Alberta
« Previous EntriesOur Power, Our Planet
Friday, April 17th, 2026
Prairie Dogs, the Badlands Hoodoos near Drumheller, Alberta Canada. 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper, 27H x 33W” framed size – white mat and custom-built white wood frame with crackle finish. Showcased online at KBM Art Gallery, presenting “Our Power, Our Planet 2026” April 18th through May 29th.
The Canadian Badlands in Alberta and Saskatchewan are recognized for unusual mudstone and sandstone landscape formations, and also for having the largest deposits of dinosaur bones in the world. The geography in Horseshoe Canyon, Alberta is ancient, unique and incredible, and the prairie dogs – locals call them “gophers” – are an impactful part of prairie ecology, having extensive influence on vegetation and animal life. They live in colonies of up to several thousand, burrowing in networks of tunnels where other ground-dwelling creatures move in, various grass species are maintained, and rainwater is reserved and redirected.
They are cute to be sure, sitting up on their haunches chirping at one another, but they can be a nuisance to farmers whose horses and cattle can trip in the holes. Pest control programs during the 1900’s meant their numbers have declined, which congruently reduced acres of grasslands they helped sustain. As their own highways became populated with humans and cars, particularly during Springtime they are a road hazard.
In Torrington, Alberta, one lady has found a creative way to utilize the unfortunate casualties. You must visit The World-Famous Gopher Hole Museum located in the middle of nowhere, in a small hamlet where there is not even a gas station, along a seemingly endless dusty gravel road about an hour Northwest of Drumheller. Gophers are stuffed, sporting handmade costumes and placed in small cubicles displaying historic scenes. Completely bizarre, but actually very well done and absolutely worth the conversation-provoking side-trip if you are planning to visit Drumheller and the Tyrell Dinosaur Museum.
Back Alley
Wednesday, January 21st, 2026
Back Alley, winter in Edmonton AB, Canada, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper, framed size 27H x 33W” white mat and white wood frame with crackle finish.
Gold In The Mountains 04
Monday, November 10th, 2025
Gold In The Mountains 04, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper. A favorite subject, Poplar trees and forest in the mountains of Kananaskis Valley near Calgary, Alberta in Fall.
Landscapes 2024
Monday, February 26th, 2024
Canadian Prairie Summer, Canola fields by the Petrofka Bridge, North Saskatchewan River near Blaine Lake, Saskatchewan Canada. 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper won Silver placement in the J. Mane Gallery Landscapes 2024 Exhibition, Feb. 26th -April 8th.
Also accepted in the show are Crater Lake, Heber River BC, California Orange Groves, all soft pastels on paper, and Lake Louise AB, acrylics on canvas.
 |
 |
 |
 |
Trees and Fields
Sunday, December 24th, 2023
Knox Mountain Trail (Kelowna BC), Summer Storm (Cochrane, Alberta) and Kananaskis Country, all 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper, won Honorable Mention and are showcased in Art Room Gallery’s online exhibition, Trees and Fields Dec. 24, 2023 – January 24th, 2024.
 |
 |
|||
Skies
Saturday, November 18th, 2023
Cumulonimbus: Montana Sunset (2020), 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on 90 lb watercolor paper. For many years I’ve wanted to try painting night skies. In July 2007, I was driving through Montana to Alberta as the setting sun bounced golden-pink hues through the already fantastic storm clouds. I pulled over and took some photos, thinking that even if they didn’t turn out, something is better than nothing. Reference photos don’t have to be perfect to bring back the experience of a particular moment; they are just a starting point. I intend to paint this with acrylics when I’m through with my soft pastel kick.
Six pieces are showcased in Art Room Gallery’s “Skies” Nov. 17 – Dec. 17, 2023.
 |
 |
 |
||||
 |
 |
 |
||||
Summer Storm
Friday, May 12th, 2023
Cochrane, Alberta – Summer Storm, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper. White mat, and framed version has white 27H x 33W” wood frame with crackle finish.
Rainbow in The Rockies
Monday, March 20th, 2023
Rainbow in The Rockies, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper. Detail image, left.
Lake Louise
Sunday, April 10th, 2022
Lake Louise with turquoise mountain water, Banff National Park, AB Canada, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper. Framed size 27H x 33W inches, white wood frame, crackle finish. Here’s an acrylics on canvas painting of the same place I did a couple of years ago.
Prairie Storm
Tuesday, January 4th, 2022
Prairie Storm, July in Cochrane, Alberta, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper. Framed size 27H x 33W”.
« Previous Entries