“Winter Park Trees”, acrylic on canvas, 2010

“Winter Park Trees”, acrylic on canvas, painted with Edy, 2010.

I picked this piece to paint, as it reminds me of a place in Winter Park, CO where one might duck off the trails and ski some with trees.

We skied at Grammy’s condo or cabin in AngelFire/ Eagles Nest at least twice a year, Xmas and spring break, but snow days or any breaks were an excuse to drive to the mountains with friends or just us.

Grammy pushed me. Always. Bigger brushes, bigger canvases. Add deeper blues and contrast. Helping me to learn to add some color to whites to give it texture and depth. “Don’t lose your dark.”

I’d throw paint on and she’d gently come in beside me with a wet rag or napkin and clean it up, shading and pulling color from here, putting it there. Every now and again she’d load a brush and mix a color and say try this here…

Sweet memories of my first year of marriage to @ladyavance , & Tuesday at Grammy’s.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Crewd02uxKU/