367. Take a Hike

 

'Take a Hike'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

It was a sunny July day, and the trail to Panther Creek Falls was aglow.

Under the canopy, bouncing sunrays land in warm pools of light.

So welcoming! I had to try capture all that forest friendliness. 

Enjoy!

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Last Light of Yellowstone 2

 

'Last Light of Yellowstone 2'

11" x 35"

oil on panel

Redo! I painted this scene from Yellowstone Natl Park about nine years ago, and I've been wanting to tweak it for about eight years, lol. When you paint from photos (as I do), it's easy to get stuck focusing only on matching the photo instead of trying to capture the reasons you took the photo in the first place... 

After a full day of seeing all the iconic sights of Yellowstone, we were driving toward the northeast entrance of the park. The early evening sun was hiding beyond the peaks to our left and just kissing the tops of the ridges to our right. Wildfire smoke in the area made it hazy and stole most of the blue from the sky, but it also settled softly into all the low places, adding drama to their darker shades of blue. And then, this valley. Not so narrow as to make us claustrophobic, not so wide as to diminish the height of the hills. Peacefully flat, with likely a river or stream hidden among the lush wild grasses. So vast! A panorama reserved for high places, but we were safely nestled in the valley, and could still see for miles. 

I hope I captured a bit of it.

Before and after:

North Window Arch

 

'North Window Arch'

16" x 16"

oil on gessoboard

We visited Arches National Park last summer and I knew immediately I wanted to make a painting to add to our family memories wall. This is North Window Arch, and my boys posing under it helps to show the scale. So cool to see! I also loved Arches because the places one can fall into or off of are few, unlike a lot of National Parks in the southwest. My 'teen boys goofin' anxiety stayed pretty low.

Our wall is filling up with pretty scenes, but the memories they stir up are certainly not perfect. On this particular day, one of my boys was very not happy to be here and is posing under the arch absolutely against his will, lol. At one point in the day, I delivered an epic 'you don't know how good you have it speech'.😅 It would be great if all our trips were smooth sailing, but honestly, those rough moments (from all of us) make it all the more memorable and the sweet times even sweeter.

(Not for sale.)

366. Golden Gorge

 

'Golden Gorge'

6" x 6"

oil on gessoboard

One of my favorite places in the Pacific Northwest; the Columbia River Gorge.

The lavender fields in the foreground are in Washington; in the distance, the sunlit ridges of Oregon. 

Somewhere beyond the trees, the mighty Columbia rolls along toward the setting sun.

Enjoy!

View auction and bid here.