"Mountain's Out Today" 2' 3' Oil on canvas

Phase #1 - this has a ways to go, as you can see. Check back for updates and to coordinate text to images, read from bottom UP.

Phase #2
Trees, trees - everywhere! So MANY more trees to paint.


Phase#3 - Finally - one can see all the ridges in the mountain. Now, to work on the places where the tree shadows fall, and as soon as the slow-drying white is dry, I'll be adding shadows to Rainier also. And since the title "Spring Runoff" came to me last night, I thought I'd best add a stream - so there you have it, meandering through the trees. I might not work on this for a day or so, as I have two entries to get ready for the Magnolia Art Festival coming up soon. So much to paint, so little time. DOUBLE CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGER VIEW

Phase#4 - I quit for the day. Maybe more tomorrow. So, now on to a couple of paintings for the festival because for THIS day, I am alllllllll 'Rainiered' out! :) I am pleased with the way this is coming along and it does indeed seem to herald the coming of Spring.

Phase#5 - Almost done now. I've made some small alterations and am now down to the nitty-gritty detail work, the part that adds the 'sizzle' to a work of art. I do plan to finish that part this afternoon. Have to - the painting is being submitted to a healthcare facility for consideration. Anyhow, it will be posted as a completed work tomorrow, Monday the 6th. Phew. :)


A common phrase heard 'round these parts when the sun is shining, is the title of this painting. Those of us who live here and adore Mt. Rainier in all her glory are delighted to see her shimmering profile from anywhere in the area. Here's some local information from the National Park Service in case you're interested in learning a little more about this volcanic mountain.
--
Mount Rainier National Park encompasses 235,625 acres on the west-side of the Cascade Range, and is located about 100 kilometers (50 miles) southeast of the Seattle-Tacoma metropolitan area. Mount Rainier National Park is approximately 97 percent wilderness and 3 percent National Historic Landmark District and receives approximately 2 million visitors per year.

At 14,410 feet, Mount Rainier is the most prominent peak in the Cascade Range. It dominates the landscape of a large part of western Washington State. The mountain stands nearly three miles higher than the lowlands to the west and one and one-half miles higher than the adjacent mountains. It is an active volcano that last erupted approximately 150 years ago.

The park is part of a complex ecosystem. Vegetation is diverse, reflecting the varied climatic and environmental conditions encountered across the park’s 12,800-feet elevation gradient. Approximately 58 percent of the park is forested, 23 percent is subalpine parkland, and the remainder is alpine, half of which is vegetated and the other half consists of permanent snow and ice. Forest ages range from less than 100 years old on burned areas and moraines left by receding glaciers to old-growth stands 1,000 or more years. Some alpine heather communities have persisted in the park for up to 10,000 years.

Species known or thought to occur in the park include more than 800 vascular plants, 159 birds, 63 mammals, 16 amphibians, 5 reptiles, and 18 native fishes. The park contains 26 named glaciers across 9 major watersheds, with 382 lakes and 470 rivers and streams and over 3,000 acres of other wetland types. Of these vertebrates, there are 4 federally listed threatened or endangered species known to occur in the park, including 3 birds and 1 fish. Four other species historically occurred in the park, but their present status is unknown including: gray wolf, grizzly bear, Canada lynx, and Chinook salmon. PURCHASE HERE