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"I fell in love with the moss covered rocks and
fallen logs that surround the streams in the deep
valleys of the Smoky Mountains. Tromping through the
woods is very exciting to me. Every turn of the
stream has a new vantage point that makes me go,
"wow!" I haven't gotten to see any wild bears -- I
guess that is good -- but I did find these in a
nearby wildlife habitat. The old settlers cabin and
split rail fence is still there today.... left over
from the days when the land was donated to the
national parks service and the last of the "old
timers" lived out their days scratching corn out of
self cleared meadows. The woods have re-invaded the
farm land and only this small strip of land is left
at this farm, but it made a beautiful location to
paint. Every time I see such a spot I wonder what
kind of people could survive so isolated and alone.
But then I remember, they weren't alone. Certainly,
they had a large family, some unexpected visitors
like the ones in this painting, and a confident
belief in their God and his claim, "I will never
leave you or forsake you," to take with them into
the wilderness."
- Mark Keathley |
