Three Creative Journeys: Mike Koloski, Mary Edwards, & Leslie LeViner

Fine art, oil, and photograph exhibit featuring three of Wallowa County’s finest artists over the past few decades.

Artist Preface

Last January when I received the invitation to participate in an art show with renowned local painters Mike Koloski and Leslie LeViner, I knew it would be a rare and special opportunity.  Covid 19 wasn’t a part of our daily lexicon then, and the prospects for a creative collaboration with these two artists was just the spark of light I needed in the dark of winter. However once the pandemic turned life upsidedown for our entire planet I began to seriously question the point of having an art show when so many were suffering and dying. It seemed a fruitless endeavor, fraught with ethical and spiritual considerations. How could we go forward safely? What might that look like? After our first conference call and upon hearing the many creative ideas for the show from Leslie and Mike, the motivation to move forward became clear, even though the details of how to manifest it were still a bit sketchy. Even in our darkest moments, to engage in the creative process is a salve to the soul and it lays the foundation from which hope may find root. So take a virtual tour, bathe yourself in LeViner light and listen for the song of the river in the quiet calm of a Koloski painting. Can you hear it? I can.
-Mary Edwards

Virtual Exhibit

shopping_cart $450 The world of reflection takes many forms and those found in the timeless curves of vintage cars are some of my favorites. The past and present blend and stretch together creating a new reality. This piece won a first place award at the Wallowa Valley Festival of Art in 2007. Mary Edwards Buick Eight NFS In Appalachia, where I was born and raised to adulthood, tectonic forces through millennia heaved up a mountain chain comparable to the present day Rockies. Yet when I visit my childhood swimming hole on Ohio’s Sunfish Creek any hint of mountains is worn and buried beneath a thick layer of humus, groundcover, shrubs, and hardwood forest. Mike Koloski Appalachia shopping_cart $1,600 It had been a hot, dry August when a thunderstorm came in and then turned into a gentle rain for several hours. The horses really appeared to appreciate it. Leslie LeViner Refreshing August Rain shopping_cart $450
Reproductions Available Wind, rain, hail, and snow, were all constituents of this advancing storm. This atmospheric drama played out for several hours and sent me running for the safety of my truck more than once. This composition was shot from atop Steptoe Butte, another fascinating feature of the Palouse landscape. Steptoe Butte is a quartzite island jutting out of the silty deposits of Palouse loess. The rock formation is around 400 million years old, considerably older than the relatively "youthful" deposits of the Columbia River Basalt eruptions, 7-15 million years ago. Mary Edwards Steptoe Storm shopping_cart $225 There are many motivations that inspire one to press the shutter; a beautiful landscape, the elements of light and shadow on a particular object or scene, to capture a moment, a feeling, an emotion, to tell a story, and more. Documentation, a silent partner in most of these motivations, was for me, the first motivation to
click the shutter. At the age of ten, armed with the magic of a polaroid camera and my desire to document this “ancient” structure, pressing the shutter became a life long adventure. Mary Edwards Sand River- Death Valley shopping_cart $1,750 This painting won the “Equine Images” publisher’s award at the American Academy of Equine Art’s annual show. The lighting inspiration came from a photo I took of my cows eating hay at sunrise on a winter morning. The images of the Native Americans were from some tiny old historical photos, and I had to use a magnifying glass to get any detail at all. Leslie LeViner Rendezvous at Sunrise shopping_cart $1,750 This painting won the “Equine Images” publisher’s award at the American Academy of Equine Art’s annual show. The lighting inspiration came from a photo I took of my cows eating hay at sunrise on a winter morning. The images of the Native Americans were from some tiny old historical photos, and I had to use a magnifying glass to get any detail at all. Leslie LeViner At The Seashore NFS
Reproductions Available The Lostine River is all about transformation. It’s flowing waters cut deep through the granite that forms its bedrock. The Lostine essentially creates art through water eroding rock. The resulting beauty is so powerful that I have been compelled to paint it time after time. Mike Koloski Lostine River At Pole Bridge shopping_cart $225 The world of reflection takes many forms and those found in the timeless curves of vintage cars are some of my favorites. The past and present blend and stretch together creating a new reality. This piece won a first place award at the Wallowa Valley Festival of Art in 2003. Mary Edwards Reflections In Time shopping_cart $350 This quick little plein air study is a good example of how Sparky contributed to my seeing the complexity of the different sources of light. While Sparky is a white pony, he actually is a warm, golden yellow “white.” The planes that face the early morning sun take on the warm golden glow. The planes that are in shadow take on a cooler color and darker value. However, the shadow color on Sparky’s neck is reflecting the warm, lighter color on his chest and legs, therefore the shadow color is warmer and lighter in value than his cooler, darker shadows are. Leslie LeViner Sparky Summer Grass NFS
Reproductions Available Now here’s a Rock! Magnificent Mount Robson is the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. And it seems to be proud of it! Even the beautiful lush forest in the foreground fails to provide the intended counterpoint to its massive presence. Artistically I was really beating my head against a rock. Mike Koloski Mount Robson NFS This little en plein air sketch was done on a hot August evening when there was some smoke in the atmosphere. I had fed them some hay so they would hold still long enough to capture their likeness. Fortunately, something caught their attention long enough to get their attention long enough to get the value shapes and color notes on canvas before they resumed eating. And, of course, being an artist who loves color, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to push the warm glow of the setting sun. Leslie LeViner Sparky & Dixie Sunset Affect shopping_cart $ 1,200 Earth is a rocky planet. But it is also a planet with water. As we have seen in other paintings, rock and water are in a constant struggle. Nowhere is it this more evident than on the coast of the Pacific Northwest. This huge rock near Brookings Oregon seems marooned and abandoned. We do not see the rest of the formation that it was once a part of. The force of the Pacific Ocean has seen to that. Mike Koloski Seastack- Brookings shopping_cart $450 An ocean of sensual earthen waves, the Palouse Prairie was formed primarily during the ice ages, but its foundation lies in the layers and layers of molten lava from the Columbia River Basalt eruptions. Glacial advances and retreats, massive floods from collapsing ancient ice dams and wind, all worked to sculpt this landscape. Wind, in particular, contributed to the sensual sculpting and wave like expression of the land and played a major role in depositing the rich soil of the Palouse, known as loess.

Prior to the first stab of the plow blade into the fertile mantle of this landscape, it was home to an amazingly diverse prairie of perennial grasses and wildlife. Perennial being the operative word, today, nearly all of the Palouse Prairie is planted in agricultural crops. The native prairie is one of the most endangered ecosystems in the United States, with little more than one percent of the original prairie still in existence. Mary Edwards Palouse Waves shopping_cart $350 This quick little plein air study is a good example of how Sparky contributed to my seeing the complexity of the different sources of light. While Sparky is a white pony, he actually is a warm, golden yellow “white.” The planes that face the early morning sun take on the warm golden glow. The planes that are in shadow take on a cooler color and darker value. However, the shadow color on Sparky’s neck is reflecting the warm, lighter color on his chest and legs, therefore the shadow color is warmer and lighter in value than his cooler, darker shadows are. Leslie LeViner Sparky Winter Evening Light NFS Here’s a little painting of some big mountains. Colorado once called itself “The Rocky Mountain State”. Be that as it may, Idaho has plenty of mountains too. This view of the Sawtooths on the way to Sun Valley shows some of its rugged peaks. Ahhh – so many rocks – so little time. Mike Koloski Sawtooth Range shopping_cart $350 A great example of the glowing late afternoon sun and how it affects all the different “whites” of this little painting. Leslie LeViner Sparky & Dixie Winter Dinner shopping_cart $75 This view, my favorite view, no matter the road ahead or what trails behind. She steadies my faultering gaite, lifts my spirit and cleans my tear stained cheeks when life deals out its worst. This view, my favorite view, eagerly looking into the future, unconcerned by the curves of life. Mary Edwards Objects in the Mirror I shopping_cart $75 This view, my favorite view, no matter the road ahead or what trails behind. She steadies my faultering gaite, lifts my spirit and cleans my tear stained cheeks when life deals out its worst. This view, my favorite view, eagerly looking into the future, unconcerned by the curves of life. Mary Edwards Objects in the Mirror II shopping_cart $75 This view, my favorite view, no matter the road ahead or what trails behind. She steadies my faultering gaite, lifts my spirit and cleans my tear stained cheeks when life deals out its worst. This view, my favorite view, eagerly looking into the future, unconcerned by the curves of life. Mary Edwards Objects in the Mirror III shopping_cart $650 This was a “Monet Monday” painting that I painted on Wednesday, April 7th, 2010 in the morning with a few of my fellow plein air artists. In 2011 it was selected as the poster art for the Wallowa Valley Festival of Art. Leslie LeViner Spring Below Mount Joseph shopping_cart $1,600 This is a view from the east side of Baker Valley looking at the Elkhorn Mountains in the Rock Creek area. I definitely had to use the old fence and gates in the foreground. Leslie LeViner Summer Across Baker Valley shopping_cart $450
Reproductions Available I have photographed this barn many times over the years, a familiar encounter when wandering the Zumwalt Prairie. Her posture, like a horse squared back on her haunches, steadfast in refusal; coaxing will not change her direction. I think about the time of her building; hot breathless days filled with meaty swearing when hammer struck not the nail. Slivered hands deliver the dream into reality. The contract between commitment and hope, struck with each nail. Bowing to time, the dream lists precariously now. How long before a howling Wallowa wind claims her?

Named for its location on the Zumwalt Prairie road, which used to be the old road traveler’s took from Joseph to Imnaha. It was “midway” between Joseph and Imnaha, and at one time served as a livery stable for stock and had a small inn for travelers. Sadly, not long after I took this photograph, a howling Wallowa wind claimed her. Mary Edwards The Midway Barn shopping_cart $500 Fresh snow had fallen the night before and the next morning was very cold with bright sunshine. I jumped into my old Chevy truck with my painting gear and headed over to my neighbor’s pasture. He always fed his cows in the afternoon, so I knew his cows would be standing around waiting to be fed. What I didn’t know was how very cold it was. I was really excited to have such great models, bright sunlight, direct and reflective light bouncing everywhere, and stunningly beautiful ‘cast shadows’ reflecting the deep blue of the cold sky above. After getting the cows and the mountains painted, I realized how really cold I was getting, and how stiff the paint was, especially the white. I was chilled to the bone! “Oh, what we plein air painters endure to get a nifty little painting. Leslie LeViner Sunny & 10 Degrees shopping_cart $550 This is just before sunrise as the July full moon is setting behind Twin Peaks. A lot of my favorite elements come together in this painting, including the patterns of hayfields, mountains, and unique lighting. Leslie LeViner Twin Peaks Moonset & Haystacks shopping_cart $650 This was originally going to be a plein air painting of the old cottonwood on a grey day. However, I couldn’t resist what was going on with two mares and Sparky in the foreground. I love how Sparky’s color and character just pops! Leslie LeViner What About Me shopping_cart $350 These are 900/1000 lb. bales, which make for rather imposing shapes. Because I painted this at dawn on a warm early July morning, there is a colorful glow created by the accompanying dust and haze in the atmosphere. The pinks and violets make for beautiful complements to the greens in this scene. Leslie LeViner Big Bales At Dawn NFS
Reproductions Available Earth is a rocky planet. Unlike the gas giants, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, Earth is solid rock. (At least when it’s not molten rock). I find it, then, no surprise that rock and rocks are common artistic elements in my work. This is one of my favorites. A gathering of rocks on a hillside bathed by the last of Winter’s light standing ready for the Spring that has always come. Mike Koloski Rock Art shopping_cart $650 Of course it had to snow on our “Monet Monday” painting group, but I stood under the shed roof of the barn and painted this scene. I love the contrast of the warm golds and browns with the cool greys of the background. Leslie LeViner Breakfast In The Snow NFS This is a mid-October day when the fall colors were at their peak along Hurricane Creek. To top that off, it was lightly raining so the colors were even more intense. I even had the luxury of standing out of the rain under the shed roof of the barn. While I was busy getting the composition and color notes on the canvas along comes my favorite old whitetail “Bucky” and a couple friends. I was able to get a couple photos before they sauntered on. Leslie LeViner Bucky of Quail Run Ranch NFS This is a painting of Katie, Kodi, Sparky and Tiny coming in from the west pasture on an early June evening. The iris in full bloom, the grass a lush green, and the warm evening light made a perfect setting for this composition at our Haines ranch. The Elkhorn Mountains have gone into shadow, so they take on the famous “blue mountain” hue. Leslie LeViner Changing Pastures NFS
Reproductions Available This painting won first place in the WVFA 2009 En Plein Air event. I went out about 4 a.m. to be ready for the sunrise light to hit the “Eagle Tree”, which it did precisely on cue at 5 a.m.. As the thunderhead cloud in the distance came over the top of me, I only had a few moments to get my painting and palette in the truck before it opened up and just poured! My abandoned easel filled full of rainwater, but I was dry in the truck. Another perk of being in the truck was that I found myself painting to the rhythm of the pouring rain, which helped me paint faster to complete this painting, frame it, and drive it to the WVFA plein air event and hang it. All by 10 a.m.! Leslie LeViner Eagle Tree Shining shopping_cart $375 Light and shadow on the landscape and the transformative story it reveals, then and now, are strong motivations to click the shutter. These are the landscapes that inspired me in my youth. Mary Edwards Lone Pine Peak- Death Valley shopping_cart $1,125 This is a painting of one of the largest old cottonwoods on Hurricane Creek with my favorite view of Ruby Peak. I just had to try to capture the moment when the sunrise is just touching the top branches of the old tree – which is a favorite perch for bald eagles. Leslie LeViner Eagle Tree Winter Sunrise shopping_cart $2,700 This was an overly large, ambitious plein air painting that I tackled over the course of a couple days on location, and finished in the studio. The evening light, the snow patterns, and the grandeur of Mount Joseph are what I was inspired to capture on this huge canvas. Leslie LeViner Early June Evening Mount Joseph shopping_cart $575 We had just bought these three ewes who were in dire need of shearing, so I had to hurry to get this sketch done. I had Kodi, about 4-1/2 years old at the time, keep their attention with a bucket of grain, which she gave them a little at a time. They got sheared the next day, and a couple weeks later, they had three little lambs. Leslie LeViner Ewes Three shopping_cart $350 This was a quick little plein air sketch that I did on an overcast afternoon. I used it to do a larger studio painting which sold immediately upon putting it in the gallery. Leslie LeViner February Calves shopping_cart $900 Rock is about formation and transformation. In general, very powerful forces of gravity, heat, pressure, and time order and form Earth’s rock on a planetary scale. Additional forces ranging from titanic to microscopic constantly transform that rock. Even life, which is no more than a thin scum on the surface of Earth, can cause transformation. See how it works to fracture and organically modify this substantial outcropping of volcanic basalt in the Imnaha Canyon. Mike Koloski Rock Of Ages shopping_cart $450 Equal forces of light and dark carve the ridges to reveal their form. Mary Edwards Imnaha NFS The models are Donna, Beau, Sparky, Junior and Dixie and the old cottonwood covered in frost. A cold winter morning and good hay makes it easy to capture the scene, as the horses are very still. My original intention was to paint a foggy, tonal composition, but as I was getting the composition on the canvas, to my surprise, the fog burned off and out came the sun. Beautiful! And warmer, too. Leslie LeViner Frosty Morning Breakfast shopping_cart $375 The Hurricane, home to calamitous movements of land, snow, fire and wind; the mischief of this canyon is shrouded in the soft advance of a coming storm. The ferocity of wind in this valley, along with age, continues to claim icons of the past. Mary Edwards The Hurricane NFS As I said; I am compelled to paint it time after time. Mike Koloski Lostine River Vignette #3 NFS It had been a hot, dry August when a thunderstorm came in and then turned into a gentle rain for several hours. The horses really appeared to appreciate it. Leslie LeViner Gentle Snow NFS
Reproductions Available We had about a week of winter fog which built up a lot of hoarfrost on everything. This is a painting of a magical winter scene just after sunrise, with the sun just touching the tops of the foreground trees as well as the background mountains. This is a good example of how many different colors white hoarfrost and snow can be, depending on whether lit by warm sunlight or in cool shadows. Leslie LeViner Hoarfrost Morning NFS There are many motivations that inspire one to press the shutter; a beautiful landscape, the elements of light and shadow on a particular object or scene, to capture a moment, a feeling, an emotion, to tell a story, and more. Documentation, a silent partner in most of these motivations, was for me, the first motivation to
click the shutter. At the age of ten, armed with the magic of a polaroid camera and my desire to document this “ancient” structure, pressing the shutter became a life long adventure. Mary Edwards Cashier Mill- Death Valley shopping_cart $850 This painting won the “Over 65 year-old” category in the Feb. 2017 Plein Air Magazine’s “Plein Air Salon Show.” With the summer sunrise glow, it’s not hard to see how Ruby Peak got its name. Leslie LeViner Morning Light- Ruby Peak