Take A Hike Jul 13, 2026
This painting was inspired by a recent hiking adventure with my family. They love to hike. The master plan was to drop my two sisters and brother-in-law off at the base of Okemo Mountain. They would hike the Healdville trail three hours to the summit where I would be waiting to pick them up. My plan was to drive to the top, set up my easel, and paint a long distance view. As a bonus I dodged a tough hike.
Halfway up Mountain Road I encountered a heavy mist. By the time I reached the top visibility was near zero. The peak was shrouded in thick cloud cover that was not lifting anytime soon. Plan A thwarted.
One of the most exciting aspects of art is turning inevitable obstacles into fortuitous opportunities.
I expected to paint a clear grand vista. What I found instead was an ethereal, deep-woods vibe. So be it.
“Ride the horse in the direction that it’s going.” Werner Erhard
Original Sold. Next Day in Vermont Monday, July 27.
I love it! Will have to think about where I might put it…
I can feel the texture of the trees and the moisture in the air. I can hear the muffled sounds of high mountain forest. It is a beautiful painting filled with spirit and meaning.
This is my favorite of all the paintings over all the years. Just beautiful.
Thank you for the nice comments!
I hiked this trail over 50 years ago seven months pregnant with my first child. My hiking club from Barnard were all retired folks who encouraged me all along the way. It was so worth the effort. Your painting brought back many sweet memories and smells and sounds and I thank you for that. It’s a beautiful picture Peter.