Breathe in

Breathe out

Step after step

 

I watch my footing as we navigate a steep slab

Hands dirty, muscles sore, a full day climbing granite domes

A pink glow lights up my face

 

I pause

 

I’m struck by how orange the adjacent dome looks

My eyes linger on the saturated colors decoration the clouds on the horizon

The last touch of light is soft in the meadow below me

 

I smile

I breathe

Next step
 

Moments like these are abundant here in our home. The Sierra Nevada is blessed with plentiful high peaks, cool alpine lakes, sparkling snow, and resilient wildflowers. However, each moment is ephemeral. My works live in these moments just a little longer. By painting these landscapes, I can revel in each detail and give thanks for the opportunity to be here. My hope with this work is that I can bring you there with me: the way the morning sun lights up Basin Mountain, the quiet burble of Rock Creek on a crisp spring morning ski tour, the colorful dots of wildflowers and lichen found in the rugged alpine environment, the way sunset turns the ominous dark granite of the Sentinel to a glowing pink.

Each painting in Pause depicts a location in the Sierra Nevada that fills me with joy. I often work from photos that I, or my partner, take while exploring the Sierra Nevada through climbing, skiing, or hiking. Occasionally I will work from other photographers work. Painting from photographs allows me to capture the fleeting light that inspires me. After selecting a subject, I meticulously mix the colors of my acrylic gouache paints. The opaque and matte quality of acrylic gouache compliments my style, distilling the landscape into precise shapes and colors. I paint in sections, back to front, starting with the sky and then the furthest features, middle ground, and finally the foreground. The end result is a bold and colorful attempt at sharing a place and moment.