1. Glacier National Park

Hi guys! I recently kicked off a brand new video series all about my national park paintings. But I thought the stories and fun facts would make for a good blog too!

 Starting it all off with the first National park I ever painted back in 2019 when I was working on the original 50 states project where I picked a natural gem or highlight to paint in every state. Montana was the 5th state I painted so this one just turned 6 years old. I chose to paint Glacier National Park for Montana because I’d been there on a family trip. Yup, that’s me, 11 year old Emilie, who couldn’t begin to know how much national parks were going to become a part of her life. In my element right?

 I found all these pictures in mom’s scrapbook to help fill in memories. I photos featuring the famous Going to the Sun Road and Hidden Lake where I most remember hiking a hill with my tiny sibling and all the mountain goats. Which are actually the symbol of the park.  Something I found cool is that Glacier National Parks birthday is pretty close to my own. Founded as a NP May 11th of 1910 it’s just a good 80+ years older me.

So let’s get into why I painted Mount Grinnell. The details from 6 years back aren’t as clear to me but I know I wanted to paint Glacier NP since I’d been there. When I researched the park the peak just stood out. Literally. It’s very distinct and the view from swiftcurrent lake caught my eye. I even found it on a map in my mom’s scrapbook. I recently learned something that brought my painting full circle. before it was ever a park, the land was Dubbed the “Crown of the Continent” by George Bird Grinnell in 1885. Grinnell, The guy the Mountain I painted was named after! So that was a fun fact for me.

I’d love to get more into Glacier detail and I may in the future.. As you know I started the states project back in 2019. But It wasn't until 2023 that I started working on The National Park series consistently. The newer paintings feature more and more detailed work then my original 50 states so Glacier is a park I’m considering repainting before the end of the project, maybe featuring a mountain goat? But We’ll see. 

I hope you enjoyed this tidbit and please leave a comment telling me your favorite memory or view from Glacier if you’ve been there. Or share with your park loving friends! Follow along for Great Smoky Mountains next!

Link to shops my Park Paintings - Glacier National Park