Steelhead Creek

This intimate forest study from Steelhead Creek, a tributary of Bacon Creek in the North Cascades, captures the dense layering of ferns, moss-covered boulders, and flowing water characteristic of Washington’s temperate rainforest. Painted entirely on location, the work explores the interplay of light, movement, and color within an otherwise quiet woodland scene.

2×3 foot

Acrylic and Spray Paint on Canvas

2026

Completed over multiple camping trips at Steelhead Creek, this painting focuses on a narrow section of stream winding through dense vegetation beneath towering conifers. Bright passages of red, blue, and green create an energetic interpretation of the landscape while preserving the feeling of the cool, damp forest floor. Part of an ongoing body of plein air work documenting lesser-known landscapes throughout the Pacific Northwest, the piece emphasizes both the complexity and intimacy of this hidden tributary within the Skagit River watershed.