Just a note that I've updated my photo gallery with new images from my recent travels. I've also included larger versions of some of the photos in journal entries below. Click here to view the scenic photo gallery.

I'm working on an interesting piece, something that plays with perception and highlights the unique tension between a perfect world of straight lines and grids and the natural contours of the real world. Click the images to the right for a "sneak peek" at portions of what will be a series of interconnected pieces that form a large work and a large presence. More to come in the near future...

I've also been working on a piece that will be given to a client in southeast Missouri who has devoted his life to promoting aviation in and around his community. Click the image for a larger view.

I'm working on a commission piece featuring the Chalk Buttes formation in southeast Montana. The client has a spiritual connection with the buttes and this piece will help celebrate that connection. This is the center panel with a left and right panel to come. CLick the image for a larger view.

I'm finishing up work on an project I've been working on in bits and pieces for quite some time now. I'll be using it in an exhibition at a later date. Click the image to the right to see a larger view of this work still in progress.

Photos of the Badlands in spring and summer are common: Sharp, rugged bluffs with brilliant bands of color stretching horizontally in the rock. I wanted to capture some uncommon views of the Badlands during winter. It's neat to see a different side of the region -- it helps expand one's appreciation of the landscape's overall character. The snow helps better define the contours of the landscape -- various curves and mounds often get lost in the thick foliage of summer. The snow also highlights wildlife and snowmobile tracks, allowing you to see for long distances the meandering trails left behind along and across the frozen Missouri River. And the sky -- I love the sky this time of year. The clouds have a different look, as if they were painted on with a brush stroke against a slightly gray canvas. Click the images for a larger view.

As evening approaches, deep shadows cut across the Badlands in winter to accentuate and exaggerate hidden details of the landscape. Several photos I took at this time of day will serve as great inspirations for a watercolor piece or two down the road. And then sunset: Warm, fading colors on a winter blue sea of land. Beautiful, just beautiful. Click the images to the right for a larger view.

Here's a great stopping place in Rapid City for a great selection of coffee, tea and good sandwiches and soup. It's really a neat place to relax -- no need to be in a hurry, just sit and absorb what crosses your mind. Their logo includes an image of Teddy Roosevelt on a coffee cup. What I thought was neat was were the large bags of coffee sitting around on the floor and the raw teas displayed in large old jars. The address is 410 Fifth St.

This new, unique restaurant chose President Day, Feb. 15, to open their doors for business. What makes it unique? It's located in a rennovated old fire station building. Check out their Facebook page for more details and photos. It's really something to see.

A unique menu, warm and comfortable atmosphere. A carefree feeling place to sit down and relax. Their sign says it all: "Lunch Cafe, Yummy Desserts, Unique Gifts." Janece Warden is the owner. Check out their page on Facebook.

Rocheport has a Norman Rockwell feel to it - the community is that warm and comfortable. The town has been around for a long time and it features building styles that reflect early 17th century America such as the red brick walls of buildings. This town embodies the early American/all American look. A highlight of the community is the Missouri River bluffs just outside of town. These aren't gently rolling bluffs but sheer, 100-foot drops to the bottom. They are breathtaking -- they're one of my favorites places to visit when going through town. Lewis and Clark went through this area on their mission of discovery and when I look at the area, I wonder what did Lewis and Clark think when they saw all this? Click the images to the right for a larger view.

I went through Hill City early in February. There is a sculpture of a horse in front of the Dakota Nature and Art Gallery and the "Jewels Of The West" stores that is built from scrap iron. When you look closer at the sculpture, you begin to discover interesting details: a shovel spade and other implements that, in the proper place, help shape the horse. Believe me, this is that rewards your afrtistic senses the longer you study it. There is a new discovery with every glance, every focus on details. Click the image to see a larger, detailed version.

Just to add a bit more to the discussion below, a small community like Ste. Genevieve tends to wrap itself around you like a warm blanket. There's something peaceful in being in the center of town at sunset. Night is coming, but the street lights flicker to life and provide a reassuring glow in the darkness. The silhouettes of the buildings against the dusky sky bring calm and quiet to the surroundings. Click the image for a larger view.

I spent the Christmas holidays back home in Ste. Genevieve. When the town puts up Christmas decorations, when the weather turns cooler and the sights, sounds and smells of the holiday are evident, you can't help but get that warm, comfortable, comforting feeling that small communities give off during the Christmas season. Most noticeable are the red wreaths hung in the windows of the old homes in town. There's a sense of continuity and tradition in that. And green moss growing on the steps of other old homes adds to the ancient color of the season. Click the photos to see larger versions.

Very soon, I'll start work on a special collaborative project for the MedCenter One Children's Hospital. Amber DesRoches was 11 when she was diagnosed with leukemia and spent four years as a patient of the Children's Hospital. Based on her experiences there, she wanted the pediatric unit of the hospital remodeled to be more appealing to patients and their families. Sadly, she died in 2007, but her vision lives on through an extensive remodeling project that will reflect what Amber had in mind for the unit. On the artistic side, I'll be working with Deb Jaeger and Ric Sprynczynatyk in bringing to life Amber's idea of a Peter Pan "Neverland" theme to the unit. I'll keep you posted on the progress of this special project. You can read a Bismarck Tribune article on the planned effort as well as a Bismarck Tribune editorial on the work.

After more than three month's of work and some unique painting techniques, the four mural Bismarck Public Library Children's Library project is complete! There are, of course, other aspects of the library project still in the works that have nothing to do with art, but everything is expected to be complete in time for the official ribboncutting ceremony Jan. 23, 2010. The remodeled Children's story room opened Oct. 21. This project presented some creative challenges and opportunities for me -- just the things I like. You can view a slideshow of photos taken over the course of my work in the library. You can also view the great page the Bismarck Tribune dedicated to my work at the library, and read the article from that page. This was a lot of work and fun for me. If you have any questions about the work I did, feel free to e-mail me and I'll answer where I can.

Valentine is a neat little town and Dunes Lodge and Suites is a wonderful small motel on the southeast side of town that boats reasonable rates, a friendly staff and a great continental breakfast. This area borders the Niobrara River, which is a great rafting and canoeing place. In fact, I bought a used 17 foot canoe there for use in some of my current and upcoming projects in the Dakotas. I had lunch at the Cedar Canyon Steakhouse on Main Street while in Valentine. The restaurant has a great menu, filled with a lot of variety. A good place to stop.

I've been doing a lot of traveling in the past few months and I've come across several places that you should make a point to check out if you're in the neighborhoods:

• Shea's Garden Grove, Crescent, IA. I found this great little coffee shop just a few miles off the beaten Interstate highway path. Located in a remodeled two-story house from around the turn of the 20th century, it's a delight to see and visit. I found Shea's Garden Grove because I was low on gas. When I stopped to fill my car, I asked if there were any good places to eat in the area. I was sent to Shea's -- and what a treat it was, both in terms of visual elements and food. A custom furniture shop is also located in the building. Shea's is one of the hidden treasures worth hunting for during your travels.

• La Minestra, Pierre, SD. Excellent Italian food. Just fabulous -- just really, really good. I can't say enough about this place, owned by Mark and Stacey Mancuso.

• La Tea Da, Cavalier, ND. It's like walking into a place in France: White tablecloths accented with nice silverware and flowers. Elegant, clear water glasses with long stems -- a beautiful interior that has a "welcome - come on in" feel. A great concept for a small town. Various coffees, teas, homemade desserts. Just a really neat place.

• Steve's Cafe, Helena, MT. Steve Vincelli is the owner of a small cafe that's big on a great selection of food, outstanding salads, a homestyle atmosphere and a professional staff. "Breakfast and lunch among friends" is the restaurant's slogan and the place lives up to those words. It was a good experience eating there.

I was commissioned to create a painting for LifeStar, an air rescue group based out of the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville. The painting was to commemorate the 25th anniverary of the group, fearing the four foundeers of the organization and the various aircraft they've used over the past quarter century. The painting was presented in October during a gathering in California.

I've added a new gallery to the site. Called "Aerial Photography," it features a growing collection of photos I've taken while flying around the country. The idea is to bring some unfamiliar views to a lot of familiar places. For example, several "birds-eye views" of the North Dakota Capitol or the mountains near Jackson Hole, Wyoming offer perspectives that can be mesmerizing. We know how things look fromn the ground up. This gallery shows you the world from the sky down. Take a look!

I've been working on another paiting in my music themed series of large works. This one is called "Summertime," and features a southern music feel. It complements the "Blues Avenue" piece I did more than a year ago (which is currently on display at the Majrstic Theatre in Mandan). I'll have more on the "Summertime" project later.

I did a commission piece of a homestead in Missouri down in my old "stomping grounds" near Ste. Genevieve. Titled, "Eagle's View," it features an eagle soaring above the homestead which is nestled within the protective embrace of an expanse of trees.

I've started exhibiting at Merchant Street Publishing in Ste. Genevieve, MO. The photos to the right show the beautiful interior of the business along with some of my recent works: The Church of Ste. Genevieve painting and the Sydney, Montana Air Show piece. Behind my art works are historic black and white photos from Ste. Genevieve's past. Bill and Patty Naeger of Merchant Street Publishing, and Mark Evans published a beautiful, coffee table book on the history of Ste. Genevieve, drawing on photos and information from residents. And there's certainly a lot of history, given that the town can trace its existence back at least 300 years.

Phenomenal -- that's the only way to describe this event. The "Wings of Freedom II" air show Sept. 26-27 was one of the biggest air shows in the Midwest simply because of who was there: It's rare to get in one place at one time such an an amazing assortment of people and performers. What a lineup: The Canadian Snowbirds; Kent and Warren Pietsch out of Minot, ND; Jim Peitz, Apollo 8 astronaut Frank Borman; Gene Soucy; Phil Petrik; Skydive North Dakota; Wingwalker Teresa Stokes; John Mohr. This was big. Just getting the Snowbirds to perform was something of a minor miracle (it was actually the culmination of five years of lobbying by Sidney farmer-rancher and pilot Bryan Prevost. The Sidney show was only one of three civilian shows the Snowbirds planned for the U.S.). About 10,000 people attended the Saturday and Sunday event. I did a painting for the show ahead of time (later autographed by the performers) which was auctioned off at the end of the event. I'm also producing 50 giclee prints of the airshow painting.

I was in the Black Hills area of South Dakota in September 2009. I found some great places in Hill City -- I think you'll enjoy them, too:

• Alpine Inn: A "must experience." Excellent food.

• Horse Creek Inn: Outstanding menu and good service.

• Slate Creek Grill: Try the white cheddar amashed potatoes -- you should go "super size" on this tasty treat!

• Jon Crane Gallery: Features the works of an artist well known for his Black Hills watercolors.

• Warriors Work Gallery: Don't pass this one up. Beautiful presentation of works. The leather frames and beadwork that surround various paintings are works of art in themselves. A fabulous gallery that features the fantastic works of Frank Howell, Sarah Rogers and others.

I had a great time in Ste. Genevieve helping the church celebrate its 250 year history. The original painting I created commemorating the church was raffled off during the church's anniversary picnic. The winner was Mary Stuppy of Texas. Her brother, Dennis, accepted the painting on her behalf. Later, I was at the Merchant Street Publishing Company, signing giclee prints of the painting. All in all, it was a great time spent with a lot of wonderful people in Ste. Genevieve.

Here's an image to the right of my Church of Sainte Genevieve painting, which is now complete with linen liner minus frame. click here to see a larger version of the image. The painting features the church building as it looks today with round insets at the top left and top right of earlier buildings in the church's 250 year history. There'll be 150 giclee prints available for purchasing between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Each giclee print will be reproduced on an 18 x 24 inch sheet of 100 percent velvet cotton rag fine art paper with a 14 x 20 inch image. Each print will be signed and available in Sainte Genevieve at a cost of $85.00 each. Please contact the Merchant Street Publishing Company or the Galleria Ste. Genevieve for prints. You can also contact me or the Church of Sainte Genevieve Parish Office if you're interested in purchasing a giclee. You can call me at (701) 527-9160 or use the contact form here at my site. You can also call Deanne at (573) 883-2731.

If you're ever in the St. Louis area, you've got to check out the City Museum. It's a museum unlike any other you've visited. It's 600,000 square feet of eclectic objects and design made from stuff collected around St. Louis. Old chimneys, steel, bridge pieces, construction materials, old tile -- even old planes -- are all linked together in a place that turns the old into something new. It's the ultimate playground for kids, too. Wire mesh allows young people to climb into musuem displays. There's a seven-story slide for the young and young at heart and a ferris wheel on the roof. Located in the former International Shoe Company warehouse, the museum is the work of artist-entrepreneur Bob Cassilly and a crew of 20 other artisans. The photos I took shown on the right don't even begin to do justice to this wonderful place. You've got to experience it in person. So, after touring the famous Gateway Arch, swing over to the City Museum. You can learn more about it online at www.citymuseum.com.

I got a chance to visit the Great Falls area recently. A beautiful community with a lot of history surrounded by a backdrop of mountains and open land. I stopped by Ulm Pishkum, site of perhaps the largest buffalo jump in the world. This is the place where Great Plains Indians chased herds of Buffalo over high cliffs where the animals fell to their deaths. It was a unique way of hunting that was also quite dangerous for the person who had to disguise himself as a member of the herd and lead the stampeding buffalo toward the cliffs. During their travels through Montana, members of the Lewis and Clark expedition got a chance to wintness one buffalo run. Meriwether Lewis wrote about it in the journals of the trip. It's hard to tell from the photo at the right, but about the middle of the photo just below Square Butte in the distance is the jump off point wehere the Buffalo were chased to their deaths. You can learn more about Ulm Pishkum online at The Lewis And Clark Trail website.

Passing through the Ste. Genevieve area once again I caught some photos of the Prairie du Rocher on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River. The ferry used to carry up to 6 vehicles from one side of the river to the other. For a time, that was the only way to get across the river by car. There's a famous limestone quarry on the Illinois side and limestone was shipped all over the country and the world via river barges. I visited Fort de Chartres on the Illinois side: Surprisingly smaller than what you might imagine (TV and movie versions of forts are always larger than life). I also came across an old, abandoned Creole style house, quietly decaying and slowly being reclaimed by nature.

Whew! Have I been busy this year! So many exciting projects in the works, so many places visited around the country, so many new ideas generated (enough to keep me busy well into the next century at this rate). And that's only the first seven months of 2009 -- who knows what will come up in the last part of the year. Below is a rundown of what I'm doing and have done so far...

I'm doing a painting for the new General Aviation Terminal in Farmington, Missouri. It will depict the history and growth general aviation in the Farmington area. I started work on this project in January. The goal is to be done by the end of July or so.

I was fortunate to have had an art show at the First State Community Bank in Farmington, Missouri earlier this year. The hospitality of the staff was outstanding. Among my works displayed were many of my aircraft pieces, which perfectly fit in with the bank's interior motif featuring various aircraft models around the bank and suspended from the ceiling. I got a chance to reconnect with Ralph Pingel, the man who inspired me to do the painting for the General Aviation Terminal in Farmington. I've known Ralph for years, going back to when I was in high school and he ran the airport. He was instrumental in helping grow the Farmington airport and the Farmington community.

I love visiting the area around Ste. Genevieve by the river. There's so much history here as well as personal memories. I got some great photos (I often use photos as reference points for paintings I may later create). Here's one that shows the ferry crossing from the Missouri side to the Illinois side near Ste. Genevieve. In the old days, the ferry used to carry six cars at a time from one side of the river to the other. That was the way you got across the water in that location at the time. I like the imagery in the photo: The light mist around the boat provides some moody texture, he shadows, the colors. The other photo features a drege boat, used to clean out a channel in the river so heavy watercraft can effortlessly float by. Again, this photo captures a mood and feeling. These images can serve as inspirations for me in my artwork.

Here's a rare treat. I was flying into Bismarck back in June and I couldn't believe my eyes -- the landscape from the air was an emerald green, almost fluorescent in some areas. I'm used to seeing either a white, snowy landscape or a lot of browns, yellows and a hint of green. But the heavy winter snow and spring rains apparently soaked the area so well that green is now the name of the game in 2009. We're talking a lush green, something that takes on the feel of an Irish countryside. Check out the photos to the right to see what I mean. These are views coming into the Bismarck airport and the community around the airport, including portions of Lincoln. I love it -- this is one of the joys of flying: Getting to see areas as a whole that you can't visualize from the ground. It gives some context to the land.

Here are a few scenes from one of the oldest cemeteries in the St. Louis area. The architecture of the monuments here is phenomenal. In general, the older the cemetery, the more ornate the designs for headstones, grave markers and mausoleums. General William Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition is buried in this cemetery.

Ali Cavanaugh is a great artist, and I had a wonderful time visiting with her in Ste. Genevieve at an art show in February. She has, in particular, a magnificent series of pieces featuring a cancer survivor. I urge you to visit her website and browse her works -- you will be impressed. Go to my "links" page to connect to her website.

An artist often uses, as reference points, burst of creative inspiration, photos and memories. Here's an example of how memories can influence my artistic efforts. When I was a kid, we used to play near a bridge in Ste. Genevieve that went across Gabouri Creek. This bridge is only nine feet high and, every so often, a truck with a height greater than nine feet would try to go under the bridge and inevitably get stuck or crash. Besides being a place to test human fallibility, the bridge also struck me as something interesting in design, shape and location. It had the right "art vibes" that I picked up on and kept in mind for future reference. I've taken photos of the bridge. Those images, along with my warm memories as a youth, keep that bridge always on my mind, always prodding me to capture it on canvas. I may just do that in the near future. In the meantime, the idea is maturing like a fine wine -- when it's ready to be painted, it'll feel right.

Carlson Aviation in Yankton is, for any pilot, a good place to visit -- great people there. Gary and Kati Carlson run the place. Exceptional people, you feel a friendship with them right off the bat. They focus on the needs of pilots and passengers. They're great promoters and ambassadors for the Yankton community. They may be a small FBO (fixed base operator), but their friendship and hospitality are as good as the big FBOs -- if not better.

Minuteman Aviation in Missoula, MT is another great FBO. Good people, good service, great atmosphere. The kind of place you can call a pilot's friend.

Sean Kelly's Stone of Accord, Missoula, MT features an Irish Pub atmosphere with great food. It's a really neat experience -- you've got to try it when you're in town.

If you want artistic inspiration or you just want to experience the power of nature, this area is for you. We followed the scenic route along Highway 296, which is just a beautiful, beautiful drive. This is the kind of landscape where sky and land seamlessly merge together. Mountains and clouds seem to exist together at the same level and you feel dwarfed by it all. The rust red hues of exposed rock provide a contrast to the blacktop of the highway and the blues and whites of the sky. No matter where you look, there's a panoramic view. In many places, you almost feel as if you're flying above the scene. These sample photos don't do justice to the view -- you need to experience it in person.

If you're ever in the Coffman, Missouri area, make time to visit the Twin Oaks Vineyard and Winery. The flavor of the wine is enhanced by the music from numerous musicans who perform at the establishment. It's one of many wonderful wineries in the area. In fact, this area of Missouri is getting to be like a little California in terms of vineyards and wine production.

The Cotter Arch Bridge across the White River is a beautiful piece of architecture. The drive along Highway 7 near the Buffalo River is a delight for the senses. I took a lot of photos along the way, photos that may serve as great references for future paintings. And what can I say about sunsets in the Kiamichi Mountains along Highway 258? Words can't do the view and feeling justice -- you need to see it.

Missoula is a beautiful community with phenomenal walking trails, most that pass over historic bridges. Missoula is home to several great colleges that, by design, blend in with the environment. Of particular interest in terms of architecture is Miller Hall on the "Mizu" campus. Go into town and check out the Missoula County Courthouse with the famous clock tower.
 
The downtown area offers a spectacular view in any direction. Look down any street and you see the mountains seemingly at the end of the road, almost a touch away, it seems. There are more specialty shops than you can imagine in the downtown area, ensuring that you will not lack for something to see and do. And food? Well, there are great places to eat just about everywhere you turn.
 
Lewis and Clark passed through the Missoula area on July 4, 1806 during their famous expedition of exploration.
 
The Nez Perce Historic Trail, a mountain pass within the Rocky Mountains and located on the border between Idaho and Montana, is a must see during any trip through the Missoula area toward Idaho.
 
There are a number of great websites about Missoula -- go to my "links" page to visit them.

Of course I'm partial to the Ste. Genevieve community because it's where I grew up. But it is also a place with a history going back more than 200 years, and that gives a lot of interesting character, personality to the area. There's the Green Tree Tavern, which was built in the 1700s. There are the fascinating courtyards behind one of the historic buildings in town. There are the bed and breakfasts as well, located inside buildings that go back centuries. This is really an artist's paradise, because there isn't a bad photo you can take or a boring scene you can paint. Everything has texture, color, unique imagery. By the way, if you're in Ste. Genevieve, stop by Studio de Michel on South Main and Jefferson. It's a great shop to visit and I have some of my work on display there. Click this link to see a mini slideshow of places around the Ste. genevieve area.

I had the pleasure of being able to showcase my aviation art during the North Dakota Aviation Symposium held in February. It was a lot of fun to visit with those in attendance.

I had a wonderful time during my exhibit at the Galleria in Ste. Genevieve in December. The shop itself is warm and intimate and helped highlight the pieces I had on display. A lot of fun!

My large painting, 'Blues Avenue,' has a new home for a while at the Majestic Theater in Mandan on Main Street. It's a perfect match: A big painting for a big location. A sample of the painting is to the right and a larger version can be found in the 'Fine Art' section of this site, six rows up from the bottom. But the best way to see this work is to go to the Majestic and experience it full size.

I've finished some commission pieces, I'm working on a few more and I'm working on a special piece for a special church. Here's a little of what I'm up to these days:
--Farmington, Missouri Airport Lobby: I'm working on a com missioned piece that depicts the history of aviation in the Farmington area.
--Ste. Genevieve Catholic Church: As part of the church's 250th anniversary celebration set for June 2009, I'm donating a piece that shows the history of the church and it community over the past two and a half centuries.
--Robert's Floral, Bismarck, ND: About two months ago, I finished a painting that spans the entryway of the business.
--I've also been busy with trips to Montana, South Dakota, Missouri, Wyoming and Canada, to name a few. Details are in the posts below this one.
--I have an exhibition coming up on December 26th in Ste. Genevieve, at the Galleria Ste. Gen, from 3pm - 8pm. I'll be showing about 30 works. If you can make it, stop in, look around and visit for awhile.

There's an old popular country song titled, "I've Been Everywhere," and it's the perfect theme song for my recent travels and activities. From the Painted Canyon area of West Yellowstone to Jackson Hole, Wyoming; from the Badlands of South Dakota to Banff, Canada, it sure feels like I've been everywhere. Below are a few quick notes, photos, observations and places to visit and eat.

The mountains here are pure artwork, painted by nature on a canvas of land and sky. Photos help tell the story, but they really can't capture the depth and breadth of the surroundings here. A photo of fog gently draping the steep and rough sides of a mountain looks great, but you've got to experience it to truly appreciate the sense of quiet majesty.

When you can look down Main Street and see towering mountains serving as the distant backdrop to your streets, you know you've got something special in your community. A beautiful town framed by beautiful scenery. The lake area around Banff is also "picture perfect." I got some great reference sketches here and in Montana for future works.

Standing on the edge looking over what seems to be a 500 foot drop or more, you constantly feel as if you're going to fall off -- it's that steep an area and view. The colors in the rock can be tough to accurately describe -- rust colored here, but not quite rust; brown color there, but not quite brown. Also, wherever you go in this area, you see buffalo -- lots of buffalo.

In the fall, the bright, flourescent colors of the leaves compete with the canyon views. There's something pleasing for the eye, whether directly in front of you or in the distance. It seems you're always looking up. Near the top of Spearfish Canyon is a popular waterfall area. Again, photos can only approximate the beauty of the surroundings -- you've got to experience it in person.

Located in the Black Hills, there is a very narrow stretch of road that cuts through rock. How narrow? Well, if you look at the photo, you'll see that a standard size tour bus barely fits through the opening. There's barely enough room for light to pass on either side of the bus. Here, the driver slowly and expertly "threaded the needle" on the road. Also featured in the Needles region is the "Cathedral" area -- stark, towering vertical rock formations that remind you of a medieval cathedral.

You can tell at a glance why this area is called the "Badlands" -- rough, rocky, sharp gouges in rock and earth that seems to go on for miles. Then there are the "stripes" in the rock, rust colored layers of sediment that mark ancient rivers and millenia of weathering. The starkness is breathtaking, and that realization creates a momentary contradiction between words and view: The Badlands are beautiful.

It's amazing, really -- the Badlands are a single geological chain that extends across North and South Dakota. Yet, the Badlands of North Dakota seem a little different from the Badlands of South Dakota. Here, the landscape seems to have a softer edge, a little more roundness and smoothness. The "stripes" are there in the rock and the landscape extends to the horizon. But it seems less desolate than its South Dakota cousin. Certainly you can find areas in the North Dakota Badlands that resemble South Dakota but, on the whole, it's a "kinder, gentler" Badlands in the north. Oh, and the deer -- everywhere, everywhere, everywere.

Tower Rock is in Perry County, Missouri. Lewis and Clark talked about this rock formation in the Mississipi. I'm working on a painting based on this unique landmark. The formation rises 90 feet above the river bed and has, over the years, been the source of numerous legends and tales. It's hard to tell in the photo, but it's reported that the waters passing Tower Rock can be quite turbulent at times.

Hill City is an art community, a heavy tourist center. Artists retire to this area and draw creative inspiration from the surroundings. One visit will tell you why. While you're in Hill City, take in a meal at the Alpine Inn -- it's an excellent place for eating. Some places to visit while in town include the Jon Crane Gallery and Warrior's Work Studio. Check out my links page for more on Hill City and artists featured in the galleries in town.

Here are a few places I've found during my recent travels that offer great meals and atmosphere: * Medora, ND: Iron Horse Saloon and Restaurant. * Helena, MT: Brewhouse Pub and Grill * Helena, MT: Montana Club * Helena, MT: Mediterranean Grill * Havre, MT: Duck In Supper Club. They have the best salad bar I think I've ever tried. * Buffalo, WY: Bozeman Trail Steakhouse. The best buffalo burger I ever had was here.

During the July 20th weekend, I was in Hulette, WY, for the 1st annual Wings and Wheels Airshow, which featured Pietsch Airshows of Minot, ND. It was truly a moment of superlatives: The weather was beautiful, the performance unbelievable, great attendance and the surrounding landscape breathless. To the artist, the nature lover, the weekend tourist or anyone looking for a refreshing escape, this is definitely a place to get away for a weekend and set up an easel and paint. Hulette is a town of about 400 people, minutes away from the iconic Devils Tower and surrounded by the beautiful foothills of the Black Hills National Forest. Rock formations accent many areas covered with ponderosa pine, cottonwood trees, cedar and the valleys are covered with low lying vegetation. The Belle Fourche River snakes its way along the northwest side of town and sets the feel for wanting to get the canvas ready for a masterpiece. Take time to fade back in time by walking through downtown Hulette. Among the places to visit: The Rogues Gallery and Museum, a small museum with tons of artifacts from the local area representing the early cowboy and Native American culture. The museum is owned and operated by nationally known western artist Bob Coronato and his wife, Lisa. They live in Hulette during the summers and return to Central Coast, CA for the winters. You can experience Bob's work at www.devilstowermuseum.com -- awesome. The Ponderosa Cafe and Bar is just down the street from the museum and offers a large selection of sandwiches as well as full dinners. You might want to try the Buffalo Burger -- more than a mouthful, to say the least. I will be coming back Hulette and, when I do, it will be with canvas and paint in hand. You can learn more about Hulette online by going to http://www.hulett.org.

Again, this is perfect country for an artist. Check out the colors and textures in this photo. The scene almost paints itself.

A quick note -- if you want an awesome burger with grilled onions, stop by the only restaurant/bar in York, Montana. Good food, good people.

This is a neat drive in some great country -- a perfect journey for anyone with an artistic sense. Everywhere you look, you'll see a scene or a moment that you'll want to capture in words, on film or on canvas. This is a drive worth making.

I'm driving from North Dakota and I'm on Highway 12 in Montana when I come across "Snowy Mountain Coffee," a small shop in Harlowton. I stopped in for a shake and, I've got to tell you, it was one of the best shakes I've had in a long time. It's a neat little shop in a quiet, scenic town that's definitely worth a visit. The shop has a website: www.snowymountaincoffee.com.