Denise Miller

At sunset, when the light is just right, the Ruby Mts glow with an incredible radiance of red tones. I have heard that the settlers called them the Ruby’s from that glow. I also heard that the name came from the garnets that were found and mistakenly identified as rubies. Western Shoshone call the peaks ‘Duka Doya’ which I believe means snow-capped. The glow that radiances from the rugged snow-capped peaks is just incredibly inspiring.

They Call Them The Ruby’s, 40 x 20, oil on linen.

A grove by a high altitude lake…. A favorite spot. Lake Winnemucca has sparkling crystal clear water, towering peaks, old and young trees, a multitude of wonderful groundcovers and flowers. I love the high altitude trees. They have so much character! The curves and range of subtle colors are so fitting against the backdrop of the high peaks.

“Grove” oil on linen, 24 x 20”

A couple of winters ago we had such a great snow pack that Slide Mt still had a significant amount of snow even in late march! An afternoon walk in the Washoe Lake State Park had an amazing view of early spring in the dunes while snow dominated the surrounding peaks.

A View From The Valley, 24 x 18, oil on cradled wooden panel.

Some trails used to be so easy, but since my back broke, the trail to 4th Of July lake was longer than I could do. This split in the trail was a milestone— I hadn’t got this far. And then Onward we went.

“Ascending to Independence” 24 x 30, oil on linen.

On a fall drive in the backcountry we came upon a glade that just glowed! The golden tones across a wetland meadow had unbelievable colors. I knew that I would have to paint it. A series of sketches, color notes and thumbnails resulted in this painted panel.

Golden Meadow, 24 x 20, oil on cradled wooden panel.

Midlife Canopy, 18” x 24”, oil on cradled wooden panel. One of the many wonderful Western Junipers in the Mokelumne Wilderness area.

After the Storm, 16 × 20, oil on canvas. The winds are furious, the snow flies horizontal, Ice crystals surround limbs and needles. The winter storms of the Eastern Sierras sculpt the land with windswept forms.

High Country Wander, 16 × 20” Oil on Cradled wooden panel.

The view from the ridge overlooking Lake Winnemucca give the impression that the land continues infinitely. Winding paths switchback to the ridge where you can continue to the summit or continue deeper into the wilderness.

Desert Gold, 12 × 12 oil on cradled wooden panel. Late fall in the high desert is a wonderful mixture of colors. Look for the gold leaves and you will find meandering streams surrounded by sage, pinon, juniper, and other high desert varieties.

A sunset looking east provides us with a view of Mono Lake and the Tufts reflecting the last glow of the day. Fall in the desert is full of warm tones that light up during the golden hour. It can truly be magical.

Fall in the Sierra Mountains is when the Juniper trees have berries . This one was heavily laden making the branches bend low to the ground. Carson Pass has many such Junipers and many have seen many seasons.

Although not identical, these are one at the base—who came first or did they grow from the same seed? Carson Pass is the home to these two.

Early Summer in the high country has the flowers starting to bloom in July. Sitting at 8000-9000 ft, Frog Lake in the Mokelumne Wilderness is so peaceful and a wonderful place for a picnic!

Blue radiance of Lake Tahoe shines through the trees with he rocky shoreline making an appearance.

The eastern Sierra Mountains glow as the last light hits them from the west. A day drive to Mono lake and June Lake is always a beautiful adventure. The Aspen Groves huddle at the base of the peaks losing light several hours earlier than the peaks above.

It was a picnic type of day and Frog lake was beautiful on a July afternoon.

Wandering he high country is one of my favorite activities. I came upon this tree in the Mokelumne Wilderness on one such adventure. It didn't show any life, but was still standing while the brush and ground cover thrived all around it.

Early summer in Lamoille Canyon is full of color and life. Dancy fields of Yellow Arrowroot greet you as you enter the meadow.

36” x 28 • Oil on Belgian Linen

Lamoille Canyon in the Ruby Mountains is a gorgeous area. Outside of Elko, Nevada it is a hidden treasure. This is the first of a series of paintings that I am doing from that area.

34” x 26” • Oil on canvas

From the Tahoe Rime trail on the south side of the lake, the western peaks rise majestically and Emerald Bay plays peekaboo.

24” x 32” • Oil on Canvas

A cold winters day and still water emphasizes the jewel-like quality of the the water in Lake Tahoe

30” x 22” • Oil on canvas

Lake Winnemucca at 9000+ ft above sea level is a rugged dramatic area with cliffs rising straight up from the lake. Trees and vegetation hang on and survive the winds and snow.

20” x 26” Acrylic on canvas

A blustery day on the lake to kayak and sketch but that is sometimes the best adventures.

Available at Mountain Arts Collective, Truckee, Ca

20” x 26” • Oil on canvas

Lake Tahoe makes an appearance between the trees as you drive around the lake.

High above Lake Tahoe, the Tahoe Rim trail winds along the ridge top. This is part a of a series— Tahoe Rim Trail Joy. Done as a commission this painting expresses the peace and calm that one can find on the trail.

Acrylic on Canvas, 28 x 20

An old growth juniper commands attention as it perches overlooking the valley below.

Available at Mountain Arts Collective, Truckee Ca.

Acrylic on Linen, 20 x 21

Located in the Sierra Nevada mountains, Lake Winnemucca is at 8,983 ft above sea level. The cliffs rise above it to Round Top Peak. The winters are harsh at that elevation and the winds blow hard, but when spring finally arrives life abounds.

Acrylic on Canvas, 18 x 21

The view from the SE section of Tahoe Rim Trail is amazing—look west and it is Lake Tahoe, look east and you see into the Washoe Lake and Carson City valleys. “The Path to the East” invites you to step into the painting and hear the breeze in the trees.

Acrylic On Linen Blend
26” x 32”

High above Lake Tahoe, the Rim Trail offers glimpses of new growth in areas that succumbed to the drought

Hope Valley is a glorious area in the Sierra’s and is full of color in the fall. Warm, golden tones flood the area that soon will be covered in white.

Reaching for the heights above, a Sierra Juniper clutches to the granite rock terraces.

Acrylic on Linen Blend
19 x 25

The High Sierra Mountains can be a brutal environment in the winter. By spring, some do not survive. White Pine groves nestled among the rocks have new life and old.

Acrylic on Linen Blend