Rising From the Plains

http://trib.com/weekender/art/cheyenne-governor-s-capitol-art-exhibition/article_3bb0e556-48d4-54bd-bf9a-bdf7eea0c595.html

I am honored to have my watercolor painting "Rising From the Plains" selected for a purchase award at the 2012 Wyoming Governor's Capitol Art Exhibition.  Eight paintings were selected from seventy works by 54 artists.

Glacier Bay

Spent the entire day (June 10th) in the Crow's Nest of the Volendam in Glacier Bay.  We saw Lamplugh and Margerie Glaciers and witnessed calving at Margerie as icebergs broke off into Glacier Bay.  The weather was cold, foggy and rainy, as the NPS interpreter said, "glacier making weather".  There were black-legged kittiwakes and tufted puffins nesting on the cliff to the south of Margerie Glacier.  Every time calving took place, the birds headed for the ocean where the iceberg stirred up marine life.  It was interesting to see the glacial till in the waters of the bay, with the appearance of mocha latte.  From Glacier Bay we headed south through Icy Strait and the Inside Passage to Vancouver.  Along the way we spotted dolphins and whales spouting (probably humpback).  Some folks were fortunate enough to see the Orcas as well.  Hope we brought the rainy weather to southeastern Wyoming and Northern Colorado to put out the wildfires.  A visitor asked a youngster in Ketchikan "How long has it been raining?"  The youngster replied "I don't know, I'm only five."  That said, although it was often cold and rainy, we had nice weather much of the time and enjoyed the whole experience immensely.  I was able to do several watercolor sketches while on the Volendam, and have brought home some wonderful photo references to paint from.

Whitehorse and Skagway

Visited a game preserve near Whitehorse where they rehabilitate animals that have been injured.  Enjoyed seeing woods bison, lynx, arctic fox, caribou, and muskoxen.  After lunch at the Chocolate Claim, toured the MacBride History Museum and then took a walking tour around the city.  Had dinner at the Rib and Salmon Bake and then went to Frantic Follies.  Early morning ride to meet the White Pass Railway train to Skagway.  Beautiful scenic ride, and saw parts of the Chilkoot Trail and Dead Horse Canyon.  Morning hike to Dewey Lake, lots of wildflowers and birds along the way, and a great view of Skagway.  We board the Volendam this morning and tomorrow will see Glacier Bay on our way down the Inside Passage to Vancouver.

Dawson City, Yukon Territory

Enjoyed the views on the Top of the World highway and saw a caribou just before we crossed the border into Canada.  We loved the little town of Dawson with its streets "paved in gold" , the boardwalks, and the historical buildings.  Visited the Robert Service cabin, the Jack London museum, and Diamond Tooth Gertie's show.  Today we traveled from Dawson to Whitehorse, over four hundred kilometers.  Saw a black bear and also a red fox along the way, and had a great guide who shared the gold rush history with us.  Beautiful scenic views along the way. Spending the night in  Whitehorse, most of the population found in the Yukon Territory live here, more than 30,000 people.

Denali National Park

Rode the McKinley Express to Denali National Park and saw lots of wildlife along the way.  Took the Tundra Excursion in Denali and saw grizzly bears, Dall sheep, caribou, red fox, moose, porcupine, etc.  The best sighting for me was the Long-tailed Jaeger.  Took a hike on the Taiga Trail to Horseshoe Lake.  Arrived in Fairbanks and was warm for the first time since we began our journey.  Took a riverboat ride on the Chena River and visited a mock Athabascan fish camp where native interpreters gave presentations.  Photographed a beautiful young Inuipac woman in the sunshine ruff parka, and got permission to paint her-a painting for sure. Most of the day on the Alaska Highway to Tok where we spent the night.  Today we will stop in Chicken, Alaska (they couldn't spell "ptarmigan") and then cross the Yukon River by ferry into Canada.  Tonight we will be in Dawson City.