Gentle hill and valley give way to a view triumphant; a view of steep, purple mountains crusted with snow, the soft morning light diffuses across the valley. A litany of lights and darks, greens and golds cross hatch the foothills below. White barked Aspens, straight and narrow guard the riot of color beneath them as a golden promontory rises up in the east. Tranquility and joy abound, a sense of peace and serenity flows from this one mystical moment captured forever.

To see my aspen paintings and more of my contemporary landscape oil paintings, stop by my booth at the Saint Charles Fine Art Show this weekend in the Chicago suburb of St. Charles. See dtown.org/events/fine_art_show.asp for details.