“I couldn’t believe it,” the man said, decked out in hiking gear and speaking with a German accent, “She was like THIS close to the grizzly.” He pointed to a car about twenty feet away. “Taking pictures with her phone!”

Yep, that was the scene up in Jasper National Park (British Columbia, Canada) a couple weeks ago. We arrived early to hit the trail up into the backcountry. Like everywhere else in the park, things were already busy. But on this particular morning, something was obviously up.

A ranger was dashing about, her head on a swivel, brandishing a canister of bear spray and what appeared to be a paintball gun. “You might not want to head up this trail right now,” she said, with characteristic Canadian understatement. “Yeah, the bear’s probably up around there somewhere by now. Could be anywhere, though. Lots of bears this year. All over the place. I’m not kiddin’ ya.”

Luckily the woman taking selfies with Ol’ Griz got off easy. The bear had eaten enough berries and had no cubs to defend, so it had shambled on its way when the ranger showed up.

We did, of course, divert to another trail across the river, but during the hike I probably let fly with a few more “yawps” than usual, my personal brand of yodel designed to alert bears to our presence at least a half mile away. My wife has asked me to please let her know before I break loose with the yawps, and make sure she’s walking behind me.

One evening at camp I decided to test our bear spray cannisters. They seemed a little old and battered, purchased years ago for a trip in Yellowstone. Sure enough, the cannister popped loose with a respectable blast of orange-ish vapor. Several minutes later, the air suddenly became unbreathable, our eyes and lungs burned, and we had to run for it.

I confess I didn’t notice the breeze which was apparently wafting the noxious vapors slowly in our direction. “Yep, it works!” I said to my wife, “Just imagine getting a blast of that in the face!” I won’t repeat the rest of the conversation.

If you’ve been reading these ArtJournal posts you probably already know I’m an Oregonian through and through, but I also love beautiful, wild places all over the western US and around the world. Getting out in these places is the cornerstone and inspiration of my art practice. Expressing and sharing special places with you is only possible by building relationships with places through experience and understanding.

When we travel, we really get out in it. Most of our waking hours are spent searching for the sublime, heading out in the early morning or evening hours when possible, and covering a lot of miles on the road and trail.

On our recent trip to the Canadian Rockies, for example, we climbed around 20,000 vertical feet in Mount Robson Provincial Park, Jasper National Park, and Banff National Park. In those mountains, there’s not much choice: it’s either straight up or straight down.

And of course, even if you put in the miles, there’s no guarantee of experiencing a place in it’s true colors, quite literally. Conditions vary and are out of your control. In Jasper National Park, for example, a major wildfire started just as we arrived. Smoke filled the air and turned the majestic mountain peaks into vague shapes looming in the brownish-blue haze. The blaze knocked out power to the whole community of Jasper for days. It felt like a bit of deja-vu from 2020 (see this ArtJournal post for that story).

As it turned out, smoke from this and other fires dogged us for most of the trip. Not quite the inspiration I’m looking for, and a reminder to be persistent. One hike – a steady 2000-foot climb – we did a second time just to take advantage of a change in wind direction and better visibility. It paid off with dramatic views and – since it was later in the evening – no people.

Bears, fires, and weather notwithstanding, we were fortunate to spend some spectacular days in the wilds. I gathered enough inspiration, I hope, for a small body of work. The scale of the Canadian Rockies is so grand, I have no idea how I’m going to do it justice. It will be a lovely challenge.

In the meantime, I’ll be showing this weekend at the Corvallis Fall Festival in Corvallis, Oregon. I still have (hopefully) one show’s worth of original artworks available from my recent series. If you’ve had your eye on something, now’s a good chance to grab it. As Insider List subscribers you’ve got dibs any time until the show starts Saturday at 10 am.

It’s been a fantastic summer and I want to thank all my new collectors for making it such a wonderful success! You’re the best, seriously. You’re the reason I do this, and the reason I get to keep making art.

This fall will be interesting… I have a lot of ideas and a lot of work to do. I’m curious where it will take me and what will emerge. Hopefully you are, too. I’ll keep you posted.

Jun 17, 2024

Show of the Year

In other words, I’m just doing one show this year. I know, it’s a narrow window to get a look at this year’s new works. Although I would dearly love to do more shows, we’ll have to make the best of this one. Here’s why.

Mar 5, 2024

Go Solo to Go Slow

Normally I explore with at least one other person. On this occasion, however, what started out as a group adventure dwindled to a group of one. So be it, I thought. A solo adventure awaits.

Nov 22, 2023

A Good Way to Make Space

I have a confession to make: I’ve been playing hooky from my social media obligations. I know! The nerve! But one thing is for sure: it’s given me some fresh perspective on what’s important. Here’s why.

Jun 1, 2023

Winter Works and Summer Shows

Those of you living in Oregon know this was one of the colder and wetter winters we’ve seen in a while. The term “cabin fever” comes to mind, perhaps mildly compared to many places in the world, but at some point I really yearned for a little sunshine, you know?

Everyone seems to have a different strategy for coping with a hard winter. My strategy this year was to spend most waking hours painting in my studio. The result, as planned, is a new body of work ready for release this summer. And you, my dear subscribers, are the first to see it.

Mar 7, 2023

This Feeling is Super Healing

Have you ever found yourself in the presence of beauty when time seems to stop for a moment? Maybe you sense the wind, the cool tingle of raindrops, or the silence of the desert. How did you feel? In awe, perhaps, or simply grateful to be alive? I sure hope so. Because it turns out that feeling is really, really good for you.

Lucky for us humans, the feeling of awe is there for us when we need it. Read on to learn what it is, how to find it, and how it drives my art practice.

Nov 9, 2022

Plein Air, If You Dare

Back in August, during the Umpqua Valley Plein Air event, I found myself looking for a place to camp for the night along the North Umpqua River. I finally came across a little campground tucked down off a gravel road along Canton Creek. It was mid-week, and to my surprise I found every site except one marked as reserved. Strange thing, though: the whole place was deserted. Where was everyone?

Sep 21, 2022

Into The Wild, Again

Aug 10, 2022

Crowd Dodging 101

Maybe you know the feeling: you show up to a beautiful, wild place you’ve been dying to see, or perhaps you’re returning full of anticipation for another visit, and reality sets in. It turns out there are a lot of other people with the same idea. Wow, you think. On the one hand, yay for all the people loving the outdoors! On the other hand, you might be looking for a more one-on-one experience with nature. How do you deal?

Jul 12, 2022

How to Test the Universe

As many of you know, it was a long, rainy winter here in Oregon. Many times on a rainy evening, after a full day in the studio, I’d ask myself whether I’m really on the right path. There’s so much to learn, so much to do.

Then I’d remind myself that this is an experiment in testing the principle of following your dreams. If you do what you love, and work hard a it, the universe will provide. Right? That, of course, and connecting with good people who love what you do.

May 23, 2022

Nine Things to Look Forward To

Maybe the only thing better than an Oregon summer is an Oregon summer with art. If that rings true for you, I have some great news! Over the next few months, I’ll be showing at nine different locations around the state. I know! Crazy. I just counted them up. And I’m hoping to see you at least once.

Before I say more, I’d like to warmly extend a couple of invitations.

Apr 4, 2022

A Most Dangerous Delicacy

A couple years ago a major storm coincided with opening day of crab season. At the stroke of midnight, over the sound of wind thrashing in the forest behind our cabin, we heard the rumble of diesel motors that told us the fleet was heading out. Through sheets of rain, we could just make out a line of lights navigating through the channel to the open ocean.

Nov 16, 2021

Don't Try This at Home

I’m talking about plein air painting, of course. The idea is, you’re supposed to be creating art outside, in the open air, baking sun, smoke and wind, not at home. Whatever it takes. No matter what.

But there are definitely a few things to be considered first. Here’s a short list.

Nov 9, 2021

Ever Tried This Social Adventure?

It appears I’ve made a habit of beginning each blog post with a dicey outdoor adventure. The truth is, I have a lot of those. But there are all kinds of adventures to be found, and not just in the outdoors. For example, leaving behind a thriving, comfortable career in mid-life to become a professional artist has opened opportunities for adventures I hadn’t expected. And not just because I made the leap two months before the pandemic hit.

Here's an unexpected mindset that can help you turn challenges into adventures.

Oct 12, 2021

Claude Monet's Best Kept Secret

A couple weeks ago we came through Seattle on our way home from hiking in the North Cascades. The rains swallowed up the mountains and that was the end of our trip. Not much point in being in the mountains if you can’t see them. So, we decided to make the best of it and stop in at the Seattle Art Museum.

As it turns out, SAM’s feature exhibit was Monet at Etretat. I couldn’t believe my luck! But what I learned at this show might surprise you.

Sep 29, 2021

This is the Real Middle of Nowhere

After six hours of bushwhacking through the steepest, gnarliest forest I’ve ever encountered, we arrived at the bottom of the canyon. Hidden in the shadowy depths of the Devil’s Staircase Wilderness, we’d found the eponymous waterfall at last. Above us, the cool waters of Wasson Creek cascaded down a series of stone ledges, dappled with the waning sunlight, while the silent forest towered above us.

This peaceful moment was eclipsed, however, by one thought: we still had to climb back out – probably in the dark, with no trail to follow. And one of our group members was already near exhaustion.

May 12, 2021

These Rules of Thumb Could Save Your Life

I shimmied along a narrow ledge above a slot canyon somewhere in Anza Borrego State Park. At some point I began to vividly imagine what it might be like to slip and tumble into the narrow void. A trickle of sand and pebbles skittered down from under my feet. Looking back the way I came, I tried to judge the point of diminishing risk/reward. It didn’t look promising, but the alternative was a two-mile detour. Should I go for it?

May 4, 2021

One Way to Connect With People Through Art

After a long and wonderful break (more on that later), I’m back in the studio painting steadily to get ready for what will be my first summer of art fairs. I’m super excited about it. I’m also a wee bit apprehensive, hoping it will be worth all the effort, not to mention giving up of some of the best weekends of the year for exploring the backcountry.

Feb 24, 2021

Little Big Mountains

In mid-January, the summit of Mt. Hood is normally frozen solid. That’s a good thing in mountaineering terms because it means loose rocks and ice stay in place and rather than tumble down on your head as you climb.

But as we slogged upward through the deep snow towards the Hog’s Back, the final ridge before the summit pitch, a melon-sized rock hurtled suddenly over the ridge and down the mountain side as though shot from a cannon. We all watched it’s passing, our heads swiveling in unison, and said a few bad words.

Feb 10, 2021

Want to Do Good and Be Happier?

As promised in my last post, I have a few exciting announcements to make. Feel free to reply directly to this email any time if you have questions, thoughts, or see something you like. I always enjoy hearing from you!

Jan 27, 2021

Sharpening the Critical Eye

Here’s a little conundrum that artists seem to experience: how do you evaluate your own artwork?

I get the feeling it’s a conundrum for almost any activity you care about. The question is usually followed by a deeper one: what are your personal measures for excellence? And what should you do when you’re falling short?

Without realizing it, I recently found myself struggling with this. In the process I learned a few things, including a great paradox of problems: they’re pretty good teachers.

2020-20 Willamette at Clearwater MAIN.jpg

Jan 14, 2021

Last Works of 2020

I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty saturated with the “good riddance 2020” theme. I get it, believe me. I feel the same. Despite the crises, suffering, and hardships, I’m also trying to take stock of what was good about the past year, count my many blessings, and pay attention to what might be really good about this coming year. They say you manifest that which you hold in your mind, so this might be a perfect time to put away the news feed and start dreaming again.

I’ll start with something I learned in 2020.

Dec 29, 2020

Dynamic Patternism: A Thousand Beautiful Shapes

Imagine the very earliest artist at work, sitting on the shore of some rugged coastline, using a sharp rock to etch pleasing patterns into a shell. The first humans to create art used natural dyes found in plants and minerals, wove patterns in natural fibers, and carved images on all kinds of materials. Our creative drive emerged over and over again across the globe. Some of the oldest art on record is found in caves, where the artwork was protected from the elements for millennia. Recent evidence suggests some of the earliest works of art are about 44,000 years old!

Dec 21, 2020

Winter Light

Today is winter solstice. The candles are lit and we’re settling in for 15 hours and eight minutes of night. Outside, holiday lights glitter in the mist and raindrops patter against the windowpanes. On stormy days here in western Oregon even the daylight itself makes a half-hearted appearance, as though the sun would rather sleep in.

I don’t know about you, but this time of year I start yearning for southern latitudes and a little warmth. Not happening in 20-crap-20, but guess what? There’s an even better way to cope.

Dec 9, 2020

How Commissions Work

Take a moment, if you like, to imagine a wonderful, wild place that’s special to you. I might be a place you know well, or maybe one that has stuck with you over the years. It could be near or far. Just let your mind go there. See the quality of light and colors. Hear the sounds. Feel the temperature and wind. How do you feel?

Here’s one way you can bring the spirit of that place into your daily life.

Dec 2, 2020

Living Jewels, Part 1

At the far east end of the Ochoco Mountains, a stretch of mudbanks flanked Deep Creek, winding in lazy loops across the little valley framed by copper pillars of ponderosa pine. Overhead, nighthawks tumbled in the darkening sky.

I waded along the creek in my sandals, flyrod in hand, casting for trout. On the far side of the mudbank, I could see the concentric ripples of fish rising in large pool. I thought, oh, what’s a little mud? But after ten steps I was up to my knees and sinking fast.

Nov 25, 2020

Gwynn Creek: Land of the Lost

If not for the elk trails, we would have given up for sure. Our feet sank deep into the spongy earth, following the tunnel-like trails through the brush. The sword ferns grew so tall – above our heads in many places – that we could only see a few feet ahead. Any moment we expected to come face to face with one of the resident elk.

Nov 4, 2020

Wild & Scenic Rivers of Oregon

I’m super excited to announce that next week we’ll be launching Wild & Scenic Rivers of Oregon, a special series of original artworks created in partnership with statewide nonprofit Oregon Wild. The campaign will kick off with a live webcast on Wednesday evening, November 11 at 6:00pm. Sign up here for this free event.

In the meantime, check out this video for a quick overview (3 min).

2020-7 Rebel Creek - Follow the Light MAIN.jpg

Oct 28, 2020

Relationships Matter

Our relationships with other people are the single most important driver of our lives and personal happiness. We don’t live in a social vacuum, even in the isolating days of the pandemic. Almost overnight we’ve all learned in such a visceral, personal way how important human contact can be to our wellbeing.

Oct 20, 2020

Failing Fast and Furious

Failure has been all the rage in professional coaching and business circles for nearly a decade (thanks to the book “Fail Fast Fail Often” by Ryan Babineaux and John Krumboltz). The idea is simple: we learn best by making mistakes (or take it from Will Smith). The more the better. From this standpoint, failure is a sign of growth.

Or so the wisdom goes. While most of us want to avoid failing as much as possible, if we’re really trying something hard, something new, something that pushes our boundaries, we’re going to fail. After all, the absence of failure doesn’t equal success – it might just be the absence of trying.

Oct 6, 2020

Working Space and the Grand Mess

I’m not a messy person. Back in college I made an impression on my future spouse because I had my shirts organized by color in the closet. That was an anomaly – I probably did that one day to procrastinate a class assignment. But why not embrace a counter-myth to the messy artist? Truth is, I do have a have a strong sense of order for many good reasons – but in the middle of the creative process all bets are off.