Swans of the Tagish Bridge on the Yukon River

Each year there Yukoners celebrate the migration of the swans on the shallow waters of marsh lake just east of here. I acquired a real beaut Canon long lens that fits my body perfect;  so I was off to take some shots before the swans are finished feeding and off to their northern nesting grounds.
These trumpeter swans get babbling like a bunch of gals at a rambunctious party.

The crow story of how the world began_ frames 11 and 13

I'm averaging about 10 frames a day at the moment, that includes re-writing, research, reading, and painting.
I have to account for digitally manipulating; drawing/painting each frame later. The stories are not long averaging just over 20 frames per story, so far so good.
The initial imaginings or the first part is the fun part.

Above the grandfather relents and lets the crow child play with the sacred sun package.

…soon the boy is asking for the moon .

frames 06 and 07 of the crow story and creation

On to the visuals of my second story. Here a couple of frames from Monday on the crow story, it is a variation on the raven story, my first.

Here the pine needle flies back into the chief's daughter's mouth.  

Soon after the girl is pregnant. The parents are furious and demand to know the father.

Easter Sunday, a great breakfast and superb coffee

I had a great Easter dinner with a family who's son and daughter were just named to the Canadian Cross country ski team. This big/little city has more than its share of talented citizens. Must be something in the air. I will follow the careers of these young athletes, that's a "for sure".

Easter Sunday and a great breakfast and superb coffee at Jan's place in Whitehorse. I was told my snoring level was only at the annoying level 2 out of 5 stars. My travel buddies are off to Alaska shortly so I take the Carcross road (caribou crossing) back to THARS.

Drawing,drawing, on something from the imagination.
I started a second story or chapter today dealing with a creation myth where Crow is the main character.

The chief or most powerful man keeps his young daughter from all the young men.

Crow transforms himself into a pine needle. Here I use an Easter influence portraying surrender to transformation.

Sunshine and Easter Saturday

Went down to the beach or the ice beach where there is the grand view up the lake west towards the passes leading to Skagway.

The leaves and pine cones or branches lie on the ice then gradually melt or sublimate their way deeper into the surface.

Apparently the ice on this lake will not break up till later next month. I set some pine cones out to see how long it takes to burrow into the ice.

I've been invited to an Easter dinner in a Whitehorse residence where I will meet some of the locals on their home turf. Great opportunity and food will be way beyond my hamburger specials.  

Seems the darker the object the deeper it goes. Here a stick sinks away.

Wednesday Thursday images at Crag Lake

Here are the Wednesday/Thursday images; days two and three at Crag Lake.
My home and studio for the next six weeks; the new lodge was built after Ted Harrison had moved to the "warmer climes" of Victoria.
You can see his original cabin below.

Some of the first 21 images I have for my first creations story. I started working just on hilroy three ring binder ruled paper but it breaks down with the acrylic washes. I kinda liked the blue lines took me back in time; but they are distracting so I will take them out with the computer.

Here the chief's daughter gives birth to the raven child in moss. she has a helper.

This land is all about subtle color and large forms. I think my landscape forms will really flatten out.

This is a background for the raven to escape from the lodge carrying the light package. It will all make sense eventually.

Can't wait for the snows to go and the temperature warms up to work on the balcony.

more land shapes

warm up drawings of ravens on Yupo

Back to visualizing.

First day curving wooden bridge; second day the snowy passes of BC. and finally Yukon and THARS

 A curving wooden bridge on the old Alaska Highway on the first day was a great place to get out and marvel at the bent wooden deck beams.

Barb photographing at the top of a pass in the pumpkin parka and the blowing snow.

THARS Residency on Crag Lake in the Yukon. The snow is mostly gone. But the ice is 3 ft. thickl on the lake.

I found a pair of cross country skis and crossed the lake to sketch from the other side. The snow in the bush on the far lakeside was very deep and I got a wet butt. No sounds anywhere except for a few chickadees.

From the middle of the Crag Lake, the mountains and valleys seem just simply huge.

Day three in Yukon.

We crossed into the Yukon on Sunday night  staying at the "last resort" Bighorn Lodge. Watson Lake is famous for 60,000 signs pointing to some supposed home that was heartfelt and missed.