Look Up

This view looks up a hillside in the Big Hole Valley, Montana. I go backpacking every year in September to ketch the fall colors and view wildlife. I practice cognitive behavioral therapy in some of my pastel paintings. I start this process by writing out my negative thoughts with pastels; I smear them into the background to create an underpainting. Then I layer positive thinking words on the top for my mark-making to build my image. This becomes a fun puzzle that moves my mind away from racy thoughts; my words change from a forced thought process to something more present and relaxed in creating the painting.