December 1st, it seemed like the last day to hike up Gold Hill without snow. So I made the 6 mile round trip excursion this morning. It’s such a beautiful view and great exercise, sorry I didn’t make more hikes to the top this year. As I type this the snow is piling up outside. At this point it is on the ground for the season!
It was in the low 20’s during the hike. By the end I pulled my water bottle out of my jacket and it had frozen!
We are preparing to enter our 4th winter living in North Idaho on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille. I realize the calendar says winter starts well into December but that’s not really the case here.
The mountains are accumulating snow and the lower country, where I live, is supposed to get around 10″ of snow next week! I call it the forever snow as it will be on the ground until sometime in April.
The lake drew me here, a muse, an endless source of inspiration. Nature on display in grand fashion. Though winter is long it is exceptionally stunning. I love the snowy silence of winter in the studio. The good time summer vibe is over, but Lake Pend Oreille remains. It turns out I much prefer the desolate waters of winter.
Note: By February I will be pretty excited about summer…
The fall colors have returned and are beautiful. Snowbirds are leaving and the weather is 20 degrees below average. We already had some snow, it sounds like this winter is going to be a long one. This painting is from late January and it seems appropriate.
This painting was sold through Horizon Fine Art Gallery in Jackson, Wyoming. I painted it in February of this year.
Now that there are just a few tiny patches of snow lingering in the shadows, my last winter scene. This is the smallest of the work I will be shipping to Horizon Fine Art Gallery in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
This painting will be shipped to Horizon Fine Art Gallery in Jackson Hole! I am taking the day to take proper photographs of the art I will be shipping off. It is one of those tasks I always seem to procrastinate. Sometimes I put it off so long I fail to take a decent photo at all! Definitely something I need to work on.
This is the painting I had been building to with my 10″ studies of the Kootenai Valley. There is a mighty and powerful river there but I was entranced with the small trickling streams and ditches. Cold but amazing place. I wanted to stay until dark but when we nearly got the car stuck leaving seemed like a pretty good idea!
The winter arrived late but with serious intent. Mornings dream like with mist lifting from the waves and through the forest. The water revealed as the color of dawn warms the sky if not the air.
The third painting inspired by the Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge. I am currently working on an 18″x24″ piece in the same vein.
Framing & Shipping 11”x14”
I got up in the darkness to frame and package a couple sold paintings. I thought I better try to mail them between snow storms!
