Relaxation and Inspiration in the Uintas.

This past weekend Allison and I camped and hiked in one of our favorite mountain ranges. The west end of the Uintah mountains are only about a 30 minute drive from Kamas. They offer a truly incredible array of high mountain vistas and what seems like hundreds of lakes- many just off the side of the road!

The beautiful starlit sky in the uinta mountains.

 As many may know, Allie and I are, for some unknown reason obsessed with finding Moose in our travels. 

a neighbor of ours, as well as several web sites state that the Christmas Meadows trail had many Deer and Moose along the trail- so regular that they're "almost tame."

 In summary, we saw no Moose. We did see beautiful and lush sub-alpine forests of Spruce and Aspen trees, huge rockslides and more dead fall than I have seen during any of my excursions in and around Utah.

Reflection.

Lots of deadfall.

Huge boulders in this rockslide must have made a

thunderous earthshake when it occurred.

This HUGE Mushroom looks like one from a fairytale.

Keeping the feet dry.

The Living Planet Aquarium's "Journey to South America"

When The Living Plant Aquarium's ribbon-cutting ceremony commenced, and the public was set free to roam it's beautiful and wonderous halls, I felt a big smile on my face that was, among other things pride. Proud of all of the work that was offered to me, and that I feel I executed with much life and vigor. And, also quite pleased to be a part of this wonderful organization of biologists, educators, volunteers, and a great management and marketing team that keeps them running efficiently. Although not officially under TLPA's employ, I feel like one of them. 

This exhibit also nudged me to break into some uncharted and exciting new creative territory. For example, the faux Mayan stone (shown at left) effects was something worked out by Brent Anderson and Tony Layne from the aquarium. And I got to figure out how to create the illusion of  ancient, hand-carved heiroglyphs and other elements by carving out of a high-density foam. Then, Tony would coat the carvings with a thin layer of cement, and finish with a sprayed coat of colored stucco. I put the finishing touches on by "staining" the stone with thinned paint and some airbrushing. Then, by some details of painted moss and lichen.

Anyone that knows me, knows how much I enjoy fishing. That being the case, this Amazon Peacock Bass was a real treat to paint!

An "above/below" style of mural is something I have always wanted  to create. Although this took several weeks to complete, I see new things I would really like to add to it even a year later!

This mural displays the imense diversity of life teeming in the amazon river basin region of South America.

When I'm not painting murals...

I have zillions of opportunities to CREATE ! When I am insprired to paint; perhaps not on location, or in a patron's home, I am more than content with a cup of joe, an audiobook playing on the pc, and a blank canvas or masonite panel in front of me. This Gemsbok is part of a series of African game wildlife I am working on. The surface is heavily textured with gesso, some drywall mud, primer and a trowel. In more recent years, I have a tendency to overwork every square in of the surface. Thes painting are intented to feel more rough, and possibly old or antique. So, after a session of paiting has dried, I'll add layers of a burnt umber glaze, and sometimes "rolling" some wrinkled plastic sheeting over the image to resemble a leathery finish. Here it is as it looks now. Close to completion.

"Gemsbok" (work in progress)- oil on panel