Late Winter 2023, hiking an isolated trail in the Pacific Northwest, captivated by the overwhelming silence of a deep powder day, where only the massive, sentinel-like pine trees anchored the vast white landscape.

The goal was to paint a sense of vertical immersion. The technique involved applying the snow texture first, using thick, sweeping impasto on the upper slope to create the feeling of height and distance.

The towering pine trees were then built up with layers of highly textured black and white paint, using stippling and heavy scumbling to give them sculptural density.

The small, vivid skiers were placed last, high on the slope between the trees, using pure color to emphasize the thrill of navigating the natural giants—a vibrant splash of life dwarfed by the landscape.