Artist Blog — Painting Journeys
Where wilderness adventure meets creative insight
Welcome to my blog, where I share the stories behind my paintings — from backcountry expeditions and plein air challenges to the creative decisions that shape my studio practice. Here, you’ll discover how the dramatic landscapes of the Canadian Rockies, Yukon, High Arctic, Patagonia, and beyond influence my art.
Follow along as I document:
Travel journals from remote painting journeys
Plein air experiences in dynamic weather and rugged terrain
Studio process transforming field studies into large-scale works
Creative tips for painting mountains, glaciers, forests, and desert landscapes
Environmental reflections inspired by the changing wilderness
Through each post, I hope to bring you closer to the inspiration, discipline, and joy of wilderness landscape painting — and encourage others to explore and protect our planet’s wildest places.
Notes from the field: Tombstone Range YT.
Driving north from Dawson City along Dempster Hwy, you enter arctic landscape mostly devoided of trees with wide valleys stretching all the way to the horizon. It is the only drivable route to the Canadian arctic. One of the most dramatic vistas is the Tombstone Range with Mount Monolith in the foreground. The range resembles jagged shark teeth reaching towards the sky. The autumn comes early there with full colour display at the end of August.
Notes from the field: Keno City, YT.
While in Whitehorse , friends of mine suggested that I should visit Keno City, which is about 100 km east of Stewart Crossing on Klondike Hwy. The road leads through Mayo and then on gravel route through wide valley. Silver mining during the 20’s first opened up the area and created another boomtown with mines popping up in the hills above.
Today it is a very sleepy settlement with less then 10 people living there all year around. There are still some mining activities going on but mostly the town relies on its unique charm and spectacular location. Because of mining, neighboring mountains are criss crossed with old exploration roads leading way above tree line to spectacular Yukon vistas.
Notes from the field: Faro, YT
I received an invitation from Jay Hambelton, my Facabook to visit him in Faro. Jay is also a painter and his Dad was Jack Hambelton who was the founder of Hambelton Galleries in Kelowna BC.
Jay graciously offered to take me up into high alpine south east of Faro. We traveled for over 50 km on hunting trail with quads including one with special tracks that can travel over wet tundra and bog. Our day was filled with lots of painting, some winching, mud and spectacular display of colours over the Yukon. Through Jay I have learned a lot about a local environment and the history of Faro town which lays along 450-kilometer Tintina Trench.
https://whatsupyukon.com/Yukon%20Outside/the-tintina-trench/
Faro was originally a company town created to support once the largest open pit lead-zinc mine in the world. Today, it is the site of one of the most complex abandoned mine remediation projects in Canada.
https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1480019546952/1537554989037
Notes from the field: Whitehorse, YT.
So I finally arrived in Whitehorse, Yukon after driving 2500km in four days. Usually it takes me less, but this time I was towing a little camper trailer. I have not been up north for 4 years and it is great to feel the northern air and the smell of the tundra. Colours are just starting to turn and some higher elevation of hwy # 37 already have yellow poplars.
I have also noticed some environmental changes along the route, which I am not surprise to see due to climate change. Bear glacier near Seward, BC has receded a lot since I seen it first time 10 years ago. Pass the Dease Lake there huge swats of forest burnt as far as eye can see. Southern Yukon is starting to experience much more coastal climate with higher precipitation which has not accrued before. Due to the rising temperatures the permafrost is melting slowly releasing unimaginable amount of gases which will choke of our atmosphere in due time unless there is no dramatic change in human behavior.
So I am going North towards Tombstone mountains with heavy heart knowing that our planet is in desperate need of healing from constant human destruction.
I will be on the road for about 4 weeks, crossing into Alaska and capturing many of its enormous mountain ranges.
Past workshops - KELOWNA
MASTERCLASS - Luminescent Landscapes with Dominik Modlinski - June 2016
Mark making creative process - Workshops
Dear friends and students.
Over the next year, 2018, I will be teaching Intuitive Mark Making workshop.
It is designed to develop sense contrast, composition and edge treatment for variety of artists working in different mediums.
Students should aim at the marks, which are unfamiliar, obvious and not created by analytical process. They should develop energy sweep with out hesitation, responding and contacting with the frame of reference at all times, explosive mark making holds element off surprise and no obvious marks. The student should develop familiarity with all those aspects of mark making.
It is extremely beneficial for expending your creative process.
Here is the sample of the process.
Please check my website for the upcoming workshops:
http://www.paintingjourneys.com/artworkshops/
#artworkshops #painting #sketching #Nanaimo
Process of creating large landscape- studio painting
" VOICE OF THE TUNDRA " 40" X 60"
I wanted to share with you how I approach a large composition and brake into colour and form sections. Entire painting is painted in wet on wet technique with careful consideration of plane's overlaps and contour treatment.
Painting plein air in Chile.
In this video you can view step by step process of painting plein air.
I am a strong believer in documenting your creative process either through film or photography.
If you are interested you can view our entire television series in
CHANGING LANDSCAPES.
https://www.facebook.com/ChangingLandscapesTVseries/videos/1582211998757780/
#paintings #paintingoftheday #paintingprocess #paintingvideo #paintinginprogress #pleinair #pleinairpaintings #pleinairartist #pleinairsketch #tvseries #art #artist #artwork #artistsoninstagram #arts #adventuretravel #perutravel #peru #boliviatravel
#landscape #landscapephotography #changinglandscapestv
Recent article in the Yukon, North of Ordinary' magazine, May 2016
Recent article in the Yukon, North of Ordinary' magazine, May 2016.
Celebrating two dacedes of painting Canadian North.
New painting - " SANCTUARY " 48" X 48" OIL ON CANVAS
I am very exited to complete a new painting from the area near my home. Rainforest of Coastal BC has provided me with countless compositions and never ending inspiration. The composition of the painting and it essence portrays the early morning and forest life along the pod deep in the rainforest. Over the years I have become fascinated with all kinds wetlands and pond environment which are so crucial to our ecosystems.
Painting is available for viewing at CANADA HOUSE GALLERY, BANFF, AB.