I visited the mountains of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge twice, and the coast of the Arctic Ocean at both Barrow and the Mackenzie River Delta. Just to set one thing straight: I did not see a wasteland in any of these places. Instead, there is scenery to rival any place on earth, and an abundance of life.

I enjoyed being a part of that life, even if only for a few weeks. I have always liked drawing and painting out-of-doors. There is something very special in the experience, and the experience in ANWR was very intense. The light is strong since the sun is up all summer. The scenery is incredible. It can rain or snow any day of the year, yet the sun is powerful. The mosquitoes are voracious. We worked all day unless the rain or snow was heavy enough to interfere with the paint on the canvas. We were surrounded by ancient caribou trails, by mountains that had raised from even more ancient seabeds and by the busy summer life of the tundra. My memories of these places will stay with me forever.

Lake Peters and
Lake Schrader
Alkyd on canvas
24 x 20 in
1991

South from the Canning River
Alkyd on canvas
24 x 20 in
1992

Carnivore Creek
Alkyd on canvas
24 x 20 in
1991

Chamberlin Creek 1
Alkyd on canvas
20 x 24 in
1991

Dwarf Fireweed
Pen and ink with acrylic wash
8 x 6 in
1991