These trappers have a different mind-set from most people.  That set them apart and caused them to risk their lives and fortunes pursuing a trade that was dangerous in its prosecution and not too lucrative in it's results.  They were not stupid or ignorant of life.  They just had that thirst for adventure! They loved the freedom and being on their own in a part of the world unknown to many.

I have learned something from about every painting I have ever done.  At times it was learning the story through thorough research and investigation, doing my best to separate fact from fiction.  Sometimes I wanted to  do a painting telling a story but trying to capture effects I had never tried before by drawing the information from my memory.  The lesson in this piece was the ambient effects of light on water.  I have seen it a million times but capturing it is a lot different.