What’s Inspiring Me: Sacred Spaces
I am currently deep in preparation for an upcoming museum exhibition in May with The Art Museum of Eastern Idaho titled Sacred Spaces: Visions of the West from the Prosaic to the Sublime. I am honored to be showcasing my work alongside five celebrated artists: David Dibble, Bryan Mark Taylor, Josh Clare, Louisa Lorenz, and Carson Thompson.
To describe the heart of the exhibit, the museum shared these words:
“The story of the American West is written in its fields, barns, and open landscapes—places where generations have worked the land with dedication, shaping not only their livelihoods but also the cultural fabric of the region... [This show] pays tribute to the honor and dignity of agricultural life.”
A Personal Connection to the Land
I am particularly thrilled about this exhibit because it allows me to bring to light a small, meaningful pocket of the Western Idaho landscape. My primary focus will be scenes from Kuna, Melba, and Meridian, ID. When I met my husband over 25 years ago—a farm kid from Melba—I had no idea that the landscape of his childhood would eventually become the centerpiece for my paintings in this show. In our early years of marriage, we lived in the same small farmhouse where he grew up. I can still vividly remember the clouds of dust rising around the house during planting season on those 80 acres.
In the Studio
My dedicated sketchbook for this show is quickly filling up with reference photos, composition plans, and specific locations for en plein air sessions.
Keeping my color notes, sketches, and ideas organized in one place is fueling my excitement for the work ahead.
I can’t wait to get started on these ideas!
Completed Commission
A well-designed home deserves art with presence. Original paintings anchor a room, guiding the eye and giving the space a sense of intention and refinement. I just varnished these commissions and looking forward to delivering them to their new home.
The inspiration for these commissioned pieces stemmed from a plein air painting trip to Mormon Row in Teton National Park. I was blown away by the fall color!
I started this painting with a simple sketch, reducing elements to large abstract shapes, thinking about placement, composition and how masses were going to read on a large scale.
Even the simplest sketch pays dividends acting as a road map through the entire painting process. It’s a reminder that a solid foundation always pays off on a large scale.
“The Gathering Grove” 36x36 Oil | Commission
2026 is off to an inspiring start here at the studio! Days are filled with developing ideas for the exhibition in May, filming for my online gouache course launching later this year, and intentionally prioritizing what really matters.
Thank you so much for being here!
Allie
