"I originally had a few titles for this like 'Peek-a-Boo' and 'Hide and Seek'-because I wanted to give viewers a clue that there was more to this painting than initially meets the eye: there are three cow elk 'hiding' just behind the red vine maple.

"I haven't painted this species for some time but I thought it would be interesting to put some into such a colorful region. This part of the Cascades is known as the 'wet' side - so named for the mist that covers the place. It is a particularly memorable area because of the fog blanket in the air and the moss blankets that cover the rocks and trees."

- Rod Frederick