If you’re familiar with my artwork it should come as no surprise to you that I’m drawn to the mountains. What is it about the mountains? Am I longing to reach greater heights? Am I in awe of the beautiful peaks, maybe even humbled by my own humanity in the midst of such awesome grandeur? Or do I like to paint mountains simply because it’s empowering to create “my own” mountains with the stroke of a brush?
My connection to the mountains may date back to high school, when I went on a mission trip in the mountains, where we grew spiritually, personally and mentally. When we left, I longed to take that "mountain top experience" with me into my world. I recall that “mountain top feeling” lasting for a few days more, maybe even a few weeks, but eventually it disappeared and my distractions clouded out those memories.
How do you carry that mountain top experience with you down to the valley? I think the answer starts with the fact that you have to accept that there will be valleys in your every day life. Once you embrace your valleys, you can recognize the “mountain top experiences” when they come.
For me, many days, that means embracing the feeling when I am painting, feeling incredibly fortunate to get to do what I love for a living, for you. For me, that’s a mountain top experience.
Art can take us away into those memories that allow us to appreciate our peaks and valleys. That is what I strive to do in my work. To provide an opportunity to remember, to reflect, to be in awe, to be humbled.
