Three Sisters

24” X 48” X 1.5”

Acrylic on Canvas

My wife, Robin, has a cousin that lives in Terrebonne, Oregon with her husband, Rob. We visit them every so often with our son, Eli. As we’d travel from central Washington down Highway 97, we’d cross the Columbia River and pass through small, rural towns among the wheat fields and sagebrush. While traveling down that long stretch of highway, we’d see many mountain peaks of the Cascade Range off in the distance. Mount Hood is the largest and nearest to the great river. But the three peaks that capture our imagination, are the Three Sisters.

I was drawn to the idea of the Three Sisters mountains for a geometric, abstract painting, due to the personification of these three volcanic peaks. The separate personalities applied by early pioneers further piqued my imagination. Faith, Hope, and Charity are their given names, but today people simply refer to them as the North, the Middle, and the South Peaks.

Eli likes to tell the story of Mount Jefferson, he calls Jeff, and the three maidens, Hope, Faith, and Charity. Jeff, who rises on the north side of the triple peaks, has taken a fancy to the three sisters, as Eli explains it, but can’t make up his mind which one he wants to date, let alone marry. But the aged mountain better make up his mind soon, for another suitor may end up choosing first. Mount Bachelor, rising on the south side of the sisters, has his eyes on a prize as well. The handsome and accomplished Mount Bachelor is a major ski destination and would make quite the catch for any young (or old) maiden. So, indecisive Jeff better make up his mind soon, before it gets too late.