"The Accidental Artist in Backcountry Magazine"

This past weekend I went on a little trip south. While heading to the mountain home, I had a chat with a nice feller in Vermont. Tyler Cohen was his name and he was wanting to write an article for Backcountry Magazine. It was to be a promotional piece about the last round of G3's Skigraphiks Contest. As I drove out of Delta, CO toward Montrose, we chatted about the how I came up with my design, what inspired me, how and why I entered the contest and so on... http://www.backcountrymagazine.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=684&Itemid=5

Of course, you can read all the details in post from last month! 

http://nolasvoboda-accidentalartist.blogspot.com/2011/11/compound-of-enlightenment.html

"Nola Svoboda Wins Skigraphiks Round 3"

Thank you to all who rooted for my top sheet design!!!

The announcement was officially made on Genuine Guide Gear's blog on December 8, 2011! http://www.genuineguidegear.com/life/blog/g3/nola-svoboda-wins-skigraphiks-round-3

My design, "Compound of Enlightenment" for the ZenOxide ski, "was one of the most popular among viewers on the contest site, was the favorite of BentGate.com staffers, the co-sponsor of the third segment of the competition, and also deemed the best design by a panel of G3 judges." In winning round three of the contest I, "will take home a free pair of the skis and a limited number will be available for pre-order exclusively" at Bent Gate Mountaineering in Golden, CO
http://www.bentgate.com/g3-zenoxide-bg.html.

"Compound of Enlightenment"

Time again for another round of Genuine Guide Gear's Skigraphiks contest to wrap up. Round three goes to their backcountry favorite, the ZenOxide. Being the literal thinker I am, I worked to combine my understanding of the definition of the word "Zen" and the word "Oxide." Thus creating an image based off of my personal interpretation of my definition of "ZenOxide."

ZenOxide:

1: A binary compound of Oxygen with Meditation and Intuition, emphasizing experiential Wisdom in the attainment of Enlightenment.

In thinking about this definition, I imagined an environment where I experience the most of my intuition and feel enlightened (possibly due to the lack of oxygen high in the Colorado Rockies!)  I incorporated images of mountains to identify the place and gave them a reflection because I believe that to achieve wisdom, one must first reflect upon the past. When looking out across the vast dynamic mountains, I reflect upon the journey (however short or long in time) that got me to that place. All of my senses powdered my intuition which lead to my decisions along the way. As I am there, I feel an overwhelming sense of peace and excitement. All the things going on in my life quickly fade away and I come to a realization that in that moment, non of it matters. I feel a huge accomplishment as well as a sense that I am very small in comparison to the world around me. I do believe, that in that moment, I achieve an even greater wisdom.

Oxidation is most often seen with metal or wood, and I chose an image of oxidized metal as my background because my favorite mountains are mined for their precious minerals and metals. Everywhere you go, they show signs of the mining and the oxidation that has come over the years. Oxidation is a representation of all of the forces, man-made or provided by nature that age us and wear us down throughout life. Though this process is constantly happening, we achieve various forms of Zen, and we persevere. G3 always portrays the ZenOxide ski with the Japanese symbol that represents "Zen." I thought to incorporate other images of Japanese heritage to the piece to help bring the image as a whole together. Finally I chose to use a stamped metal font for the name of the ski to reinforce the metal background. The Zen circle encompasses the name of both the ski and the Genuine Guide Gear logo as a reminder that anyone can attain a state of ZenOxide.

To vote for my design and check out the many other fantastic designs, click here! G3 Skigraphils - Compound of Enlightenment

"Bernard Of Menthon"

I'm back at it again! Time for round two of Genuine Guide Gear's Skigraphiks Contest. This round goes to Backcountry Magazine Editor's Choice 2012 ski in the "Mountaineering" category, the G3 Saint. Congrats to G3 for winning this fantastic award!

Now I shall tell you a little about how I came about my design! I wanted to stray away from the cliche images associated with the term "Saint," cathederals, statues, Renaissance-esque artwork, etc. As I thought about it, I remembered some images I had seen of "Patron Saints of Graphic Design." I thought, well heck, there must be a Patron Saint of Snow, or Skiing or some Saint along those lines. Low and behold I found him! His name was Bernard of Menthon. And through my research about him, turns out he was a pretty awesome feller and most of us don't actually know who he is, but we do  know of him! He will forever be commemorated in the form of a massive, docile, gentle beast of a pup known as the St. Bernard! And thus the idea of my design was simple, straight to the point and off I went! To vote for my design and check out the many other fantastic designs, click here! G3 Skigraphiks Saint

©nolasvoboda•accidentalartist

A summed up version of Saint Bernard, the Patron Saint of Skiers and Alpinists goes a little something like this:

There is a path across the Pennine Alps leading from the valley of Aosta to the Swiss canton of Valais. This pass is constantly covered with snow seven to eight feet deep, and drifts sometimes accumulate to the height of forty feet. Although the pass was extremely dangerous, especially in the springtime on account of avalanches, it was often used by French and German pilgrims on their way to Rome. Bernard of Menthon (Bernard of Montjoux 923-1008) founded a monastery and hospice at the highest point of the pass in the year 962, and the pass came to bear his name. A few years later he established another hospice on the Little St. Bernard Pass, a mountain saddle in the Graian Alps. These hospices were renowned for the generous hospitality extended to all travelers over the Great and Little St. Bernard. Heroic monks accompanied by their well-trained dogs went out in search of victims who might have succumbed to the severity of the weather. They offered food, clothing, and shelter to the unfortunate travelers and took care of the dead.

History shows how Bernard saved the lives of scores of travelers who had fallen victim of avalanche, exposure and other mountain hazards. Bernard was canonized and further honored in the late 1800's when European dog owners renamed the Alpine Mastiff, known for it's endurance and capabilities in high altitude rescue, the Saint Bernard. Today Saint Bernard is known as "The Patron Saint of Skiers and Alpinists."

Looking At You Now, Gives Me The Sneffels!"

Two weeks ago, Sunday, I sat atop my final 14er of 2011, a 14er I had marveled at from afar for years. I can't help but stare at it's dynamic northern face as I drive over Dallas Divide on my way to Telluride. This past weekend, I had another chance to gawk at the mountain I had just sat on top of two weeks prior. I pulled off the highway and stood reminiscing in the freezing temps as little dust flakes of snow blew around me. I couldn't believe how much the mountain had changed in two weeks time. A week prior to climbing, it had snowed quite heavily on the peak, but when I was there it might as well had been a balmy summer day. Its apparent the the high peaks of Colorado don't get to experience certain seasons. Although I was up there the first weekend of fall, fall at 14,150' on Mt. Sneffels doesn't last. Ullr casts his wintery spell, takes hold and doesn't let go till summer.

10.9.11 Mt. Sneffels 14,150'

This weekend, another little get-a-way drive to the Telluride area, was not the typical summer adventure/workout that had been consuming my summer weekends. It turned into more of a relaxing trip to a tiny little town in SW Colorado where my Pops recently purchased a mountain home (his future retirement home). I am lucky kid that gets to stay and play and take care of the place till that day comes some many years from now. The drive to this town I know very well from my travels. I'd go back and forth from Grand Junction to Farmington, NM for the holidays, stopping and skiing at Telluride Mountain Resort along the way. I also had a season pass all through college...which I'll just say, placed me in the area quite frequently =) Though I had been through this tiny little town many times, it is so small that I never found a reason to stop and peruse around (except to grab some crappy snacks at the little Mountain Top gas station). Now I have a home that sits just above the only gas station in town!

The front

The back

Morning looking out from the front deck

Morning looking out from the front deck

From the deck looking West

Well now that I've yammered on about my new mountain home, I'll go back two weeks to September 25, 2011. To that climb to the top of Mt. Sneffels when fall was still fall.

Warming in the morning with the Peace Pit, at the lower parking area

Attempting to bike up to the main trailhead in the early morning light

Time to park the bikes at head on up, up, up!

The gates of hell, to heaven

The first major up

The Wilson Peaks coming into view

From the saddle between the two couloirs

Lizard Head in the distance

Looking up the next big climb from the saddle

Looking back down

At the top of the couloir, looking North

The "V Notch" you have to climb through to get to the top

View looking West, the Blue Lakes below

Looking South at Telluride

Looking back down on Yankee Boy Basin

Oh yes, I planked it on top!

The colors from our drive back down into Ouray

"HEADLINES"

Discovered another chance to win something fun! Genuine Guide Gear's Skigraphiks contest is back for another season. The first ski on the list is the new freestyle ski, the Highball. Thought I'd take another chance win a pair of skis and throw out a design idea I have been playing around with for a long long time! What a great opportunity for designers to get their design onto the top sheet of a ski!

You can check out and vote for my design as well as the many other fantastic designs here: http://www.g3skigraphiks.com/view/entry/headlines

©nolasvoboda•accidentalartist

"In Lieu Of Ski Season..."

The quickest way to plant a face.

©nolasvoboda•accidentalartist

Um...Hello?"

I know I know, I haven't been keeping up on things. I also haven't had much chance to get artistic. Seeing as how I haven't posted anything this month, I better get one up today! I guess this post is going to be a bit of an update and explanation as to where I've been and what I've been doing!

The past month and some I have been off on adventures of varying sorts. Two adventures that have taken me to the top of six of the tallest mountains in Colorado, and have left me in a state of exhaustion and much needed R&R...not to mention needing to catch up on the daily around the house stuff. The time in between my various summer adventures has been filled with doing...stuff.

Two years ago my friend and I made a pack to summit all (we'll see how that actually goes) of Colorado's 14ers TOGETHER. In order to to this in our capable of still being active lifetime (mid 50s we hope), we should attempt to do three of them each year. Last year (2010) was a complete failure. My friend tore her ACL mountain biking the week before our first climb. All climbs had to be put off.

This summer's mission: To make up for last year AND bag this years and summit six of Colorado's 14,000 ft. peaks. Oh and to take Which Wich bags to the top of every one so we can get free Which Wich sandwiches! In a span of only two trips, the mission was a success!

Peak #1: July 30, 2011 Mt. Shavano 14,229 ft.

Started out at 5:00 AM in the dark.

Met some new friends!

The Angel of Shavano straight ahead.

Nearing the summit.

Tada!

 

 

Colorado coozies I made for my adventures! They had to be properly initiated into Colorado-ness!

Seeing as we pulled into the trailhead at dark and started hiking in the dark, we didn't quite know what we were climbing...it was that point in the middle!

A view from the top of Mt. Shavano from the GoPro!


"THE MOSQUITO SLAM!" In one weekend!

#2 Mt. Sherman 14,036 ft. August 13, 2011

The sun is coming up!

Early morning reflection.

Crossing a snow field...I love snow!

Almost to the top!

This was the EASIEST mountain to climb EVER!

Photo op with the Which Wich bag and Sherman's iconic American flag.

Looking down the ridge toward Mt. Elbert

The view of Leadville, Mt. Elbert, Mt. Massive and Turquoise Lake

Sherman had some pretty neato mines along the way!

 (Due to the threat of weather and attempting to summit four peaks in one day, we didn't stop to take nearly as many pics...here are the best of the rest!) 

Photos from Kite Lake Trailhead the year before.

We explored the area on our bikes last year!

Were the trail splits and loops.

Strange to look back from last year and believe I was just up there!

 #3 Mt. Democrat 14, 148 ft. August 14, 2011

Climbing up from the saddle after the climb out of the valley below. It smelled like snow the whole day!

COLD and not awake yet, but we made it haha!

Pretty proud!

Great view of Climax Mine outside of Leadville.

Looking across to the next three mountains to climb.

Going back down Democrat and on to Cameron.

#4 Mt. Cameron 14, 238 ft. August 14, 2011

Cameron was #2 on the list...and the 2nd hardest to climb!

Wasn't a whole lot to be excited bout on Cameron...but good place for a photo op!

#5 Mt. Lincoln 14, 286 ft. August 14, 2011

A point where I stopped and said, "I could ski down that..."

This peak actually had a marker!

Another photo op! The tallest and coolest peak of them all!

She's gettin a little hungry...

Feelin good!

Looking back at Cameron and Democrat

 #6 Mt. Bross 14, 172 ft. August 14, 2011

Below Cameron, between Lincoln and Bross.

Clearly deviant!

Last one...thank the stars!

Goof.

I became a rockstar!

Mt. Democrat, from bottom to top!

Sliding down to the trailhead.

Kite Lake and the valley.

Halfway down, the clouds came rollin in!

Well, there you have it. The adventures that have kept me so busy and away from pens and paper and computers and other creative stuff in my off work time! As fall creeps in and things slow down, I'm sure all of these adventures will inspire new creativity, and the juices will flow once again!