I have always lived where there are mountains on the horizon. We took a family vacation once and traveled east where we saw the sun rise up out of the ground in front of the car. It was one of the strangest things I've ever seen. I admit that I feel a sense of comfort to be surrounded by mountains.
Rocky Cliffs
These rocky cliffs are home to the infamous Spanish treasure that was supposedly buried here. "Goonies" was based of the legend, as was the indy movie "The Legend of Tillamook's Gold". For me, the treasure is in the vista of the mountain and the breathtaking beauty of land meeting ocean. I must say, I do live in a wondrous place.
A Green Hill Far Away
Neah-Kah-Nie Mountain has been home to creatures of the forest forever. It was home to the Tillamook tribe for hundreds of years. And now it's iconic silhouette lets me know when I'm almost home. Apparently the Tillamook people, and later the pioneers, would burn the trees on the mountain in order to draw the deer and elk down for good feeding. Now, however, the logging companies are the ones to take from it, often leaving barren squares of brown where the green once was. I do like that Oregon has a strong re-forestation program, but I still don't like seeing the bare spots on the mountain. For this painting, I am using my artistic license to keep the entire mountain green.
Morning Light
I was out running a morning errand and the light was so incredibly beautiful I had to pull over and take some pics. I am so blessed to live in such a beautiful place. And there is simply nothing like morning light on the beauties of the earth...
Cloud Mountain
See that snow-capped mountain in the background? That's a cloud formation! It is actually sitting out over the ocean. These crazy cloud mountains are a phenomenon here on the coast that I discovered when I moved here.
How often do we see what we are used to seeing, or what we are looking for, instead of what is really there? Creating art is really all about creating a perception. Sometimes nature does it for us.