Early Morning
By Randy Wheeler
First in a three-part “Snow-Day” collection, this canvas records an unusually heavy snowfall on Patagonia’s eastern range—a day lit by magical color. Our ponchos trapped just enough warmth to keep us moving, though even the dogs shivered. Far behind the riders, a lone hunter’s cabin—the last warm place of the morning—marks our jump-off point.
Lucas led the ride while I trotted ahead to dash off a quick field sketch and a handful of reference photos. Capturing the lavender sky against blue-white drifts took three tries; pastels on linen finally delivered the softness and vibrancy the scene demanded. (Attempts one and two now rest in the studio waste bin.) The finished piece is framed under conservation glass.
We were hunting a rogue puma that had been raiding a neighbor’s livestock. The cat never showed itself, but the chase turned into an unforgettable adventure. My hope is that this first painting conveys the dawn-hour exuberance, while the third canvas in the series will reveal the bone-deep fatigue that followed.
