Lonny Granston

When I was a little kid, my mother once commented that she was amazed how I could get 64 crayons to “light up so much”. I did enough ‘coloring’ in my youth to be voted “best artist” by the senior class at my high school graduation. Then I put my Crayola away. I spent the next quarter of a century becoming a family doctor, racing triathlons, and being a husband and father. a few years ago I picked up a pastel and found that I could still ‘light things up. Colorado and the American southwest offer a lot more for a pastelist to choose from than my native Iowa. I try and combine my love of color and wild places in my work. I often work from photos I’ve taken while afield—usually, while hiking, biking, or rafting -- and particularly enjoy “Plein air” painting.

I enjoy combining my love of moving in the outdoors--rafting, biking, hiking-- with art. A small sketchbook and a box of pastels are part of my packing list for any outdoor endeavor.

My favorite trail in Rocky Mountain National Park is the hike to Black Lake. Starting from Bear Lake, one skirts Mills Lake passes under McHenry’s Peak and ends in the shadow of the Spearhead. These pastels reflect a recent visit this past season.