Ahtanum Ridge

Ahtanum. ©2011 Lisa McShane. Oil on Linen. 20" x 36".
It's been a great week of painting in the studio! This is finished, after many adjustments to the foreground glazing and many repaintings of the sky. And, very important, I started several paintings that I'm excited about.

I listen to a lot of music in the studio. Generally I shuffle about 8 days of songs in my iPod but after 3 straight days I decided to order new music. I ordered 5 new CD's: Arcade Fire, Mumford & Sons, Black Keys, the Decemberists and Head & Heart. I also ordered tickets to next week's Josh Ritter show in Seattle so it was a great day for painting and for music in my studio!

The area of this painting is between Ellensburg and Yakima in Washington state, near the Yakima Firing Range. Not a place to do a lot of hiking. But it has wonderfully eroded hills.

Comments

Casey Klahn said…
I know this place well, from my days in the NG. I once drove from the desert floor, in about 95 degree heat, up to the 7,000 ft. elevation of one of these ridges, and got snowed on. Memories.

Your painting does take me there.
February 17, 2011 at 4:29 PM
Lisa McShane said…
Thanks Casey! I think I may need better maps. I call it Ahtanum Ridge but I'm totally solid on my geography.
February 18, 2011 at 3:25 PM
Casey Klahn said…
We had an Umtanum Ridge and the Yakima Ridge and the Saddle Mountains, which forms a ridge. Also the Manastash Ridge. Those are all part of the YFC.

I find the Ahtanum Rdge in and south of Yakima. I must be trying to call the Ahtanum the Umtanum - sorry 'bout that.
February 28, 2011 at 7:45 PM
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