Fortunately, there are still vast tracts of our planet where nature reigns. In this landscape, I was awed by the sense of endless lakes, rivers and mountains and, beyond them, more lonely lakes, rivers and mountains. A man could walk into this land for weeks and never see other human evidence. However, on second thought, the land is not lonely and is far from empty. This is the home of countless creatures, from elk or bear, raven or eagle, down to mouse or chickadee. Beneath the ice and snow are countless other creatures from beaver to insect, all awaiting the bountiful surge of spring. In a sense, the subject of this painting is not just a herd of bull elk and a couple of ravens, but the atmosphere, geology, waterways, forests and the numerous unseen dwellers of this awesome land. - RB