Singin' The Blues

The white crowned sparrow is a summer songster.  For those of you just emerging from the snow pack, hang in there, summer's coming!   I'll be working "outside of Glacier" more now so if you miss seeing new art work from me, switch over to my painting blog.....click on the "Picture This" link to the right.  My show of GNP paintings has gotten great reviews and several paintings have sold, hooray!  

Take a Hike, art show

You know, it's a lot of work putting on a show.   I managed to cram about 28 paintings on this wall and so far the response has been great.  I've sold three paintings already.  There will be a reception this Sunday and I'm excited to share what I've learned about the park.

Precarious

This is a view of Grinnell and Gem glaciers from the notch in the Garden Wall.  I called it precarious for the obvious reason and also because the existence of the glaciers and the plants and animals that live here is changing fast.  The glaciers will most likely be gone soon and hopefully the critters, like this marmot, will have enough time to adapt to the changes.     

Bear Valley

This my most ambitious painting so far.  :-) Has anyone ever heard this area called "bear valley"?  I read it somewhere and thought it appropriate for this view from the trail up to Granite Park. 

Legacy of Ice

This view of Grinnell glacier and its valley from high on the continental divide is a bittersweet panorama in this era of global warming.  The remnant glacier with it's iceberg filled lake and hanging valley falling to the chain of lakes that represents the final path of melting ice on its way to the Hudson Bay drainage.   I feel so lucky to be able to hike up here and to appreciate a characteristic of the landscape that will very soon be no more.  I included the clouds not only to improve the composition but to symbolize the cycle of water and renewal that will continue even while we insist on messing it up.  This one is for those of you who can't get to this awesome place where hope fills up the clouds and pours down the mountainsides.

Don't Mind Me

This young mountain goat was all cozy on the rocks about eye level above us on the trail.  He seemed to say "lookin good, keep it up, have a nice hike" as he watched us walk up our second pass of the day.  This was on our continental divide crossover hike.  Start at the Jackson Glacier overlook up the St. Mary Valley to Gunsight Pass and eventually end at Lake Macdonald.  I highly recommend this route although as a day hike it's a long one.

Cataract

I'm happy with this one.  Avalanche Creek in the spring, morning sun sliding down the canyon. The swirling water with it's bits of glacial flour is the master sculptor at work. 

Coming up for Air

Watching moose "snorkel" is a favorite passtime, especially at Kootenai Lakes in the north end of the park.

Skipper

This is a moth-ish looking butterfly called a skipper... I won't even try to identify which of the over 3,000 specific kinds it is.  They are named for their skipping flight pattern.  This one has paused to suck up some nectar from this golden aster flower, see the proboscis extending down at a right angle into the flower like a skinny straw?  I think they are kinda cute with their big eyes and fuzzy face.

Glacier Morning

Here is a classic Glacier sunrise lighting up the peaks around Wild Goose Island.

Check out my newest book!

Here is the new book adapted from my 2007 Artist in Residence project for the park.  They will have the web based alphabet up soon (I hope).  In the meantime check this out for a preview with paintings added for good measure.  These paintings and others will be in an upcoming show next month.  I'll post more info. on that later.  Here is a link to the Blurb bookstore where you can see a 15 page preview and purchase the book should you be so inclined.  :-)

cut and paste this link  http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/210011

or click on the Jewels of Glacier Park link to the right,  enjoy!

 

Gunsight Lake

Finally back to painting.  Here's a view of Gunsight Lake from one of the best day hikes ever... the route over the continental divide from St. Mary Lake to Mcdonald Lake.   It makes for a long (2 passes, about 4,000ft elevation gain) and spectacular day.   Better yet, do it as an overnight (or several) there is so much to see. Yes, the rock really is that red!  

On A Mission

This coyote is cruising through the grass below Singleshot Mountain on the east side of the park.  He's obviously got things to do and places to go this morning.  

Afternoon Shadows

This mixed forest near Lake Mcdonald was burned not so very long ago, enough to let the long afternoon shadows penetrate it anyway.

Outlet Creek

This is a creek coming into the outflow of one of the Kootenai Lakes in the north end of the park.  I took the boat from Waterton townsite to the Goat Haunt Ranger Station then easy backpack to the lakes for an overnight.  Snorkeling moose, lots of 'em, were my camp entertainment after a day hike to Stoney Indian Lake.

Fireweed - Renewal

One of the first plants to appear after a conflagration is the aptly named fireweed.  The burns are uniquely interesting habitats, each one different and wonderful places to bird watch.  

Crowd of Kinglets

These little Golden Crowned Kinglets are very busy searching the treetops for bugs.  They may weigh less than a penny and they can hover in the air like little blimped out humming birds! They are relatively common in Glacier Park and some even over winter there, but I must say this view is from right out my window here in Washington.  :-)

Pica and Stromatolytes

Here is a little more impressionist approach to a pica rummaging around in multi-million year old rocks.  The swirly look comes from stromatolytes, fossils of ancient algae that now form some impressive rock art.

Huckleberry Bear

Here's another bear.  This one's for H = huckleberry.

Standing Tall

Black bears are not always black. This young bear is standing up to check out his surroundings.

Squirrel Condo

This is a golden mantled ground squirrel.  A whole city of them live in little rock apartments around the Numa Ridge fire lookout.  

Trick Falls

In the springtime (this was towards the end of June) when the water runs high this is a double decker waterfall.  Later in the summer as water levels drop only the lower portion of the falls is active, hence the name.  The native people call it Running Eagle Falls.     

Wild Rose and the Beetle

Here is a more intimate view of the Glacier landscape.  Wild roses grow profusely in many areas of the park and provide a great source of food and shelter for many bugs, birds and mammals. 

Morning Shadows

There's nothing finer than the warmth of the morning sun on your face when you're already well into the days hike.  This was nearing Preston Park on the way to Siyeh Pass.  Three big mule deer bucks, antlers blunted by thick velvet, let me join them for breakfast.

Forest Ghost

This encounter with 3 wolf pups on the way to Bowman Lake made my whole summer!  There is no doubt that I am extraordinarily blessed.  Wolves learn intensity at an early age, can you feel that stare?  

Jay Talk

Stellar Jays are a gregarious lot.  Even when they're quiet the vibrant flash of their blue plumage is hard to miss darting through the trees.  

Baring Falls

I'm liking this one, the challenge was to capture the mist coming off of the falls..... Can you feel it, a fine spray tickling your face and arms on this warm spring day? 

Sharing the Trail

This painting comes from one of my closer encounters with mountain goat families in the park.  Mom, this years kid and last years big brother (a common grouping) passed by as I made room on the Highline Trail one early morning in July.  I may still have some work to do on this one. Everything is in shadow except the little triangle of morning sun hitting the far ridge and I'm not sure I've gotten that just right although it's a little better in the original I think.  :)

New Blog

Here it is, another blog that I will use for the most frequent postings.  I'll save this one just for Glacier inspired images.   Check it out from the link to the right in the side bar.  Thanks!

Jays and a Nutcracker

OK, I know you think I haven't been painting.... it's not true!  It's just that I had to "leave" Glacier for a bit.  So I put these 3 characters in just to entertain you until I get back to the park. The Stellar Jay, Clark's Nutcracker and Grey Jay (aka. camp robbers) are well known GNP residents.  

I'm planning to do a painting blog where I will post whatever it is I'm working on at the moment, instead of cluttering up this blog with non- GNP images.  For instance, of late I've painted 2 interior "landscapes" with people and one still life (of all things!)  I'm also painting horses for a gallery show in April.  So there, you see I have been working.   I will post a link to the new blog when I get it up and running.  :-)

Elk

OK, I made this up.  I haven't been to Glacier in the late fall or winter......yet!  I actually have a plan for all of these paintings, you'll see eventually.  How's that to keep you checking back?

Snow Angel

Today was a day for inspiration.  Here is a (photoshop manipulated) snow angel that we "found" up on Hurricane Ridge today.  I'll be back to more Glacier paintings soon!

Persimmons

What's up with this??  There are no persimmons growing in Glacier Park.   Well, the persimmon that a friend gave me is ready to eat and I wanted to paint this before I consume the subject so here you go, that's what I painted today!  

Bighorn Ram

This one was also done earlier but I'm trying to get the email subscription thing to work and this is the only way I know how to check it.  I enjoy doing portraits, this young ram was a perfect subject.  

Forest Edge, Varied Thrush

Cheating just a little as this is an old painting but I'm working on a bigger one that I will post soon.  Also I want to test out the new "subscribe to" feed on the sidebar.  If you're interested, you can add your email address and whenever I post a new image it will be forwarded to your mailbox.  Try it!   :-)

Creekside

Anglewing on Yarrow

Profusion

Cloudy Day Jewels

Cloudy days are wonderful for helping focus my observations close at hand, a chance to appreciate the treasures right under my feet.

Highcountry Spring

Above Hidden Lake

A great place to visit Glacier's iconic mountain goats.

Retreating Winter

We have a dusting of snow today here in Puget Sound but winter lasts much longer in Glacier Park.  July, high in the mountains finds the last remnants of snow melt, glacier lilies emerging from the soggy earth and ravenous mosquitoes enough to keep you from lingering too long in one spot! 

Chief Mountain in the Morning

It's not hard to see why this monolithic outcrop standing out from the Rocky Mountain Front near the north eastern boundary of Glacier Park is a native American spiritual site.  On this particular morning in July, the moon hovers over the burly shoulder of the Chief and is reflected in the mirrored surface of a beaver pond.

Great Horned Owl

This is a palette knife painting, not the easiest tool to use in this small space (it's only 8 x 10") the technique is fun and warrants more experimentation i think.

Logan Pass Ram

Morning threads it's way up to Logan Pass in July while the wind rocks and rolls around here in January.  I imagine this view is blanketed with several feet of snow by now.

Aspen grove

Happy 2008

My challenge this year is to improve my painting skills by.... you guessed it, more painting!

Since I'm having winter hiking withdrawal, I've "gone back to Glacier", in paint if not in person.  This was the first image painted in the new year.  Although I like the sunny glow, it leaves room for improvement so stay tuned it could be a painterly year ahead!