January 2010

 Five-thousand five-hundred thirty-four miles. From Atlanta, Georgia to Pasadena, CA and back. It was our contribution to "The Process" that Coach Nick Saban talks about. My dad and I drove across country to see our alma mater, the University of Alabama, play in the BCS National Championship game at The Rose Bowl. I was a once-in-a-lifetime trip and it felt that way the whole time. Both of us enjoyed surveying the scenery and witnessing the gradual changes as you from state to state. On the way out we stopped at the Petrified Forest National Park and I did a painting of the Blue Mesa (see previous post). We also stopped at Joshua Tree National Park, but my painting didn't turn out like I wanted and needs a little studio work before I post it.

The pinnacle of the trip was January 7 - Game Day. My brother, who is a senior at The University, had to get in line well before 9am to ensure a good seat at the game. He decided to get there around 6am and Dad and I joined him. Parking at the Rose Bowl is remarkably easy 10 hours before kickoff. After a quick nap to allow the sun time to get up, I found a nice spot under a tree next to one of the parking lots. The lot was still empty and gave me a great view of the stadium. So the day of the game I was able to do a plein air painting of the "Granddaddy of them all". It added to the whole experience watching the fans slowly fill in and the activities get under way as I painted away. For years I've seen the Rose Bowl on TV with the gorgeous mountains in the background, and it was almost surreal to set up easel and paint right before watching my team play there. The morning light in Southern California was amazing, and I felt like I was painting the event as much as I was painting the stadium. And the painting became one more contribution I made to the process, just as I sought to apply the lessons of the process to my painting.

By 11 o'clock I was ready to pack up and join in the fun myself. I got dressed in my replica 1931 Alabama Rose Bowl uniform and soaked in every second of the day. The Crimson Tide beat the Texas Longhorns for the crystal trophy, which made the drive back to Alabama a hell of a lot shorter.