Darcie Peet

One of my all-time favorite hikes out of Lake O’Hara in the Canadian Rockies up to the Opabin Plateau. An old stone trail borders a shallow, “snow pool” and meanders up and over the rise ahead to a small, aqua glacial lake. Almost to timberline, golden larch (Tamarack) scattered through the lightly forested slopes, come alive with fall color. A perfect spot for our trail lunch on a stunning, clear autumn day. For Sale. $8900. Available through ArtzLine, America’s Online Gallery, 800-958-5360, www.artzline.com/darcie-peet/ www.darciepeet.com

After a long, hot day of hiking in Glacier National Park, we set out on our last hike of the day for a cool change. On the east side of the park, just past St. Mary’s Falls a short hike will take one through sun-dappled, evergreen forest and along a gurgling stream to Virginia Falls. Dropping into shallow, aqua pools strewn with pebbles of all colors, it’s cooling mist was a refreshing change to our earlier day of hiking. For Sale. $6200. Available through ArtzLine, America’s Online Gallery, 800-958-5360, www.artzline.com/darcie-peet/ www.darciepeet.com  

In the Canadian Rockies on the edge of Banff, distinct and solitary Mt. Rundle rises above the quiet and serene Vermilion Lakes. Autumn is one of the most striking times as shore shrubs and trees show off colors from rich yellow to orange and brilliant red, and there can often be a dusting of early September snow on the peak. If the sun angle is just right, sparkles, like tiny diamonds glisten across the surface of the placid water. For Sale. $5300. Available through ArtzLine, America’s Online Gallery, 800-958-5360, www.artzline.com/darcie-peet/ www.darciepeet.com

The Park Avenue hiking trail in Arches National Park, Utah, descends down into a spectacular canyon and wash to what is called “Courthouse Towers.” Early morning brings contrasting colors and bold shadows streaking across our trail through the spires, cliff faces and unique, sandstone geological formations. For Sale. $5100. Available through ArtzLine, America’s Online Gallery, 800-958-5360, www.artzline.com/darcie-peet/ www.darciepeet.com

Feast or famine… dry most of the year, a winter rain or summer monsoon can suddenly transform a desert wash into a rushing stream or here, a quiet pattern of rivulets and streamlets meandering and criss-crossing the broad wash. At sundown the storm clouds reflect a host of colors across the water almost like an abstract painting. Soon to recede and dry, all sorts of new, distinct, sand channels will be formed. Vital to the creatures and plants of the desert, they are also full of creative surprises and painting inspiration. For Sale. $3900. Available through ArtzLine, America’s Online Gallery, 800-958-5360, www.artzline.com/darcie-peet/ www.darciepeet.com

Our first campsite of a five-day pack trip into the east side of the Wind River Range, WY, lies at the edge of Washakie Lake. Hiking out from our base camp to a higher lake our route was strewn with all sorts of wildflowers. Given our goal of future painting reference, our outfitter had recommended mid-July for peak wildflowers, and he was so right! Most memorable were the rich, fire-engine red paintbrush, also known as “prairie fire, and they were everywhere! For Sale. $3400. Available through ArtzLine, America’s Online Gallery, 800-958-5360, www.artzline.com/darcie-peet/ www.darciepeet.com

Late afternoon we boarded a very small, adventure cruise boat for a journey around Prince William Sound, Alaska. High cliffs edging one side of the sea channel seemed to climb into the clouds. Numerous, thread-like waterfalls tumbled into the sea where hundreds of gulls swooped and dove creating a pattern of white wings and making a cacophony of sounds. For Sale. $3400. Available through ArtzLine, America’s Online Gallery, 800-958-5360, www.artzline.com/darcie-peet/ www.darciepeet.com

At dusk a storm is clearing across the Catalina Mountains in southern Arizona. During the winter months the low sun, especially at the end of the day at the edge of sundown, adds such rich color to the desert mountains and sky, a perfect time to be returning from a hike to capture this fleeting vivid color and glow. For Sale. $2000. Available through ArtzLine, America’s Online Gallery, 800-958-5360, www.artzline.com/darcie-peet/ www.darciepeet.com

At the base of the Tetons outside of Jackson, WY, irrigation ditches criss-cross the valley and sweeping ranchland. They are key in storing and delivering water to ranches, farms, businesses, parks and homes during the valuable growing seasons of April-October. Here the quiet water of this pasture section, reflecting the azure-blue sky above, is edged with tall, graceful grasses and colorful wildflowers. For Sale. $2000 Available through ArtzLine, America’s Online Gallery, 800-958-5360, www.artzline.com/darcie-peet/ www.darciepeet.com

Given abundant fall and winter rains, rolling fields approaching Madera Canyon in southern Arizona can be strewn with yellow-orange poppies and blue-purple lupine scattered amongst prickly pear cactus. The spring moisture has transformed the grey, lanky, liner stems of the Ocotillo to vibrant green tipped with bright, orange-red, flag-like flowers. A desert spring is a fascinating mix of shape and color for endless painting inspiration. For Sale. $1800. Available through ArtzLine, America’s Online Gallery, 800-958-5360, www.artzline.com/darcie-peet/ www.darciepeet.com