Starry Night Over Pagosa Springs ~ Painting

Starry Night Over Pagosa Springs, acrylic paint and markers on board, 6"x12", 2022 ~SOLD

See Currently Available Art: https://www.kasiapolkowskashop.com/product-category/paintings-drawings/

 

Sunrise Over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains Painting

Sunrise Over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, acrylic on board, 16″x20″ (17″x21″ framed), 2022 ~SOLD
See Other Available Art: https://www.kasiapolkowskashop.com/product-category/paintings-drawings/

This painting is inspired by the rising sun over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in Mosca, Colorado. That’s where I am building a sculpture park and the surrounding mountain views are so inspiring. The sun peaking over the jagged mountains, igniting the sky and giving form to the mountains is breathtaking in the San Luis Valley. This painting is not of any particular part of the view of these mountains but more so an imagined view from memories of many such beautiful views.

The painting is varnished in satin, has a hanging wire on the back as well as a signed certificate of authenticity. It is custom framed in a black hardwood floating frame.

 

Pink Paintbrush Meadow

Pink Paintbrush Meadow, acrylic on board, 30″x40″ (31″x31″ framed), 2022

Available for Sale: Visit My Online Art Shop

This painting is inspired by a calm evening in the mountains. It is set in a mountain meadow where pink paintbrush flowers are abundant. Its magic hour time, the sun is just setting and the landscape is illuminated. The vivid colors in the sky beautifully compliment the colorful and abundant wildflower-field set against the glowing, purple mountains.

The painting is varnished in satin, has a hanging wire on the back as well as a signed certificate of authenticity. It is custom framed in a black hardwood floating frame.

 

 

 

New Minie Mountainscapes

Violaceous Night, 8"x6", 2022 A~SOLD

At the beginning of this year I began a new series of small paintings: 6"x8", 6"x12" and 8"x10". These are the first 5 of the group. I plan to paint another 6-9 for this series. Then I'll choose a group to display at a local gallery here in Pagosa Springs. The rest of them will be made available via my Online Art Shop. See my currently Available Art Here

Starry Night Above Pagosa Springs, 6"x12", 2022 ~SOLD

 

Pink Swirls Above the Mountains, 6"x12", 2022 ~SOLD

Mystical Starry Night, 6"x8", 2022 ~SOLD

Crystal Clear Night Sky, 6"x8", 2022 ~ SOLD

 

Fiery Sunrise

Fiery Sunrise 

acrylic on board

16”x20″ (17″x21″ framed)

SOLD

See Other Available Art: 

https://www.kasiapolkowskashop.com/product-category/paintings-drawings/

 

This painting is inspired by a pretty spectacular sunrise that I witnessed near Cascade, Montana. It was in the Summer of 2015 during the wildfire season. There were fires burning in the near by mountains and forests. I could not actually see any of the fire but the smoke in the atmosphere along with the rising sun created a spectacular display of color, vivid yet hazy.

 

This is an inspiration photo that I took.

 

The painting before I varnished it in satin and had it framed it.

Mystical Snowy Night in the Mountains

Mystical Snowy Night in the Mountains

 acrylic on board varnished in satin

34″x46″ (36″x48″ framed)

2022

Available: Visit My Online Shop

 

I live in the San Juan Mountains in Colorado. The pristine wilderness of these mountains is awe inspiring anytime of the year. But in the Winter, when the snow blankets these Rocky Mountains, the scenery is Mystical. The mountains look immaculate, untouched, frigid yet breathtakingly beautiful and full of mystery. The skies here are filled with what seems like an infinite numbers of stars shinning brightly on a clear night. 

 

With my painting, I wanted to share the type of enchantment that you get filled with in childhood when you see something spectacular. Here in Colorado the scenery can bring an adult back to that place back in time when the world seemed full of Magic and Mystery. All of that is still here, tucked away in the mountains.

 

Process - from a pencil sketch to a burst of color.

 

 

Shoshone Point Sunset

Shoshone Point Sunset – Grand Canyon 

acrylic on board, 23″x47″ (25″x49″ framed), 2022
SOLD

See Other Available Art

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This image was inspired by a spectacular sunset I got to enjoy at the terminus of a short hike through the woods to an edge of the Grand Canyon that sees much less traffic then the more readily accessible lookouts. Over the years, I’ve gotten to enjoy hiking and viewing the Grand Canyon from various vantage points, from both the South and the North Rims as well as from the very popular and highly visited lookouts as well as more remote locations like Shoshone Point.

 

No matter where along the canyon, the views were always incredible, whether at crowded lookouts full of other admirers or at less traveled locations. A sunset that I got to watch at Shoshone Point during my first trip to this area was one of the most memorable. 

Along with a few friends, we set out to walked about a mile through the woods to a more secluded spot, perfect for sunset viewing according to my research. All of a sudden we were startled by a huge, lone elk who a moment ago seemed like he was a still tree but in a flash turned into an antlered keeper of the woods. He stared us down while having his evening snack. We were not sure if we were supposed to proceed or turn back but decided to quietly, press on. Arriving at the stunning edge of the canyon felt extra special, almost like we passed a mystical guardian of this special palace and that he chose to allow us to see the magic beyond. 

The evening was perfectly still. The changes in color of the canyon walls and the sky above were subtle but powerful. The layers of the Grand Canyon seemed to dance in the slight foggy mist that softened the brightness of the setting sun. Anywhere I looked, I was seeing something I’ve never imagined could exist. I was looking at infinity yet it felt so fleeting as the vibrant colors quickly began to disappear for the day with the fading light. We knew that the longer we’d stay out there, the darker the woods would be on the return walk back to the car. All of this felt so precious. I took away an image of the brightest part of the sunset and tried to share it in this new painting. I hope that the magic and wonder that I got to witness and absorb out there comes through for the viewers and that it reminds them of time spent in the outdoors and of their own magic that they have experienced during moments as special as the one I had at Shoshone Point.

My stained glass mosaic 'Shoshone Point' circa 2010

Additionally, I'd like to share my other inspiration for this new painting, a mosaic that I created back in 2010. It was inspired by the same sunset from the same spot along the Grand Canyon. I loved that memory as well as my mosaic interpretation of it and now that I am focusing on painting, I wanted to create a painted version to once again try to show the beauty of this very special place.

 Framed Angle View

 

 Framed Angle View 

Angle detail view showing signature.  

The painting photographed outside in the bright sunlight.

 

Alpine Night Painting

 Alpine Night, acrylic on board, 8″x10″, 2021 SOLD
See Other Available Art: https://www.kasiapolkowskashop.com

This painting was inspired by clear nights in remote mountain environments where the sky is filled with infinite stars.

 The painting is varnished in gloss on both the face and along all the wooden edges which have a painted accent strip. There is a hanging wire as well as a certificate of authenticity on the back.