As a “mountain kid,” who grew up in the foothills of the Sierra Mountains, I have a special fondness for the quality of mountain living — its simplicity, self-reliance, sense of union with nature, and gratitude for God’s gifts.

Nestled between dramatic peaks, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains, is a perfect mountain community that touches my boyhood Mountain Memories. I’ve decided to honor the town’s celebration of its bicentennial by featuring a romanticized vision of its present, as well as honoring its rustic past in my limited edition portrait of the town — Mountain Memories.

Mountain Memories is rich with the color and energy of modern Gatlinburg, but I couldn’t resist adding vintage cars (including a classic T-bird) and horse-drawn carriage. The past is never far from the surface here.