This is The Iconic View in NZ. We are so fortunate that we have our greatest and most scenic mountain able to be viewed from this beautiful lake as you drive past. Many celebrated mountains are difficult to access and often nearly impossible to photograph. Not so Mt. Cook. Because of this, there must be millions of photos of this peak all around the world. Even so, I cannot resist stopping and photographing or painting it again every time I pass.
Sometimes I work from the carpark beside the information centre. This time I went up the road at the side of the lake and found a nice position in a layby. I remember that when I began I was alone and had it all to myself. By the time I had finished, there was a tour bus and several camper vans and cars pulled alongside!
The little panel I painted that day is in gallery one. Oil on canvas. Composed and painted in the studio.
