I am very excited about this project, because of the subject - the Grand Tetons of Wyoming. What a spectacular part of the world, right here in the good 'ol USA. I normally use my own photos for reference, but this is a commission from the Wyoming Medical Center Foundation and they provided a wonderful photo by Barry Horn of Casper, Wyoming.

This will be a bit of a change for me from my prairie landscapes and skyscapes - it has a while since my last mountain scene. As I have been working on it so far, I see that each part of the scene will provide it's own challenges. The mountains with their craggy forms and different shades of white snow, the trees with their warm and cool shades of green and finally the water echoing the landscape with ripples of color. Then there is putting the whole thing together to try capturing the glory of the Tetons and the silence of a beautiful mountain morning.

I started with a light pencil sketch paying particular attention to the "skyline" of the mountains, because it is so recognizable. I always draw freehand because it is good excercise for my hand and eye coordination, which comes in very handy when drawing from life! I then started working all over the sanded pastel paper laying in all the shadows in a dark blue. I then used a couple of different warm greens to indicate the evergreens. All the while, I was also laying in the matching lights and darks in the water area. I decided then to concentrate on the beautiful blues of the sky, darker tones at the top graduating to lighter, warmer hues near the mountains. The working title for now will be "Teton Morning" More to come!