Sunny Winter Trails
About the painting
This painting features a view from one of the ski trails at Government Peak Recreational Area near Hatcher Pass, southcentral Alaska. Based on a photo taken after one of our first snowfalls of the winter, the clear skies and bright sun created a perfect environment for photography and painting ideas.
This painting, like many before it, was partially an exercise in pushing boundaries, partially an attempt to capture a moment in time. For those of us that live in Alaska, during the winters we often experience dark and cloudy days for long periods of time, often with very little sun. This particular day, it might have been cold, but the snow was fresh, the sun was bright and the skies clear. It’s the kind of day that puts a smile on your face.
At the same time, this painting was an intentional challenge, an attempt to capture as much detail as possible on a smaller scale painting while striking a balance between too much and not enough. As a result, it took longer than typical for this size painting to complete, but I think I found a good balance.
Details
Medium
Gouache
Size
8×6
Type of Paper
Hot Pressed Paper
Date Completed
January 2025
References
Photos by @alaskathebeautiful and myself