Devil's Garden

One of the great benefits of living in Utah is our beautiful national and state parks.  There is something spiritual that happens when you hike through these parks.  I never tire of visiting them.  They change with the light of day and also with the weather.  Rain, especially intensifies the color.  This painting was inspired by a photo I took while hiking in Arches National Park.

Devil's Garden Trailhead

20"x16" oil on linen

Fall or Winter?

"Season's Change"

11x14 oil on board

This is the time of year that Mother's Natures seems unable to decide if it is autumn or winter.  Some days the temperature drops, the winds pick up and the snow begins to fall and I'm convinced it is winter.  Other days I look around and discover some trees are holding on to their leaves as if they too don't want winter to begin.

Autumn into Winter

I never tire of the view out my studio window.  The Wellsville Mountains are in a distance and they change on a daily basis.  Early morning they are pink into orange and the sun hits them.  Sometimes they are hidden in the clouds with only a part being lit by the sun.  Today the contrast of the remaining autumn leave against the white snow of the hills in the distance let me know that once again we will be fully into winter.

This is what is on my easel today.

Standing Watch

I love evergreen trees as they always give color to the landscape no matter what season it is.  This painting was done plein air (on location) with finishing touches done in my studio.

"Standing Watch"

11x14 oil on panel

Lake O'Hara

There is a pristine lake hidden on the back side of Lake Louise in the Canadian Rockies.  A number of years ago a good friend invited me to travel with her through the northern Rocky Mountains into Canada and back to Oregon.  We were on the road just shy of a month and that trip was amazing.  Although I had heard of John Singer Sargent, I was not familiar with much of his work.  I know!  I missed out big time.  Little did I realize the history behind where we stayed.   We were fortunate to stay in a ranger's cabin right at the very spot that Sargent painted many years before.

"Sargent's Point"

20x16 oil on board

Zion Park

One of our favorite places to visit is Zion National Park.  I still remember my first time there and how the amazing canyons and towering rocks took my breath away.  No matter how many times I visit the park, I still find myself filled with awe.  The rocks change right before your eyes.  One time they are dark and almost without color and a few minutes later, they glisten and sparkle with color.  If you wait and are lucky, you might have a gentle fog roll in or a few snow flurries, depending on the season.  All are beautiful and remind me to stop and just enjoy this place we call Zion National Park.

"Zion's Fog"

11x14 oil on panel

Zion National Park

I never get tired of visiting the beautiful national parks that are here in Utah.  Nor do I get tired of painting them.  This is of Zion National Park after a dusting of snow.  Like the season now, it is a taste of what is to come.

"Early Zion Canyon Snow"

11x14 oil on panel