Summer Serenity by Mark Keathley

“Most of my life I spent in the flat land of coastal Texas so when I come to visit the Smokey Mountains and get to hike through the woods, I’m stirred deeply by the embrace of the forest.  It might be because I grew up in East Texas where there were large oaks and pines to wander through, but I suspect, just  maybe, it is the connection to the earth, the peace and quiet that comes with the ferns, the moss covered stones, and the trickling streams the flow down from the hills.   Whatever it is that touches my soul is what I attempted to bring to you in this painting.   I wondered if I should do it vertically because of the height of the trees in the Smokies, but there is so much enjoyment of this horizontal format, I decided to stretch it out and give you a taste of the things hidden out there for our enjoyment.  Take a moment and smell the smells, hear the sounds,  enjoy the sights,  get in touch with nature and enjoy a little Summer Serenity.”

~Mark Keathley