During my commute to and from Borbay Studios & Gallery, I often promise to — “get out there and capture Teton Valley’s beauty.”

With my eldest daughter Coraline home-schooling, I found that very moment. As for the location? A generous offer from my good friends Andy and Lisa Daniels presented itself. They allowed us to set-up and paint their breathtaking view of the Teton River.

And so, I set out to challenge myself to create a 40″X48″ painting from life, crafted with a palette knife and loads of Liquitex Heavy Body Acrylic Paint.

And here was the scene. For those unfamiliar with painting en plein air, the light shifts constantly… which proves many challenges, in particular, on large canvases. Adding to the drama? As the day progressed, smoke rolled into the Valley, making the Tetons vanish.

Meanwhile, I spent my time outdoors adding color atop color, striving to capture the mood of the moment.

C did a fantastic job on her piece… spending five hours on a single painting. Impressive for an 11-year-old… and a welcome break from the 20 gradient wheels she is shading at the gallery as part of her intensive art education.

Here is her final work… I’m proud of what she was able to create, and cannot wait to see her creative development.

Here is where the painting stood after a full day of painting. I decided to pivot, and move over to palette knife only. It’s tough to feel like an imposter when you go impasto.

Distance is a fabulous assistant to the eye. Having spent a week away from the work, I dove back in, and began to understand how to approach the middle and foreground. The entire field was built by slashing seven tones with the side of a palette knife.

After many layers, I finally found my way to the prestige phase… followed-by the finish. I’m very pleased with the result, and eternally grateful to Lisa and Andy for sharing this treasured view. Thank you Daniels’ family for an unforgettable experience with my daughter.