2013
from the Treasured series
Watercolor & silver leaf on watercolor paper
7.5″ x 6″
Original: in private collection

This piece was commissioned as a gift for my client’s father. Rocky Mountain National Park, out of Estes Park, Colorado, holds a special place in her family’s history; her father would instantly recognize the map’s location.

I wanted to convey a sense of height, of looking out and down from the peak of the nation. And, at the same time, I wanted to evoke feelings associated with a beloved place. I hoped the map would resonate with the frizzling, joyful feeling of something dear and cherished—in the way that a site or story or event can be so very personally, singularly one’s own.

On the left, the Continental Divide snakes from Hallett Peak to Otis Peak and down off the page. The top right portion shows the trailheads out of Bear Lake. Strung across the map are lakes with vivid, enticing names: Emerald, Dream, Nymph, Bear, Haiyaha, Andrews, Mills, Jewel, and The Lock.