Bev Doolittle is a western artist whose work has always intriqued me. She’s best known for her "camouflage" technique—where hidden images emerge within the landscapes she paints, revealing animals, people, and stories woven into nature itself. While her art is often called western, it’s really about something deeper: a subtle story that tells the connection between the land and those who move through it. Her paintings invite you to look closer, to slow down, and to discover something you might not have noticed at first glance.

Though Bev did not invent the idea of camouflage in art, she has perfected its use in a way that is both intentional and immersive. Each of her works is thoughtfully planned, ensuring that the hidden elements are not merely a gimmick but a part of the painting’s greater story. She enjoys the idea of visual deception, not to mislead but to invite curiosity and engagement. Her art reminds us of the deep connection between people, animals, and the natural world—how we blend into it, rely on it, and are ultimately a part of it.

One of my favorite pieces is Bev Doolittle’s Hide & Seek, a  series of paintings where red & white pinto horses seemingly vanish into a landscape of red rocks and snow. Inspired by this concept, I began to look at my own surroundings differently, searching for moments of natural camouflage in my everyday world.

This curiosity led to my own photographic project, beginning with my black-and-white Harlequin Great Dane among snow-covered cedar trees. While my images are not as subtly hidden as Bev Doolittle’s paintings, they still embrace the idea of blending subject and environment. The bold contrast of my Dane’s markings against the snowy backdrop plays with patterns, textures, and light, drawing the eye to both the subject and the surroundings in a way that feels naturally connected. From that first image, I expanded the project, capturing a series of nine photographs that explore how elements of nature and living beings can merge visually, even when they remain distinct.

Art has a way of changing our view of the world. Bev Doolittle’s paintings have reminded me to observe more closely, and to search for and appreciate the small moments of connection between nature and those who call it home. This personal project is my tribute to nature and a celebration of the hidden beauty woven into our everyday world.