The first time Ken Jarvela picked up a sketchpad in the backcountry in the 1980’s, he decided he wanted to become a landscape painter. In his early 20’s, he packed three months of food, a tarp, and a set of watercolors into the Trinity Wilderness and, over the next 54 days, taught himself how to paint. This trip would mark the first in many that would define his career as a landscape painter.
Music: If Walls Could Talk by Jacob Bain & Nis Kotto • Wild Wind by John Berry • High Country Waltz by Bradley Carter • Freaks by Bradley Carter • Stargazing by Ken Christianson • Auroras by John Berry • Sunset by Kai Engel • Primary Colors by Ken Christianson • Delivered by Brendan O’Connell • Tracks provided by Free Music Archive or with permission from the artists.
Listening to this episode right now having just returned from a solo backpack/packraft trip to Gates of the Arctic. Only 2 weeks, but can really relate to Ken’s description of that “solo” feeling and experience. That sense of quiet when the float plane goes out of earshot…just walking over wet rocks is a whole new experience when you realize one slip and you are miles from any help.
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I grew up in Sunny Brae, and took many trips into the Trinity and Marble mountains with my grandpa via horseback. I haven’t been back in a long time, as the Wasatch is my home range now. But hearing the descriptions brings back a lot of fond memories.