“Tree on Tunnel Mountain” Medium: Watercolor on Cold Press Paper (120 lb) Size: 10" x 12"
“Tree on Tunnel Mountain” captures a fleeting moment of natural beauty, where a solitary tree sits perched on the edge of Tunnel Mountain, its branches a resting spot for birds before they take flight into the valley below. Painted en plein air during a hike for my physical therapy, this work was created on a portable easel with the paper positioned vertically—allowing the colors to bleed naturally in a direction I wanted.
Working in the cold, with temperatures barely reaching -5°C, I had only about 20 minutes to capture the view before the light changed or my fingers and water froze.
The quick and fluid motion of my brushwork created unexpected drips and bleeds, which I embraced as part of the painting's story. These drips are not just accidents; they represent the speed of my process, each drop a reflection of the moment in time as I painted fast to preserve the scene before me. The vertical bleeds that appear in certain areas were part of my technique—showing how I allowed the water and pigment to move on the paper without the luxury of time to manipulate every detail.
This piece is part of a larger series of plein air paintings I created during a month of hiking in the Rockies. It’s the first of 10 works that will eventually lead to new paintings, inspired by the mountains, trees, and birds I encountered on those adventures.
“Tree on Tunnel Mountain” captures a fleeting moment of natural beauty, where a solitary tree sits perched on the edge of Tunnel Mountain, its branches a resting spot for birds before they take flight into the valley below. Painted en plein air during a hike for my physical therapy, this work was created on a portable easel with the paper positioned vertically—allowing the colors to bleed naturally in a direction I wanted.
Working in the cold, with temperatures barely reaching -5°C, I had only about 20 minutes to capture the view before the light changed or my fingers and water froze.
The quick and fluid motion of my brushwork created unexpected drips and bleeds, which I embraced as part of the painting's story. These drips are not just accidents; they represent the speed of my process, each drop a reflection of the moment in time as I painted fast to preserve the scene before me. The vertical bleeds that appear in certain areas were part of my technique—showing how I allowed the water and pigment to move on the paper without the luxury of time to manipulate every detail.
This piece is part of a larger series of plein air paintings I created during a month of hiking in the Rockies. It’s the first of 10 works that will eventually lead to new paintings, inspired by the mountains, trees, and birds I encountered on those adventures.
“Tree on Tunnel Mountain” captures a fleeting moment of natural beauty, where a solitary tree sits perched on the edge of Tunnel Mountain, its branches a resting spot for birds before they take flight into the valley below. Painted en plein air during a hike for my physical therapy, this work was created on a portable easel with the paper positioned vertically—allowing the colors to bleed naturally in a direction I wanted.
Working in the cold, with temperatures barely reaching -5°C, I had only about 20 minutes to capture the view before the light changed or my fingers and water froze.
The quick and fluid motion of my brushwork created unexpected drips and bleeds, which I embraced as part of the painting's story. These drips are not just accidents; they represent the speed of my process, each drop a reflection of the moment in time as I painted fast to preserve the scene before me. The vertical bleeds that appear in certain areas were part of my technique—showing how I allowed the water and pigment to move on the paper without the luxury of time to manipulate every detail.
This piece is part of a larger series of plein air paintings I created during a month of hiking in the Rockies. It’s the first of 10 works that will eventually lead to new paintings, inspired by the mountains, trees, and birds I encountered on those adventures.
Additional Information:
Painted using Winsor & Newton watercolors on 120 lb Cold Press watercolor paper by Archive.
The vertical orientation of the paper allowed the colors to move and bleed in a way that highlights the urgency and immediacy of painting outdoors in the winter cold.
The drips and vertical bleeds are intentional, representing the speed and flow of my brushwork and the passage of time during the short window of painting outdoors.
This is a unique, one-of-a-kind piece, capturing both the physical experience of painting in nature and the dynamic beauty of the Rocky Mountain landscape.
Ideal for collectors who appreciate the raw, unrefined beauty of nature and the artist’s direct interaction with the environment.
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