From the original Watercolour and Charcoal "Gilded Winter"

Paradise Valley in Banff National Park is one of our favourite ski routes which we attempt every December. At that time of year the weather can be brutal, daylight hours are short, and there is no track yet so we break trail to (try for) the end of the valley. Sometimes the light is dull and for me as a painter, not super-inspiring. Sometimes though the sun slips out from behind Mt. Temple and briefly drenches the valley in light, gilding the creek and snow-loaded alpine fir before disappearing around 3:15 p.m. An avalanche, heard before it is seen, leaves its signature spindrift hanging in the crisp winter air - like lingering smoke after fireworks - a visual echo. These are the moments of light and spectacle I live for and hope to share with viewers.

I have used charcoal here to represent the contrast between the black and white winter landscape and watercolour to portray golden light breaking through the forest to colour the open water.