A Prayer for the Brave

This was another mountain painting that I created after skiing in Zermatt. What struck me when I was skiing in the Alps was how close to the edge of cliffs you are allowed to ski in Europe, and how there is only a small rope that separates you from carving a perfect turn to going over the edge and falling into a cravass. I also started thinking about how brave some people are, whether they are athletes or going through something very difficult in their lives. The central theme of this painting is the importance spirituality in our lives. Because of this, I placed a series of prayer flags which is a practice done to show support for climbers who plan to ascend Everest. I also thought a lot about people who have chronic illnesses, including cancer, and how brave some children even are when they are receiving chemotherapy. This was my way of saluting them and "saying a prayer for the brave." In terms of the technical parts of the painting, I used a mix of bright and muted tones to depict the sky to convey the ups and downs of life, and the peaks and valleys of the mountains also demonstrate this concept.

Size: 60x48