RIVERBED

"This landscape is off the highway that runs between Jasper and Banff, south of the Columbia ice fields. I was struck by the background and I got into the situation of asking myself, 'What do you really want to paint here?' Then I recalled seeing four bull elk north of there, wading in a shallow lake. That was what gave me the idea for 'Riverbed.' "As a rule, I first come across a location that strikes me as interesting. Then, if I've seen an animal in a similar location or if I see tracks in the winter time in that area, that will give me the inspiration for a painting. The ideas behind one painting usually take a couple of years to come together because I am drawing from all my past experiences in exploring and researching. "It is interesting that when you get into the national parks, a lot of the wildlife is right off the highway. Especially during this summertime in the mountains, the elk come down to the valley floors. Many areas that have been cleared out for pasture are right alongside the highway. There are elk all over the place in Jasper. They are like lawn ornaments in the town sometimes!"