This block print is of our beautiful local Spearfish Creek, running through nearby Spearfish Canyon.  The textures and contrast of this engraving appeal to me, as does the reflection in the water.  It captures the cold and snowy, yet magical winter scene playing out right now.

Spearfish Canyon has always been a healing place for me.  Somehow, I can breath more deeply and can feel life more fully when I am there.  I am fortunate to have this just outside of the little town in which I live, free for my enjoyment any time I chose… why don’t I chose to go there more often?

I have been known to take my watercolors, and paint on site there.  It is actually a form of meditation.  Right in the heart of the Black Hills of South Dakota.  While visiting the French Alps once, I was determined to paint every day, so found myself walking around a very quaint alpine village, painting outdoors in the winter.  Despite having the water on my palette crystallize and my fingers and toes getting cold,  the entire experience was eye-opening.  Why don’t I do this in Spearfish?  So, I have… both painted and photographed more in the winter, from this revelation.  I painted some fun little watercolors at Terry Peak, the local mountain ski lift, and did some action shots of snowboarders.  More to come: I believe winter is here for awhile yet…!