A Country Drive

One reason that country drives are so beautiful is that it doesn't matter what the weather is like outside. Cold or warm, calm or storm -- when we are in our car (as long as it's not a very, very old car) we are in a climate controlled environment, with just the right amount of heat, air conditioning, or breeze from an open window.

Whether or not it's raining outside doesn't matter as long as the windshield wipers work within. And so, on our country drive, we are free to look ahead to the nearby hills and wonder what they will look like when we get there. Or we take a curve in the road and find ourselves heading in a new direction, with the pleasurable prospect of seeing new landscapes, just minutes away.

Such is the vista that encounters us in North Fork Touchet (above), inviting the viewer to join us on such a drive. The afternoon is sunny, the road is gently winding, and the hills beckons us to come further up and further in, and explore the adventure in rural, quiet lands.

A Country Storm

On another day, on another drive, we find that the sun is not quite so sunny, because a storm is in the offing. Wallowa Valley Storm finds us in the deep, broad valleys of Oregon's Wallowa Valley Mountain Range, and though it is spring and the new grass is growing, high on the peaks the snow still lies.

But because we are in our car -- with just the right amount of heat gently circulating through the interior -- we watch the storm almost as if we were viewing a movie. Better yet, because this is a painting, we enjoy the view from the warmth and comfort or our home, and though the scene in the painting is cool, gusty, and just about to dump buckets of water on the house and barn to the right, we are not cold, or blown about, or hunching our heads into our jackets to keep the sting of rain from hitting our face. And we are exceedingly grateful for the comforts that we enjoy.

A Country Drive and a Country Storm

North Fork Touchet and Wallowa Valley Storm are available as beautifully framed, original paintings for an excellent price on Steve's Original Paintings page.

North Fork Touchet and Wallowa Valley Storm are also available as prints, as well as images on products, at Steve Henderson Collections. All products from Steve Henderson Collections come with a 30-day, money back guarantee, and are shipped worldwide. Fine art on items you use every day is a great, and affordable, way to add fine art to fine living.

It's always fun to get something for free. For those of you who live near Dayton, WA, we invite you to visit Wenaha Gallery in Dayton (219 East Main) Saturday, October 7, 2017, for Art Walk, which runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The first 50 visitors during Art Walk hours receive a free 5 x 7 fine art greeting card with a Steve Henderson image on it, and while you're there -- stay awhile. There are five artists on site -- Watercolor painter Jill Ingram of Dayton; Roy Anderson of Walla Walla (who will be providing music); basket weaver and country singer Lauralee Northcott of Winthrop (more music!); watercolor painter Maja Shaw of Richland; and fiber artist Linnea Keatts of Walla Walla, who will be doing live demonstrations of felting wool and silk into garments and more.

In addition, Savonnah Henderson, who is the gallery's framer and also happens to be a professional chef, is creating amazing finger food treats, two of which, she has let us know in advance, will likely involve chocolate.

Make Art Part of Your Life

If you haven't seen it yet, Steve's dedicated wall of paintings at Wenaha Gallery is an eclectic collection of sizes and prices, and presently focuses on the landscapes and aura of the Southeastern Washington region. Wenaha Gallery itself hosts a fine collection of original artwork by Pacific Northwest artists, from two-dimensional paintings to 3D items such as wood sculpture, bronze, ceramics, baskets, and more.

Also on site is a full-scale custom framing department that specializes in conservation quality, artistically created framing, and the friendly staff works hand-in-hand with clients to create the perfect framing for artwork, treasured photos, maps, vintage posters, and even three-dimensional items such as a softball cap, ball, and bat from the client's home team.

Steve is proud to be represented by Wenaha Gallery, and encourages you to discover this treasure if you have not yet done so. Be there on Saturday, October 7 to enjoy Art Walk (and get a card, if you arrive soon enough!), and afterwards enjoy Fall Festival in downtown Dayton.