It’s day 22 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days!

I found the fun, little arrow shaped tree branch in this painting on my 10.5 round trip hike to the top of Black Butte in Sisters, Oregon. The strenuous hike was worth the spectacular 360 degree views at the summit. You could see the surrounding mountains including the 3 Sisters, Mt. Washington, Mt. Hood, Mt. Jefferson and Mt. Adams (way, way off in the distance). I met a few cute critters at the top (see the adorable Chipmunk in the photo below). I think the Chipmunks were accustomed to visitors with food. As soon as I opened my package of fig bars their ears perked up and they were inches from my hiking boots. A note if you visit, Chipmunks prefer fig bars over apples.

I chose the bright green color for this painting to mimic the intense green tips of freshly grown pine trees and to reference the green in street lights as if to say “go this way!”

Lisa Marie Sipe green encaustic painting with tree branchPAINTING DETAILS:
“In the Forest VIII”
6 x 6 inches
encaustic and tree branch on wood panel
Origin: Black Butte, Three Sisters Wilderness, Oregon
$90
click here to purchase

 

Here is the top of Black Butte facing North-ish with a clear view of Mt. Hood:

Top of Black Butte Sisters, Oregon

Aw, how can you resist this furry little Chipmunk face? Doesn’t he/she have really cool stripes?

Chipmunk on Black Butte, Sisters, Oregon

The paintings I create during the 30 Paintings in 30 Days challenge will be included in my NATURE CURATED series which captures the essence of place by encapsulating carefully chosen mementos nature has seemingly left behind in a thick bed of pigmented encaustic wax. To create these paintings I explore the ocean shore and forest floor to find the perfect, unique objects (shells, pine cones, driftwood and stones) to embed in a luscious layer of wax. All of these natural objects tells the story of its origin, like the smooth edges on driftwood illustrates the journey it took undulating back and forth against the rough ocean shore. Each three-dimensional fine art painting is unique, signed by me, ready to hang and includes the place of origin.