It has been a pleasure to participate in the Tin Shop Guest Artist program sponsored by the Town of Breckenridge, Colorado. Breck, as locals call it, is a world-class ski resort at the base of Peak 8, one of the soaring summits in the Tenmile Range. The town itself sits at a breathtaking 9600 feet. Established by gold miners in 1859, Breckenridge takes pride in its colorful history. The old wooden buildings have all been expertly restored and the Tin Shop is a prime example. This quaint and cozy cottage has every modern amenity one could desire. With the studio on the ground floor and the living quarters upstairs, I found it to be an ideal environment to create art.

During my month-long sojourn, I turned out quite a number of paintings. What’s more, I also underwent an artistic evolution by broadening my subject matter. Thus far, I had restricted myself mostly to the figure. At the Tin Shop I dared to venture into a new genre: the landscape. An unsurprising development, given the magnificent mountains I was surrounded with. Often I was also surrounded by an audience. There was quite a substantial crowd that popped in during my open studio hours. I enjoyed interacting with this diverse group as well as the enthusiastic students who took my workshops. Another highlight were my excursions into the spectacular nature of Colorado, in search of the elusive bighorn sheep. Whatever deficiency there may be in oxygen levels, the High Country makes up for with sheer beauty. I was particularly taken by the Mohawk Lakes and the peaks above Boreas Pass and Loveland Pass. The vistas, wildflowers and wildlife were amazing.