Art is at the Heart of our National Parks

Plein air painting is and has been an important part of the life and work of the artists of Trio Fine Art. And much of this painting practice takes place at the foot and in the heart of the mountains surrounding Grand Teton National Park.

  

As I'm sure you all know, this month marks the 100th anniversary of the National Parks Service (NPS), and as such, the 100th anniversary of our beautiful Grand Teton National Park. Art and the NPS go hand in hand; early explorers to the area, particularly Thomas Moran of the Hayden Geological Survey of 1871, incorporated sketch and painting into their study of the land. "The story of Thomas Moran's paintings and Henry Jackson's photography really showcases the impact of art. It was their images that convinced Congress to set aside Yellowstone as a park, " says Kathryn Turner. "Art is a powerful medium - whether photography, film, or fine art. It touches us at a deep, emotional level, and this stays with us."

    

	"Wetlands" 16 x 20 oil on canvas by Kathryn Mapes Turner. Found on page 192 of Painters of Grand Teton National Park.

The National Museum of Wildlife Art has had an ongoing exhibition celebrating the artistic history of our beautiful mountain land, entitled Grand Teton National Park in Art: Painting the Park from Thomas Moran to Today. Continuing now through September 5th, one can see the mountains as the early explorers first saw them - mapped out in photography, pen, and paint. Although, Grand Teton National Park and the Greater Yellowstone area have gone through a lot of changes since Ansel Adams photographed them. More has been explored and is accessible. More development blossomed in and around the Park. More people flock to the rocky land. And the mountains themselves look a little different. "Warmer climate has melted the glaciers on the mountains. There were more year-round snowfields to paint. This can be seen in the paintings of Conrad Schwering," says Kathryn.

 

"Hoback Junction Blues" 8 x 10 oil on board by Jennifer Hoffman.  Found on page 175 of Painters of Grand Teton National Park.

A more encompassing look at the development of the land surrounding Jackson Hole can be found on the pages of Donna and James Poulton's book Painters of Grand Teton National Park. Providing a history on the Parks, the exploration of the Greater Yellowstone area, and the flood of tourism to it, Donna & James tell the story of this mountain land through art. And the artists of Trio Fine Art help to illustrate this story. An excerpt from page 175 of the book by Jennifer Hoffman "elegantly describes" the hardships and wonders of plein air painting.

 

"When painting outdoors, we have to endure challenging light, wind, heat, cold, sudden storms, driving rain, sleet, snow, hail, sunburn, and all manner of insects - often all in one day!... But one of the things I love about painting is that when I'm out in the field, basically standing in one place for a few hours, I become part of the environment to the creatures who live there... At the end of the day, sometimes the paintings work and sometimes they don't, but the experience and the inspiration is beyond compare."

 

	"Red Roofs of the Bar BC" 16 x 20 oil on linen by Bill Sawczuk. Found on page 148 of Painters of Grand Teton National Park.

August was beautiful, albeit a little smokey, but September is now here, and you can feel Fall slowly creeping through the valley in the rustling of leaves and the cool touch of the breeze. It's a beautiful time to be in Jackson Hole, less busy with people and more so with the stirring of animals as they prepare for the onset of winter. And it's a beautiful time to try and capture the red, gold, and orange colors of Fall with a camera, paintbrush, or pencil. No matter where you are, take a moment to see and feel the changing of seasons. And get inspired by the wonder and magic of our beautiful Earth.