I started this painting with the idea of capturing a sketch I did earlier.  When I sketch I use ink pens, rarely pencils.  I find that sketching is almost like going into a trance for me.  I'm sure if I was hooked up to some kind of monitoring device, it would show that as I sketch, my breathing slows down, my heart rate, blood pressure decrease and probably my shoulders are a greater distance from my ears.  So my idea was to have a lot of the line work that was part of my sketch really show prominently in the painting.  I wasn't sure how to accomplish this, but decided just to start and see where it would take me.  Sometimes it can be quite daunting to take a large canvas and just start sketching on it with ink..... but I just went for it.  

The result, is this painting called "Freedom".  I chose this name because I really felt free to just explore with this one.... to start, and see where it led me.  That is a wonderful freedom..... just seeing where a painting leads you.  
I'm thrilled with this one, and may just keep it for myself.  

     I finished "Loopy Lupines" today.  If you take the chair lift up to the hiking trails at Sun Peaks you are able to enjoy a variety of different trails around and up to the top of the mountains.  Right now, the alpine flowers are in full bloom and it is breath-taking.  My favourite hike lately is the West Bowl Trail, which takes you around the mountain to the valley between Tod Mountain and "Top of the World".  When I reach that valley.... i take a short hike out to Tod Mountain Lake, and then come back around the other side of the mountain on Gil's Trail.  This is about a 3 hour hike, and the colour, the views, the smells the atmosphere are all  AMAZING!!!  This painting is just a small piece of what I get to experience.  I'm glad I can share it.