products/pal...

I was really happy with how it turned out and I realized I was totally channeling another artist I follow; Nikki Frumkin. She paints beautiful landscapes in the PNW. Go check her out: Drawn to High Places. Nikki, you really need to come and explore southern Utah. The contrast of the red and orange rocks is so amazing against a starry sky with blues and purples.

I’m hoping to have a handful of stickers available of my paintings of beautiful spots in Utah’s public lands, so say tuned!!

For anyone interested, here are the materials I used (most of these are affiliate links):

Daniel Smith Watercolor Paints
Pocket Palette from Expeditionary Art
Trekell Watercolor Brushes
daVinci Travel Watercolor Brushes
Grumbacher Masking Fluid
Fluid Cold Press Watercolor Paper
Faber-Castell Pitt Brush Pens

Plein Air Painting

More than a year ago I bought myself an Art Toolkit and this summer I was finally able to use it. In mid-July we hit up one of our favorite fishing spots in the high Uinta Mountains and the reflection in the water was just beautiful, so I gave it a go. It turned out much better than I expected. The Uintas are a place we go to escape the heat of the Salt Lake Valley in the summer. We’ll bring a lunch and spend a whole day out there; lounging, fishing, painting, and enjoying the quiet with no cell service.

Pass Lake, Uinta Mountains, UT

Since then I’ve used my Art Toolkit a few times on some of our summer travels and even in my friend’s backyard.

Split Mountain Campground, Green River, Dinosaur National Monument, UT

This was such a wonderful little spot to spend an afternoon. We explored some of the Utah side of Dinosaur National Monument, but we had no idea what there was to see other than a museum about dinosaurs. We found some day-use parking at the Split Mountain Campground and we thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful spot. My husband and my oldest son did some fly fishing while my youngest and I chilled in the shade painting and building a sand castle. I cannot wait to get back there someday.

Lucerne Valley Beach, Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, UT

Fishing with my son at a local pond

I was reluctant to share this painting when I took my son fishing one early morning before it got hot. I’m actually not happy with it. I had a plan for the water and then a bunch of ducks kept swimming by and made me change it and before I knew it, the water was a mess. Oh well. It was a learning experience. I did go back over the trees with black ink to flush out some of the shapes and I was a little happier with it. But still not happy about the water.

Lone Peak, Wasatch Mountains, UT, view from my friend’s backyard

The Art Toolkit is really thought-out and obviously curated by an artist. It comes decked out with all of the little essentials you’d need for some plein air watercolor painting. It comes with a water brush, pencil, waterproof pen, a tiny squirt bottle, a syringe for refilling the water brush, a little, plastic ruler, two tiny binder clips, and a notebook of watercolor paper that fits perfectly in the big pocket. Lastly, you can choose from a variety of options for the Pocket Pallete

I have since replaced the pen with a couple new ones since I wore out the one that came with it. I have added a second Pocket Palette to my kit; one with warm colors, the other with cool colors. I added a couple more water brushes and I keep a few business cards in one of the pockets. Sometimes I can bring a cup of water with me, so I keep a couple of my favorite regular brushes in there. I never would’ve thought of the little binder clips that come with it, but I use them each and every time I paint.

I really hope to fill up the book that came with the kit. It brings me so much joy to be able to capture a little moment when I see a beautiful landscape.

Strawberry Reservoir, UT

DIY Bookmark

We're all going through such a unique time in our history and we're all doing our best to stay sane and safe. One thing my family has really ramped up while in quarantine is reading. My kids are spending more time reading (sometimes with a fight, sometimes without), and so have I. Even if that means I set up hammocks in the backyard to ensure extreme reading comfort when the weather is beautiful.

Please enjoy this printable DIY bookmark that I created for you and your kids. I designed it for the parenting website I co-founded that’s currently going through a redesign. I will share it there once I have it back up and running.

Most big kids will be able to do this by themselves. Younger kids may need a little help. My 10yo could do it all on his own, my 6yo needed a little help cutting out the teeth. Feel free to share on Instagram and tag me, @alextebowdesigns and also tell me what your favorite book is or what you’re currently reading.

Supplies needed:

• A printer

• Paper or card stock

• Scissors

• Glue stick

• Favorite book

Step 1: Download and print the page with a color printer. Your bookmark will probably last longer if you can print on card stock, but use what you have. Photo paper will work too. Download the file here.

My 6yo and his smirk, hahahah

Step 2: Cut out a bookmark with scissors. My 6yo was able to cut this out by himself with a little help needed to cut out the teeth. 

Step 3: On one bookmark, fold the teeth triangle to the square’s center. Then fold the eyes triangle to the square’s center. 

Step 4:  Apply glue to the back of the eyes triangle and place it back over the teeth triangle. Let the glue dry. A simple glue stick worked great. Some white glue may take a longer to dry.

Step 5: Find a comfy place to sit with your favorite book and use your bookmark to save your spot. Or go sit in a book corner with your book corner! 

Feel free to share on Instagram and tag me @alextebowdesigns and tell me what your favorite book is right now. My 6yo says that Everyone Loves Bacon by Kelly DiPucchio is his current favorite. My 10.5yo’s favorite book right now is Major Impossible by Nathan Hale. I’m currently rereading The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher in anticipation of TWO new books coming out this summer.

What are you currently reading?

Kula Cloth Design Contest

I’ve been a fan of Kula Cloth since I discovered them over a year ago. They make reusable, washable, antimicrobial pee cloths for when nature calls and we’re out on a trail, camping, or on a run with no restroom around. There becomes no need to pack wipes or toilet paper and it’s better for Mother Earth to have less in landfills. They easily clip onto backpacks or fanny packs, they dry quickly, and the best part: they come in beautiful prints; many with artwork created by fellow women artists.

CLICK HERE to vote for my artwork!

Image by Zion Adventure Photog - Arika Bauer

Kula Cloth launched a design contest this week to have a new design printed and asked artists to submit designs. I submitted this watercolor painting I made from Red Cliffs National Conservation Area in southwestern Utah. It’s one of my most favorite places on the planet and home to the endangered desert tortoise, loads of unique wildlife, petroglyphs, and some truly amazing landscapes. Because it’s BLM land, it’s at risk of being developed as the surrounding cities need to accommodate growing communities. There was a proposal to build a highway through part of Red Cliffs and I don’t know if that plan is still happening or if conservationists are still fighting it.

Click on this image to get to the voting page.

Here are a couple gorgeous photos from the Red Cliffs area by Michelle Craig:

Image by Michelle Craig Photography

Image by Michelle Craig Photography

Here are a couple photos I took last year from Red Cliffs:

It’s a stunning part of Utah and worthy of protection from development!

In case you missed the link above, here it is again: CLICK HERE to vote for my artwork! Feel free to share the contest link on social media and vote for your favorites. Voting goes through May 7, 2020 at midnight. Thank you to everyone who’s voted!

Watercolor, Public Lands, and a YouTube Channel

We’re spending a LOT of time at home these days, so of course my desire to be out hiking in our canyons and in the desert is strong! We are on Spring Break this week and our schools have been closed for three weeks already. With our Spring Break travel plans to California canceled because of the Covid-19 virus, I had this inkling of hope that maybe we could escape to the desert instead. Nope! I read a plea from the director of the hospital in Moab and his explanation of how small his hospital is and how it’s not prepared to handle a pandemic AND the number of annual tourists who flock to the area every spring. I understood completely and was not willing to put the small communities in southern Utah at risk of the virus coming with me. Our annual trip to Arches was canceled and spending Spring Break on BLM land outside of Hurricane was done.

Instead, I’m living vicariously through painting. A few months ago I created a painting of Babylon Arch for Shanti and her Hiking My Way Retreats. I loved how it turned out so I decided to think about all of the beautiful landmarks that reside on BLM/public lands and do a series of paintings of them. Maybe I’ll turn them all into stickers one day, I haven’t gone that far yet. Maybe I can donate proceeds to a nonprofit that fights to protect our glorious public lands?

I will eventually do another painting of Babylon Arch (because it’s awesome and so is the surrounding area), but for now I have Fisher Towers, which is outside of Moab, UT:

A little waterfall on the Red Reef Trail in the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area in southwestern Utah:

Both areas are absolutely beautiful to explore. I plan to do another painting from the Red Reef Trail too.

One of my impulse purchases amid this Covid-19 business was a phone holder and light that lets me record time lapse videos of my painting. I learned the very basics of iMovie and, after some coaxing from my 10yo, I started a YouTube channel. Give my channel a visit and maybe a Like here and there.

Alex Tebow Designs

So far I only have a few videos up there, including a video on how I make Bolognese Lasagne, but I plan to add more in the following weeks.

I’m hoping to get more paintings going, especially since Utah is acting like its normal self in the spring and going back and forth between glorious sunshine and gusting wind and rain; maybe even a little snow.

What are some landmarks on public lands that you think I should do next??