The inspiration for the painting began years ago when my children were small. The kids and I set off, from Camp Lodgepole in beautiful Sequoia National Park, for a day hike up the trickling late summer Kaweah River. The power of the spring time flow had sculpted the granite river bed into an entertaining course of play-yard forms interrupted frequently with quiet flow-through ponds. In “Slide Pool” the wet mossy-slick slope of the shallow stream proved a natural waterslide into the warmed crystal clear pool. A ride that thrilled the gang for a good chunk of our afternoon hike.