February- The Thinking Month

Well hello February!

In my part of Montana February is the month I tend to begin looking forward to spring. Most years spring comes in March though I do recall some springs coming in May or June or not at all. Generally it is what I call the thinking month.

With almost a foot of snow still on the ground in the backyard my thoughts have turned to how long it will be until the pasque flowers bloom, the snow geese begin winging north and I listen for the sounds of the swans as they migrate overhead.

It is also the time I plan most of my outings for the year. There will be sharptail grouse to find on their lek, elk herds to locate, mountain goats and their young, bears....always bears. For landscapes it will be the Tetons, Glacier, Yellowstone for the iconic places but there are a million places that are not iconic that will pull my attention.

Do not get me wrong, I love capturing the beauty of the iconic places....but so does everyone else. That is fine but the planning is focused on places others tend to ignore or do not know they exist. I would love to say I go to these unknown places to provide you with different views of common spots or to provide you with fresh landscapes, but at the risk of sounding selfish....it is because I prefer my trails to be less traveled. I suppose Montana has spoiled me.

This February since my health has been restored, will also be the month I build my new lumber racks in the wood shop, do a little housecleaning out there and build a new work bench. For years I built furniture but the last couple years the shop has been far to idle. Photography and woodworking always tend to occupy the idle times to the fullest. It will be good to be back making sawdust and perhaps a project of two.

February 8th in Kalispell five of my prints will be on exhibit and for sale at the Montana Modern Fine Art Gallery on Main Street. The showing is “All You Need Is Love” and it is a juried Small Works show. Small works is defined by being no more than 12” x 12”. I took the chance and submitted three Nature based Abstracts which are the only photography work I use any post editing special effects on yet keep the coloration and connection to nature as the focus. I also submitted two of my Forest Illusions which are all planned camera movement and long exposure works. ..no post editing happens to them.

I had hoped I would get one in through the jury process and much to my delight, all five entries were accepted. There will be 40 artists and 100 works displayed from paintings, sculptures, pottery and photography. If you get a chance and live locally...stop on down and view the creativity on display.

Here is to a safe and great inspirational month of February!