I began to contact local artists in the various trip destinations last fall about painting places and partners. Rob Goldberg at https://www.artstudioalaska.com/ was one of the 1st artist to respond. Rob said, “I’ve traveled all over Alaska and haven’t found any place more beautiful than Haines – just pitch your other plans and stay here for all 5 months!”

Rob is correct about one thing – Haines is definitely beautiful! It’s the first community in Alaska that we visited that one can actually drive to – or away from! On a long peninsula, between the Chilkat and Chilcoot Inlets, there’s plenty of scenic beauty – tall mountain peaks, sea and fresh water rivers and lakes and lots of artists to interpret it! You can see some of our pictures of the area in the albums called 06-11 Haines and 06-12 Haines at right.

Amazingly, Rob, his son and visiting parents, were on the same ferry from Juneau. He shared with me the best local restaurant, a must not miss visit to Steve’s Kroschel’s Wildlife Center, and lots of suggestions of where to paint. The next evening, Rob and his son had missed a connection to get back to their home, following a community meeting and came knocking on our door.  After chatting for a while, we offered to take them home – and got a great personal tour of the peninsula as we did it!

As we headed towards Chilkat State Park, Rob mentioned that “What I love about living here the most is not the scenery – although it’s great – but the 80 close friends and neighbors nestled back from this road.” So, of course, as we passed the home of another local artist, Rod Weagant, whose site is at  https://www.weagantartgallery.com/ and saw Rod outside and we stopped. Rod is a plein air painter and I made arrangements to meet on Saturday at one of his favorite painting places. A fast painter – Rod completed 4 pieces to my 2. But, it was such a geat place that I went back after dinner to paint the sunset – which happened about 10:45pm. Thank you, Rob for helping me make the connection!