My Personal Burning Bush

It was the perfect October morning. I was hiking in Provo Canyon with two good friends. We made our way down a fairly steep trail, then suddenly it opened up onto this meadow. The sun lit the scene from behind, and this lone tree literally looked like it was on fire. We all gasped. It was stunning.

I don't know about my friends, but to me it felt like I communed with God that morning, through my own personal burning bush. It was powerful and breathtaking.

I immediately began the process of painting this glorious backlit meadow and the beautiful red tree. I made several sketches followed by some intense half-sheet color studies (one of which won an award). And finally, THIS October, I created the final painting. It might look like it took me twenty minutes, but it actually took a few weeks to complete. Even now, it takes me right back to that morning in the meadow.

My friend Mary, who was on the original hike that morning, also remembers gasping over the beauty of that tree. The moment she saw it she said she had to have it, to brighten her kitchen through the cold winter. The original is 26 x 40 and she has dedicated one whole wall to showing it off. I couldn't be happier that my hiking buddy who experienced the discovery and the joy that day is the owner of this piece. 

The other good news is there are giclée prints available. So it can brighten your home this winter too.

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