Mono Cliffs provincial park was the setting for “Cedar Bones” and is the little brother of “Endurance” a major work now in a private Canadian collection, which was inspired by the same local. Looking back upon the elements that made up that sunny July day the title of the piece seems all the more appropriate.

   My Wife Lani and I were enjoying another outing with our old friends Ian and Andy Madore. One of my main purposes for the trip was to gather some reference material for new paintings. Little did I know that the cliffs I had come to capture would not give me the angle I preferred and thus I decided to search for new inspiration. Rounding a bend in the trail my luck changed before me was one of the most picturesque ponds I could have wished for.

   Natural metaphors have always appealed to me when I observed the dead cedars at first I thought what a beautiful scene, later I realized what a beautiful statement. Our outing was truly an enjoyable experience with hawks flying over our heads as if directing our tour of the park. It's times like these that help you get through the hurdles of life that sometimes seem so high.

   Though dead the cedar bones remind us that we are all mortal and nothing lasts forever, not even cedar bones.