Denali Dreamin'

Description

Denali Dreamin’: A Wild Love Letter to Alaska If you’ve ever been to—or dreamed of going to—Denali National Park, you know it is magnificent. Its rolling open spaces and diverse ecosystems call to your wild heart. The unique rock formations and colors, variety of quirky plant-life, roaming grizzly bears, the herds of caribou, the howling wolves, and even the tiniest critters like snowshoe hare and ptarmigan make a nature-lover’s soul feel alive. And they all thrive in this vast wilderness beneath the incredible and looming peak that is Denali. I have never seen a mountain so magnificent (and magnificent truly is the only word for it). It is MASSIVE. We got lucky—really lucky. Denali is often cloaked in clouds, and most visitors never see the summit. But during our time there, the skies opened. Clear day after clear day, Denali stood in all its glory. I sat there in awe, my brother snapping a picture of me soaking it all in. That photo, and the grizzly that casually strolled by our tent one morning, became the spark for this painting. I’ve wanted to paint Denali for years. Living and working in Alaska was life-changing for me—it helped me build confidence as an ecologist, a solo traveler, and an adult. But I never quite had the vision for the painting. That is, until I came across a post that said “Scientists believe bears have an innate appreciation for nature”—just like us. And suddenly, I knew what the heart of this piece needed to be. A peaceful, summer-plump grizzly bear sits at the center of Denali Dreamin’, fully present, fully content, taking in the wonder. And isn’t that what we’re all hoping to do? To find those rare moments of calm and clarity where we can just be—rooted to the earth, connected to all the life around us? These moments help us disconnect from the hustle and bustle and remember what is truly important, what life is all about. The magic of wild places lives in their layers— we drift deeper into nature, and into ourselves, when we notice the hum of a bee, the smell of wildflowers, the sounds of rabbits rustling through the brush, so I added more. Hidden among the mountains of this painting are the creatures that make this place so unforgettable. Look closer and you will see Dall sheep, caribou, lynx, wolf, ptarmigan… and yes, a mama moose and her calf, tucked into the very peak of Denali itself. (If you’ve ever been to Alaska, you know—moose are really at the top of the hierarchy. I was honestly more afraid of startling a moose than a bear!) This painting is a celebration of that experience. A reminder that our national parks are full of wonder, full of life-altering experiences, and worth protecting. It’s a painting that’s interactive—fun for all ages, and especially meaningful to those who have felt the wild heartbeat of Alaska.