Winter in the Rocky Mountains

I had an extended break following the completion of my Autumn Collection. It felt good to pick up the paintbrush and my paint markers. These small works are the start of my Winter Collection. Here I focused on early morning and night scenes.

 

Winter's Dawn I, acrylic on board, 6"x12"x1.5", 2022 

Available via the Two Old Crows Gallery in Pagosa Springs, CO

Enchanted Winter Night I, acrylic on board, 6"x12"x1.5", 2022  

Available via the Two Old Crows Gallery in Pagosa Springs, CO

Winter's Dawn III, acrylic on board, 6"x12"x1.5", 2022

Available via the Two Old Crows Gallery in Pagosa Springs, CO

Winter's Dawn II, acrylic on board, 6"x12"x1.5", 2022 

Available via the Two Old Crows Gallery in Pagosa Springs, CO

Night Sky Minies

Violet Wintry Night, acrylic on board, 6″x8″, 2021 ~SOLD
 

See Currently Available Art:

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This painting is part of my new mini series where I explored the concept of remote mountainous places where on a clear night the sky is filled with infinite stars. In this piece, I explored a scene where the atmosphere is purple and violet.

I’ve only seen something like this in real life one time while camping in Zion National Park. The Night sky was violet  and pinkish. The sky looked very light but the milky way was so clearly visible – it was so magical. The surrounding landscape also seemed lit up which was so neat. In this little painting I wanted to express some of that phenomenon but in a more mountainous and wintry scene.

 

Polar Night, acrylic on board, 8″x6″, 2021 ~SOLD

This painting is inspired by the idea polar nights. I’ve not actually experienced this incredible phenomenon where night lasts 24 hours but I’ve been fascinated by it.

I sleep right next to a window where I see a beautiful, full night sky most nights. Here in Pagosa Springs, Colorado the nightly display of stars is awe inspiring. I live on the border of the national forest and each time it snows, the scenery out that window is pretty magical. It makes my mind wonder about what the nights are in other, faraway remote places.

There is a draft by my window so the cold chill has recently made me think of frozen, bitterly cold spots. I painted this new scene thinking of arctic places where its so cold that icebergs grow out of the sea creating a fairy tale image of winter in the mountains where surely an ice queen must be nearby.

 Frosty Winter Night, acrylic on board, 6″x8″, 2021 ~SOLD

In this piece, I explore really jagged, snowy peaks that shoot up from the colorful forest, straight into a crystal clear and very cosmic night scene.

A Wintry Night Sky Over Pagosa Peak Painting

 

A Wintry Night Sky Over Pagosa Peak 

acrylic on board, 18″x24″, 2021

SOLD

See other Available Art Here:

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This painting is inspired by the mountain view along the trail across the road from where I live in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. This is where I take my kids for little forest walks. Its a beautiful trail any time of the year. 

 

 

But anytime after it would snow, the snow covered pines are completely mesmerizing. 

 

 

I haven’t actually walked out there at night but there is a window right by my bed that looks toward the forest  where this trail is. I often look out at night and am blown away by the number and high density of stars above. This part of Colorado has the most incredible night sky. With this painting, I wanted to share this part of my daily inspiration and I hope that it will find a home with someone who loves the unique beauty of fresh snow with a sprinkle of a million stars.

 Angle view. The board has a wooden edge that is 2" deep. It has a gloss varnish applied to it.

 

 

Detail shot in natural light outside. The painting is done with layers of acrylic wash alternating with detail work created with various thicknesses of acrylic paint markers. It is finished with gloss varnish which creates a shiny, finished look. On the back there is a hook for hanging as well as a certificate of authenticity signed by me - the artist.

 

 My partner Kyle holding the painting in a slightly different light.

Alpenglow Over Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain

Alpenglow Over Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain ~SOLD

 acrylic painting on board finished in gloss varnish, 35″x35″, 2020
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This painting is of the view from the Emerald Lake Hike in the Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. The scene is one of my favorites in the park. It is the view of Hallet Peak and Flattop Mountain seen from the frozen Dream Lake along the snowshoe trail I hiked many times. You can also say that its the view from Emerald Lake below because it is pretty much the same =)

 

Above is a photo of me and my partner Kyle at the end point of the hike standing on frozen Emerald Lake. This is the third and last lake along this lovely hike. For those wanting to give this pleasant winter hike a go, here is a link with more info: https://www.theoutbound.com/colorado/snowshoeing/snowshoe-to-emerald-lake

I brought out the sketchbook and graphite to get ready for this painting. I had lots of fun with reliving one of the views along the Emerald Lake Hike in Rocky Mountain National Park through my pencil. This scene is from the crossing of frozen Dream Lake which is so beautiful in the winter. I loved hiking/snowshoeing this very pleasant trail when we lived in Boulder and miss it. 

 

Wintry Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain, graphite on watercolor paper, 12″x12″ ~SOLD

The painting is custom framed in a hardwood, gallery type floating frame made of oak, stained in ebony black and finished in semigloss. 

 

Here you can see the painting outside, lit up by natural warm sunlight.

 

Here is an angle view of the painting that highlights the gloss varnish that I applied to it.

Its fun to look back on hiking at Emerald lake through my photos and then to look at Kyle holding the painting and to think that this is a real place that we've been to and not just a fairytale. It is so beautiful in real life and I feel that it was a privilege to have been there, more than ones and in all seasons of the year. Winter though might offer the most unique view that really feels otherworldly. That's why I wanted to paint it.

My partner Kyle is holding the painting up, showing a sense of scale. This painting is 30"x30" making it a pretty nice size.