“Inspiration Point,” is a piece nearly a year and a half in the making. I began this painting before I’d ever even been to Yosemite. Then, in the summer of 2019, I finally made it to the place I’d seen and read so much about. To say I had high expectations might be the understatement of the century but it delivered. This unbelievable piece of land is magical. Pictures and written words will never do it justice. After I returned home, my unfinished painting sat in a corner in my studio for months. You may think I would have come back invigorated, inspired and excited to continue work on it, but I felt just the opposite. Overwhelmed by what I’d seen with my own eyes I was unsure how I’d ever be able to capture such powerful feelings in paint.

As time passed I felt the pull of this piece again and it ended up back on my easel, though it was challenging. I feared I wasn’t doing the Yosemite Valley the justice it deserved. Slowly but surly with each passing application of paint I fell back in love with this painting and finally a year after my trip, I signed my name and took it off my easel for the last time.

Now, as I look at it I’m taken back to my experience there and all of the wonderful feelings and memories my time in this special place gave me and I know I accomplished exactly what it was I set out to do when I first decided to paint this valley. I hope it can evoke similar feelings for other viewers too.

The vantage point you see in this painting is actually that of Inspiration Point and not Tunnel View and the valley below is traditionally that of the Miwok people, more specifically the Ahwahnechee (″People of The Mouth″) who called this place, Ahwahnee.

Unframed panel, dimensions: 16” x 24.5” x .25”

Please feel free to contact me if you would like to discuss framing options.