“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
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