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Smoky Mountain Cascade Pass: Tennessee Waters, Colorado Light

There are some paintings that come together so naturally that they feel like they were meant to happen — and Smoky Mountain Cascade Pass is one of those pieces. I painted this 18×24 oil landscape during a Kevin Hill class in Clarksville, Tennessee, and from the moment the first layer of blue hit the canvas, I knew this one was going to carry a story with it.

Tennessee has always held a special place in my heart. Every time I visit, the people are warm, the scenery is rich, and the atmosphere feels like the Rockies… just dressed in a different mood. There’s a softness to the air, a brightness in the greens, and a comforting calm that settles in the moment you arrive. That feeling found its way into this painting from the very beginning.

Behind the Painting

The waterfall comes down through layered rock, spilling into a quiet pool framed by mossy cliffs and deep forest shadows. I loved capturing the moment where the water meets the light — that little glow you only get when sunlight filters through thick woods. The rustic timber bridge became a perfect anchor, a small detail that makes the entire scene feel like a place you could actually walk into.

As with many of my pieces created during Kevin Hill classes, I let the foundation follow his design while shaping the atmosphere in my own way. Kevin teaches such a clean, structured approach to waterfalls and wooded scenes, but he always leaves plenty of space for personal style. In this painting, I leaned into the softer, more atmospheric lighting that tends to show up in my Colorado landscapes — giving the Tennessee forest just a touch of that Rocky Mountain glow.

Why Tennessee Inspires Me

People often ask why I travel so far for art classes, and the answer is simple: Tennessee is beautiful. The Smoky Mountains have a way of reminding you how vast the world is, and yet how peaceful a quiet trail can be. Every workshop I’ve taken there gives me new ideas, new energy, and sometimes, like in this case, a painting that connects two places I love.

Smoky Mountain Cascade Pass blends the misty forest atmosphere of the Smokies with the color vibrancy and lighting I’ve grown comfortable with in Colorado. It feels like the best of both worlds — a shared landscape between two places that mean so much to me.

Technical Notes for Art Lovers

For those who enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at the techniques:

  • Canvas: 18×24 stretched canvas

  • Medium: Oils, wet-on-wet foundation with traditional detailing

  • Waterfall: Layered transparency + soft fan brush diffusion

  • Rocks: Knife texture for the cliff edges

  • Light: Glazing-style touches to warm the upper treeline

  • Bridge: Knife + liner brush combination for crisp texture

I wanted the water to feel alive but gentle — a cascading flow that’s present without overwhelming the painting. The bridge adds a subtle “story moment,” inviting the viewer in.

Available for Collectors

Smoky Mountain Cascade Pass is available as an original for $375, unframed, with free shipping in the lower 48.

If you love Tennessee, waterfalls, quiet forest scenes, or anything that feels like a peaceful escape, this might be the piece for you. It certainly brought me peace while painting it.


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