17 Paintings of Parks to Be Proud Of

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17 Paintings of National Parks to Be Proud Of
By Matthias Anderson

With summer in full swing, we opted to focus on the remarkable parks and historic sites that grace the United States.

Since 1872, our National Park System has grown from a single site (Yellowstone National Park) to include more than 415 natural, historical, recreational, and cultural areas throughout the U.S. and its territories. They now encompass not only national parks, but also national monuments, memorials, military parks, historic sites, parkways, recreation areas, seashores, scenic riverways, and scenic trails.

The U.S. was the first country to develop such a program, and it has subsequently been complemented by thousands of sites designated and operated by states, counties, cities, and other jurisdictions.

The attendance figures at America’s national parks are nothing less than staggering. In 2019, California’s Golden Gate National Recreation Area welcomed 15 million people; the Blue Ridge Parkway 14.9 million; the Great Smoky Mountains National Park 12.5 million; New York and New Jersey’s Gateway National Recreation Area 9.4 million; the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., 7.8 million; and so on.

Of course, when we say “national park,” many of us conjure up spectacularly picturesque sites in the West: Grand Canyon National Park had 5.7 million visitors last year; Rocky Mountain National Park 4.7 million; Zion National Park 4.5 million; Yosemite National Park 4.5 million; Yellowstone National Park 4 million; Grand Teton National Park 3.4 million; and Glacier National Park 3 million.

Illustrated here is a medley of artworks made in — and in homage to — some of these beloved sites. In their captions we have indicated which park or site the artist was admiring that day, and now we encourage you to visit your own favorites.

The Grand Canyon

Paintings of National Parks
Amery Bohling, (b. 1976), “Virga Showers,” [Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona], 2019, oil on linen, 29 x 36 in., private collection
Paintings of National Parks - Grand Canyon
Lyn Boyer (b. 1952), “Our Better Angels,” [Grand Canyon National Park] 2019, oil on linen, 30 x 40 in., private collection

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

Paintings of National Parks - Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park
John Buxton (b. 1939), “Great Falls of the Passaic,” [Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, New Jersey], 2013, oil on linen, 56 x 35 in., private collection

Canyon de Chelly National Monument

Ken Daggett (b. 1953), "Spider Rock," [Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona], oil on canvas, 40 x 30 in., Meyer Gallery, Santa Fe
Ken Daggett (b. 1953), “Spider Rock,” [Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona], oil on canvas, 40 x 30 in., Meyer Gallery, Santa Fe

Yosemite National Park

Paintings of Yosemite
Gil Dellinger (b. 1942), “Yosemite Falls,” [Yosemite National Park, California], 2019, acrylic on canvas, 84 x 48 in., St. Joseph’s Hospital, Stockton, California

Denali National Park & Preserve

Veryl Goodnight (b. 1947), "Under the Spell of Denali," [Denali National Park & Preserve, Alaska], 2019, oil on linen, 30 x 48 in., Veryl Goodnight Gallery (Mancos, Colorado)
Veryl Goodnight (b. 1947), “Under the Spell of Denali,” [Denali National Park & Preserve, Alaska], 2019, oil on linen, 30 x 48 in., Veryl Goodnight Gallery (Mancos, Colorado)

Big Bend National Park

Sarah Harless (b. 1984), "Alpine," [Big Bend National Park, Texas], 2019, pastel on board, 6 x 8 in., available from the artist
Sarah Harless (b. 1984), “Alpine,” [Big Bend National Park, Texas], 2019, pastel on board, 6 x 8 in., available from the artist

Sapelo Island

Catherine Hillis (b. 1953), "Sapelo Island Range Front Light," [Sapelo Island, Georgia], watercolor on paper, 14 x 11 in., collection of the artist
Catherine Hillis (b. 1953), “Sapelo Island Range Front Light,” [Sapelo Island, Georgia], watercolor on paper, 14 x 11 in., collection of the artist

Grand Teton National Park

Paintings of Grand Teton National Park
Peggy Immel (b. 1943), “Daybreak,” [Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming], 2019, oil on linen, 16 x 20 in., private collection
September Vhay (b. 1968), "Levitate," [Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming], 2017, oil on linen, 18 x 27 in., private collection
September Vhay (b. 1968), “Levitate,” [Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming], 2017, oil on linen, 18 x 27 in., private collection
John Hughes (b. 1949), "Reflections of Morning," [Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming], 2015, oil on panel, 16 x 28 in., private collection
John Hughes (b. 1949), “Reflections of Morning,” [Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming], 2015, oil on panel, 16 x 28 in., private collection

Assateague Island National Seashore

Kirk McBride (b. 1952), "Small Waves at Sunrise," [Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland/Virginia], 2015, oil on canvas, 24 x 48 in., private collection
Kirk McBride (b. 1952), “Small Waves at Sunrise,” [Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland/Virginia], 2015, oil on canvas, 24 x 48 in., private collection

Glacier National Park

Paintings of Glacier National Park
Ned Mueller (b. 1940), “Rocks of Ages,” [Glacier National Park, Montana], 2012, oil on linen panel, 11 x 14 in., private collection

Mesa Verde National Park

Robert Peters (b. 1960), "Ancestral Cliffs," [Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado], 2009, oil on linen, 30 x 44 in., private collection
Robert Peters (b. 1960), “Ancestral Cliffs,” [Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado], 2009, oil on linen, 30 x 44 in., private collection

Everglades National Park

Kent Sullivan (b. 1952), "Silent Path," [Everglades National Park, Florida], 2017, oil on canvas, 24 x 36 in., private collection
Kent Sullivan (b. 1952), “Silent Path,” [Everglades National Park, Florida], 2017, oil on canvas, 24 x 36 in., private collection

Yellowstone National Park

Paintings of Yellowstone National Park
Kathryn Mapes Turner (b. 1971), “Mammoth Springs,” [Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming/Montana/Idaho], 2018, oil on board, 9 x 12 in., private collection

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

John Caggiano (b. 1949), "Sleepy Dunes," [Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan], 2019, oil on linen panel, 12 x 24 in., available from the artist
John Caggiano (b. 1949), “Sleepy Dunes,” [Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan], 2019, oil on linen panel, 12 x 24 in., available from the artist

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1 COMMENT

  1. These paintings are so inspirational. Having visited some of the parks several times and thinking of the views the artists portrayed, I realize that every moment is a different view. And, every artist portrays them in a different way. Amazing and so motivational.

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