Being an artist is always a balancing act. Preparing and maintaining materials takes time, energy and money. Then there's the actual time spent producing the work. It takes time for creative ideas to coalesce. Figuring out how to make what's in your mind take shape in the physical world is another piece of the puzzle. The balance in my life for the last month has tipped to family. It was wonderful having Mathew home for his winter break. And wrenching to have him go back to school. Now it's time for me to get back to work!

What you see here are three small (8x10) paintings on panel. They work as a series or as individual paintings–capturing some of the colors and shapes I saw in the landscape around Yellowstone National Park.