BIG SKY: New PNW Mountain Art Show at Nuwave Gallery
I’ve always believed that landscapes invite us to lift our gaze upward—out of our daily worries—toward the hills, the mountains, and the skies. That’s the heart behind my newest solo exhibition, BIG SKY, now showing at Nuwave Gallery, which I own and curate here in downtown Ellensburg.
This collection is deeply personal. Every piece reflects my love for the Pacific Northwest and my belief that the beauty of nature points us toward something greater—our Creator. From the jagged ridges of the Enchantments to the quiet strength of Mount Rainier, I try to capture not only the land itself, but the sense of awe it stirs in us all.
At the center of this show is a poem I wrote that echoes the wonder and searching that inspired BIG SKY:
BIG SKY
I lift my eyes to the hills, to the mountains, to the skies.
Wandering brings me wonder, it makes me ask why.
Why are there ridges that cut sharp against air?
Why do cliffs beckon, yet humble me there?
Their silence crushes, strips away pride,
There, something eternal makes me feel alive.
The sky is a canvas, shifting with light,
A story in gradients from morning to night.
The rocks cry out, the rivers reply,
The wind itself cannot deny my why.
Then comes the pull, the call to climb,
To where stone meets horizon, to where I nearly touch sky.
There in the stillness, a whisper breaks through:
Could it be The Creator is speaking too?
The mountains stand witness, the heavens agree,
And there in that silence, I have to believe.
Each painting in this collection is paired with a favorite quote by the late Irish poet and philosopher John O’Donohue, whose words capture the reverence and depth I feel in the natural world. Here are the featured works in BIG SKY:
36"x36" Acrylic & mixed media original inspired by Prusik Peak | “The horizon is the perpetual promise that the earth makes to us.” – John O’Donohue
36"x36" Acrylic & mixed media original inspired by the Teanaway Range | “The landscape does not become fixed, but lives as you live. You can hear it breathing with you.” – John O’Donohue
36"x48" Acrylic & mixed media original inspired by Dragontail Peak and Colchuck Lake | “Behind the beauty of the landscape, there is always a presence.” – John O’Donohue
36"x48" Acrylic & mixed media original inspired by Aasgard Pass and Dragontail Peak | “Each day is a journey into the sacred, if only we notice the sky above and the earth beneath.” – John O’Donohue
48"x36" Acrylic & mixed media original inspired by Mount Rainier | “The world is full of thresholds, but the landscape is the most ancient one of all.” – John O’Donohue
48"x48" Acrylic & mixed media original inspired by Glacier Peak | “The sky is the ultimate companion, the grand expanse that dreams above our lives.” – John O’Donohue
48"x48" Acrylic & mixed media original inspired by Mount Baker | “Each landscape dreams a different sky.” – John O’Donohue
48"x48" Acrylic & mixed media original inspired by Mount Rainier | “The silence of the landscape is a rich silence, full of invitation.” – John O’Donohue
60"x48" Acrylic & mixed media original inspired by Mount Stuart | “A good journey is a circular journey that brings you home to a different place.” – John O’Donohue
48"x60" Acrylic & mixed media original inspired by Mount Shuksan | “The horizon is not a line, but a presence, calling us beyond where we are.” – John O’Donohue
48"x60" Acrylic & mixed media original inspired by Enchantment’s Temple | “A sky full of silence is the most faithful mirror of the soul.” – John O’Donohue
30"x40" Acrylic & mixed media original inspired by Mount Adams | “In the presence of a great mountain or a wide open sky, you remember the immensity that dwells within you.” – John O’Donohue
Most of these works are large-scale originals, many four to five feet wide, designed to bring the sweep of the mountains right into your home or space. And while each painting tells its own story, together they create a journey of awe, discovery, and belief.
As the owner of Nuwave Gallery, my hope is that BIG SKY gives visitors a chance to pause, breathe deep, and feel something bigger than themselves.
The show runs September through November at Nuwave Gallery in downtown Ellensburg. You can see it in person during gallery hours or at each First Friday Art Walk, where I’ll have something fresh for the community. If you’re not local, you can view and purchase the collection online at nuwavegallery.co. I also welcome custom commissions—if you have a mountain, lake, or landscape close to your heart, let’s create something together.
BIG SKY isn’t just about the paintings—it’s about the perspective that comes when we lift our eyes. I’d love for you to come experience it.
