My photo reference for this piece is one of hundreds of pictures I have taken with my camera, adding to the thousands of images forever stored in my memory of the Waterton Lakes National Park area.  Waterton is a gorgeous place to visit - I am a bit of a broken record on that point :)

I chose this particular reference with the intention of conveying the hazy conditions of the day.  Forest fires had been burning in BC and the usually pristine mountain views were muted because of smoke in the air - still magnificent, just a bit more subdued than on another given day.

The landmark Prince of Wales Hotel is a significant piece of local and national history.  Built in 1926-27, the hotel added prestige to the landscape, enticing travellers with its charm.  It remains today a "must see" place.  One gets a real sense of the awe that early visitors must have felt and an appreciation for the foresight in building such a dynamic structure in a remote location. Waterton - Prince of Wales Hotel - snippet of a larger work

The photo along with this blog entry is a snippet of the larger piece in progress.  The original is 36" x 24", Baltic birch surface, painted in oils.  This one, probably more than any of my previous paintings, has challenged my understanding of values.

It's been a joy to end my year of painting and to start a new year of painting with this work.  Stay tuned for a view of the finished piece.

Happy New Year, dear reader!