Nature is the greatest teacher, she is also very humbling.  My love of Nature and the ‘Great Outdoors’ is what got me painting en plein air.   Working on location is always a challenge; shadows disappear, weather changes, bugs bite, too hot, too cold, winds blow over equipment, but it is the best way to capture the true light and colors of nature.

One day during a recent painting and hiking trip to  Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado , I set up in the park valley with a spectacular mountain view and proceeded to paint.  The clouds rolled in, temperature dropped, flurries turned to heavy snow.  I stood with umbrella in one hand, trying to paint with the other, appendages frozen. It was a miserable painting experience, but it was an exceptional spiritual experience. A large herd of elk were close by and the bull was bugling - an eerie melodious sound - accompanied by the rattle of kingfishers strafing the narrow Colorado River in search of fish. I hurriedly packed up my gear (everything got covered in wet snow, including the pastel paintings) and went for a hike instead. Nature is humbling indeed, but it is my greatest inspiration and joy.