Yosemite Valley

Driving the old Yosemite Valley ring road, I remembered a painting done by one of my artistic influences – Albert Bierstadt. I parked, followed my muse, and found that if I waded out onto the river boulders, I could see exactly what the 19th Century master had seen.

I found myself in a familiar spot. Luckily I brought my paint and canvas onto that inspiring boulder and – in little more than an hour of feverish, inspired work – I created Yosemite Valley. I worked on this painting until my muse told me to stop.

As I was carrying my canvas to the car, a powerful insight struck me: these mountains are nothing less than an image of God’s grace. So, returning to my studio, I used my Yosemite Valley Plein Air study as a foundation for a major studio composition – The Mountains Declare His Glory.