Looking at old things in a new way...

In the studio and attempting to not get distracted by the whitetail fending off deer flies outside the window and the marvelous hot day we are experiencing. I like the heat, but this day I'm going through ideas based on cooler climates.

Caribou stately crowned in velvet.

When we took to the Alcan Hwy back in 2012, the area had experienced one of the hardest winters on record. We arrived late  June and spent time gathering reference until late September. I sent paintings to the galleries from the road and finished a pronghorn commission in Fairbanks.

With our blind miniature Cocker Spaniel, Violet, rescued from Fredericksburg's SPCA, Valisa and I checked off the Dalton Hwy.

We stayed at a campground between Fairbanks and Chena and found military bases Fort Wainwright and Eielson AFB paid military families a stipend to stay at the campground as temporary housing. Painting under the awning of our camper, I attracted much attention. Most of the locals had not traveled to the lower 48 and were more familiar with caribou than cattle. It made for good conversations and fond memories. ​​

Our sons were in college and worked over the summer, but they, along with Valisa's mom, visited us for a couple of weeks.

Moose are perhaps a more desirable subject matter. 

The surreal beauty of Mt. Denali, incomprehensible til viewed in person.

Ever changing weather forced me to move into the SUV to finish a field study. Then of course the sun would return!

Now back to the work at hand, I flip through rough sketches I did at that time and instantly sparks fly. Ideas that were doodled out form much clearer. Direction is a powerful tool. Proof is always in the painting. Legendary wildlife art dealer, Bubba Wood stressed to me, "You're only as good as your last painting." I guess you could take that as a compliment or an insult, but I always took that as a challenge.

Time to let go without letting go and let the art fly.