High Desert Blooms
I fell in love with the Oregon while studying architecture in grad school. The state's rolling green hills, abundent waterfalls, lush forests, and dramatic coastline had awakened my soul and connected me to nature in a way I had never experienced. After graduating, I accepted my first 'real' job at a small architecture firm in Bend, Oregon. Where? What?
Bend is located in Central Oregon - the dusty flipside to the lush rainforests of the Willamette Valley. Starting at the eastern edge of the Cascade Mountains, and stretching out towards Idaho and Nevada, the high desert region is a playground for hikers, horseback riders, mountain bikers and rock climbers. Despite all of this, at first, I thought I had made a tiny huge mistake. Everywhere I looked, the landscape seemed to be brown. And dry. And craggy. Did I mention the dust?!? This just wasn't for me.
However, after a few months I started to see more than the muted browns. The high desert is punctuated with color, such as the bright yellow sagebrush buds, the springtime wildflowers, the crimson river canyons, the obsidian black lava flows, the dark green juniper trees, and crystal clear waterways. I found beauty in the landscape, developed lifelong friendships, and made Bend my home...... until Maryland called me back.
Original Encaustic Wax on Cradled Birch Board, 6 x 6.
Unframed Print with Mat, 10 x 10.
I fell in love with the Oregon while studying architecture in grad school. The state's rolling green hills, abundent waterfalls, lush forests, and dramatic coastline had awakened my soul and connected me to nature in a way I had never experienced. After graduating, I accepted my first 'real' job at a small architecture firm in Bend, Oregon. Where? What?
Bend is located in Central Oregon - the dusty flipside to the lush rainforests of the Willamette Valley. Starting at the eastern edge of the Cascade Mountains, and stretching out towards Idaho and Nevada, the high desert region is a playground for hikers, horseback riders, mountain bikers and rock climbers. Despite all of this, at first, I thought I had made a tiny huge mistake. Everywhere I looked, the landscape seemed to be brown. And dry. And craggy. Did I mention the dust?!? This just wasn't for me.
However, after a few months I started to see more than the muted browns. The high desert is punctuated with color, such as the bright yellow sagebrush buds, the springtime wildflowers, the crimson river canyons, the obsidian black lava flows, the dark green juniper trees, and crystal clear waterways. I found beauty in the landscape, developed lifelong friendships, and made Bend my home...... until Maryland called me back.
Original Encaustic Wax on Cradled Birch Board, 6 x 6.
Unframed Print with Mat, 10 x 10.
I fell in love with the Oregon while studying architecture in grad school. The state's rolling green hills, abundent waterfalls, lush forests, and dramatic coastline had awakened my soul and connected me to nature in a way I had never experienced. After graduating, I accepted my first 'real' job at a small architecture firm in Bend, Oregon. Where? What?
Bend is located in Central Oregon - the dusty flipside to the lush rainforests of the Willamette Valley. Starting at the eastern edge of the Cascade Mountains, and stretching out towards Idaho and Nevada, the high desert region is a playground for hikers, horseback riders, mountain bikers and rock climbers. Despite all of this, at first, I thought I had made a tiny huge mistake. Everywhere I looked, the landscape seemed to be brown. And dry. And craggy. Did I mention the dust?!? This just wasn't for me.
However, after a few months I started to see more than the muted browns. The high desert is punctuated with color, such as the bright yellow sagebrush buds, the springtime wildflowers, the crimson river canyons, the obsidian black lava flows, the dark green juniper trees, and crystal clear waterways. I found beauty in the landscape, developed lifelong friendships, and made Bend my home...... until Maryland called me back.
Original Encaustic Wax on Cradled Birch Board, 6 x 6.
Unframed Print with Mat, 10 x 10.