The morning of Dec. 28 was picturesque in Big Sky, even by Montana standards. Towering pines were coated with a layer of frost, covering the larger pockets of snow that clung to each bough. Occasionally the clumps came loose and tumbled to the ground, filling the air with a veil of sparkling ice crystals lit by the bright morning sun.
From wobbly first steps to smooth gliding, the author introduces his younger sister Julie to the sport of Nordic skiing at Lone Mountain Ranch. PHOTO BY WES OVERVOLD
Animal tracks littered the blanket of white along our route through the small meadow. The Nordic ski trail we were exploring at Lone Mountain Ranch proved the perfect choice for the day’s objectives: be outdoors, be active, and soak in the surrounding mountain views.
I stood by the side of the trail and listened for a familiar sound that morning: the erratic rhythm of the skier I brought along to enjoy the cross-country ski. It was my younger sister Julie visiting from Georgia.
“Oh Wes, you missed it!” Julie yelled as she rounded the turn and came into view. Thinking she had the special opportunity of seeing a moose or glimpsed a unique piece of a landscape unfamiliar to her, I was happy.
“I totally ate it back there!” Julie said. “You would’ve been really impressed – like, face first into the snow and everything. This is a blast!”
My sister has that kind of enthusiasm for everything she does, and cross-country skiing for the first time was no exception. She rarely gets to see snow in the South, much less strap on a pair of skis and slide around on it. That day I saw a new spark light an old flame inside her. The physical exertion, the beautiful scenery, and occasional wipeouts in the snow had us feeling like kids again.
LMR incorporates many of the components that make Big Sky such a special place to both live and play. The expansive views and quiet solitude you find on more than 85 kilometers of groomed Nordic trails, combined with the warmth and friendliness of the staff, guests and locals, make LMR one of Montana’s best kept secrets.
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a
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We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a limited palette to create different color combinations? Are you tired of carrying around 15-20 different tubes when you paint plein air? Have you ever wanted to create a certain “mood” in a painting but failed? Do you create a lot of mud? Do you struggle to achieve color harmony? All these problems are addressed in John’s workbook in clear and concise language!
Based on the bestselling “Limited Palatte, Unlimited Color” workbook written by John Pototschnik, the workshop is run by Maggie Shane and Annie McCoy, accomplished landscape (acrylic) and plein air (oil) artists,exhibitors at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery and members of the Big Sky Artists Collective.
Each student will receive a copy of “Limited Palette, Unlimited Color” to keep and take home to continue your limited palette journey. We will show you how to use the color wheel and mix your own clean mixtures to successfully create a mood for your paintings.
Each day, we will create a different limited palette color chart and paint a version of a simple landscape using John’s directives. You will then be able to go home and paint more schemes using the book for guidance.
Workshop is open to painters (oil or acrylic) of any level although students must have some basic knowledge of the medium he or she uses. Students will be provided the book ($92 value), color wheel, value scale and canvas papers to complete the daily exercises.