Local artist showcases over 300 Pikes Peak paintings in honor of Colorado, national milestones

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- A local artist is debuting a collection of 300 paintings of Pikes Peak in August.

Jack Denton will debut the collection starting Saturday, Aug. 1, at the Masonic Event Center. The exhibition commemorates the artist's work of the region, which started when he moved to the area in 2012.

Denton has been a painter for approximately 50 years. This project serves as a tribute to Colorado Springs and the state of Colorado, which are celebrating their 150th birthdays, while also marking the 250th anniversary of the United States.

Denton first encountered the mountain 14 years ago and said the experience was an immediate connection.

“It rained that day, which turned to snow on the peak,” Denton said. “I fell in love with the peak that day. It was wearing its class whites. It was fantastic.”

The artist spent the subsequent years capturing the changing environment of the mountain. Denton said the scale and varying light of the landmark provided unique inspiration for the 300-piece collection.

“I feel blessed to be in this spot that nobody's ever done something of this scale with America's Mountain,” Denton said. “It's the scale, it's the hues. It's the atmospherics. It is the dusty sunshine. It's the clouds ever changing. It is the reflected light. It is a million things altogether, in different combinations.”

Through the public showing, Denton said he hopes to encourage others to take a fresh look at the landmark. He compared the local perspective of the mountain to those who live near the ocean but lose their appreciation for the view.

“I think it's like people that live close to the beach,” Denton said. “They don't always see it and appreciate it. If I'm in my small way, helping people to reconnect with a peak, take pride in this area, take pride in the country, find beauty, that's great with me.”

The exhibition will be available for public viewing at the Masonic Event Center for the entire month of August.

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