Blackfoot River Reflections

In January 1986, I was greeted with the most incredible sights I had seen in years. We had an air inversion that had lasted for 10 days and heavy fog and frost was everywhere. On that morning, the sun came out and I had to capture these images of sunlight striking the frost covered trees. Equipped with my 35 mm camera and sketchbook I set out gathering reference material that I have used for decades.
That one moment has transported me back to that day and was in a small part the impetus for this newest painting " Blackfoot River Reflections". I created this piece in soft pastel from a field trip west of Lincoln, MT near the Russell Gates Campground. The early morning light glistened reflecting the warm colors of the sky. It was a magnificent sight and I new it had to be captured. We visited the same area in the late afternoon, but the magic of this location wasn't the same.
Winter landscapes have always been a catalyst for my artwork. I love the play of light and dramatic shadows. Even a junkyard can look beautiful when covered with a fresh layer of snow. I prefer warmer snow scenes and try to capture those special times with early morning or late afternoon light.