Yan-o-pah

In 2019, a heavy winter snow pack persisted late into spring. As the snow melted with warming spring temperatures, the waterfalls filled with spectacular flow volume. Early one morning, I hiked up the Mist Trail and painted a 14x11 plein air piece of this scene while also taking photos and shooting videos amid the icy cold, blowing spray. Back in the studio, I used primarily the plein air piece as a reference to create the full sized studio work. I also used the videos on my 4K TV to help recreate the effect of watching the water flowing and creating the same movement in this pianting. Yan-o-pah is the Ahwahneechee name for Vernal Fall and has been translated to mean misty and little cloud; both of which seemed highly appropriate for the title.