Blue Ridge Inspiration

© Annette Bartlett-Golden, Blue Ridge Mountains. Oil on canvas, 8 by 10 inches. $150. 

Blue Ridge Inspiration
By Annette Bartlett-Golden

Bluish rows of gently rounded ridge tops marching into the distance – these are the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. The simplicity and scale of this ancient mountain chain worn down over eons and rising no more than 7000 feet (2100 meters) above sea level are part of their great beauty and appeal.  Some of the fun of the Carolina Mountains Literary Festival for me was a chance to visit the Blue Ridge again, which I have found to be a fountain of inspiration for paintings. While the site of the festival was the small mountain town of Burnsville, there are many more scenic views visible from the Blue Ridge Parkway and I was delighted that my friend took us on a part of it after the festival.  Of course, I also wanted to share some of those scenes in paintings so I made sure to take lots of photos.  Look for new mountain paintings soon!

Here I am taking a photo on the Blue Ridge Parkway for painting ideas. Photo taken by Tanya Gold.