Palouse Fields

The Palouse region of eastern Washington State is comprised of rolling hills with outcroppings of lava rock. Primarily wheat fields with cattle raised in the drier, rockier portions. Occasional groves of evergreens are found on the northern slopes and old barns and farms dot the landscape. The region is famous world wide for it's photographic beauty. I have met photographers from all parts of the globe visiting the Palouse for it's unique beauty. This painting was from one of my own photography excursions there. At the time forest fires in west central Washington and Oregon had created a high altitude smokey haze that created an unusual filter for the late afternoon sun. The dried grasses and ripening wheat took on pastel rainbow hues of color that flickered as they gently waived in the breeze.