Journaling Superior: Ice Caves Painting

Lake Superior has many stories to tell. This truly inland sea is cold year round, and harbors tales of exploration and change. This work was inspired after visiting the ice caves, a rare event only made possible when Lake Superior freezes completely over. Walking across the bay, on top of the ice, it is a breathtaking adventure. The bowl of the sky stretches north, west and east, the nearest shoreline distant. Sudden booms of ice cracking fill the air, a quick look at ones feet to make certain the footing is still solid. The caves are carved into a steep cliff, clear ice covers moss, bright green. Red earth is made shiny, as if trapped in glass. Huge icicles, like a group of people, stand in the center of several of the caves. It makes me wonder about those that have witnessed this phenomenon in the past, did they stare at the cave roof, noting all the sediment changes? Did they wonder about those that stepped into this wonderland? Squinting between the ice formations, puddles of icy cold water formed on the frozen lake surface, reflecting the sky and clouds above. This painting has been created with a proprietary texture, gold leaf, corrugated paper, and plenty of paint. It is ready to hang, the hardware is included. No need for framing, it is painted on all sides.