Painting the Night Sky

Having recently began painting after a 15 year break (minus a couple other recent paintings) I was pretty anxious to start. It took me about two years to build up the courage. I was afraid that maybe I wouldn't be able to make anything look like what I imagined. After the initial dipping of the toes though, I got the painting fever!

All of these paintings have sold

See Currently Available Work Here: 

https://www.kasiapolkowskashop.com/

Now with a baby boy under 1 years old and another 3 year old boy, I only have a few hours a day tops to work in the studio. So in February I came up with the idea to explore one theme by creating a mini landscape per week, then to release it via Social Media as an Affordable Art Project. I love all the paintings that I created and each one sold shortly after I announced it. This was a wonderful confidence booster for me.

 

 Yosemite Valley Nightscape, acrylic painting on board finished in gloss varnish, 4"x6", 2021

The first of the minies was inspired by the jaw-dropping Yosemite Valley in California which I enjoyed visiting back in 2015 - can you feel the excitement!  

 

The view of this valley from above was one of those epic moments that really stayed with me. I loved exploring the valley on foot and then thinking back on this view that I saw from above and thinking to myself, how cool to see the different perspectives. 

 

 

And then just when you think it can’t get more magical, night comes and the landscape takes on a whole new life. This is why I decided to revisit by creating an imaginary version of a night scene. I've never tried to really capture the nighttime landscape in photos before so working of my daytime photos was a fun challenge.

 Enchanted Teton Night, acrylic painting on board finished in gloss varnish, 4″x6″, 2021

Next week I followed up by traveling to the majestic Teton Mountains in Wyoming. The first time I visited was in 2012. 

 

 

If you've been to this part of the United States, you know that these are beautiful beyond what any photo can capture. I've done an incredible backpacking trip here and have camped and explored other day hike trails. Each part of the trip out there is better than the last. It never gets old to feast your eyes on these monumental peaks.

 

Indigo Night at Maroon Bells, acrylic painting on board finished in gloss varnish, 4″x6″, 2021

 

Maroon Bells at Maroon Lake near Aspen Colorado are one of the most photographed mountains in Colorado, maybe the United States in general. 

 

There is an obvious reason - they are magical! I've backpacked here as well as have done some lovely day explorations. Any time you feast your eyes on this view - it feels very special. The mountains are framed perfectly. (I am not sure if you are no longer allowed to dip your feet in Maroon Lake but when this photo was taken, there were no restrictions).

Mystic Night Over Blanca Peak, acrylic painting on board finished in gloss varnish, 4″x6″x3/4″ 2021

For the last painting in this mini series, I chose to paint the night sky over Blanca Massif. It hovers over the property in the San Luis Valley where my partner Kyle and I are building a sculpture park. It is one of the tallest mountains in the state and rests under what is designated as a dark sky region. If you want to see the milky way - this is the place.

In this photo I am holding a mosaic I created a couple years back also inspired by Mt Blanca. This region not only has incredible night skies but some of the prettiest sunsets I've seen. I've taken a lot of inspiration from here.