My inspiration is the awe and gratitude I feel when I wake up to a brilliant blue sky day drenched in sunshine, with the serenade of birds and the scent of rich earth and evergreens wafting to my senses. The power and glory of a stormy sky is also exhilarating. Glimpsing wild creatures sharing the glorious day heightens my joy in the moment. From sunrise to sunset and into the starlit night the mountains, meadows, rivers and lakes are a magnificent playground for humans and animals to explore and enjoy. The world we live in is my inspiration to paint.

I strive to paint the feeling of butterflies in my stomach as I survey a field of unbroken powder glittering in a steep gully or a glade just before I jump in to ski. I paint to preserve the contentment and thrill of biking or hiking to the peak of a mountain where I stand with companions to survey the world below before swooping down the trail. I paint, to hold forever, the surge of “rightness in the world” when I bond with my friends in the joy of adventure.

Painting is my way of expressing intense emotions. I become completely immersed in the process when I paint. An entire day can pass while I study the contours of my soul through painting, With my brush strokes I traverse through joy, sorrow, gratitude, fear, anger, contentment, acceptance and love embracing all as necessary components of the exhilaration of a beautiful moment. —-Nancy Beste