Paintings from a Week in the Rocky Mountains

I had the great pleasure of camping and painting with fellow artists for a week in the Canadian Rockies. We camped where the North Saskatchewan River enters Abraham Lake, and there were vistas everywhere.

Here are three oil paintings done on 11" by 14" primed wood panels. I painted transparently over a white ground, which allows the oil colours to glow, similar to watercolour but with more texture.

"Behind the Trees and Across the Lake"

This first painting is the most fanciful. Trees partially blocked my view of the lower portion of the view, but I saw no need to put them in.

"Across the River, the Valley Gives Way"

This painting was done right from our campsite. It's marvelous to live next to such a view, even if only for one week.

"Where the Lake Begins"

This view shows the river where it just enters Abraham Lake. It is painted from the flats right below our campsite.