Alli McPhail Paintings

Rain envelops the tops of the mountains beyond creating a dramatic effect. The cool, fresh air makes for a perfect day to sit by a fire.

On a crisp fall evening, the full moon rises above the glistening surface of the lake as the icy waves roll toward the shore.

Standing atop the famous Marin Headlands scenic lookout, the sun-drenched sky illuminates the sea cliffs and Pacific Ocean below as golden hour approaches.

Those who wander discover the best scenery. Winding up a mountain trail, the tall trees rise up as they cast eerie shadows on the red dirt path before you. The long arms of the pines are luring and exciting.

Perched high above Lake Louise, Alberta is an emerald coloured gem called Lake Agnes. Nestled against a mountainous backdrop, the lake reflects its surroundings with such beauty that it makes you forget how hard you worked hiking to reach its shores.

Driving down vacant roads in New Mexico, you’re the only one in sight. The sandcastle-like rock formations greet you as the road dead ends. The only thing left to do is get out and start exploring the faded landscape of sagebrush, tumbleweeds, and sand.

Waking up just early enough to catch the glimpses of the sun’s first appearance. The air still cool and the surface of the lake placid. If you look close enough, you may just see a fish jump.

That perfect July day when you decide that the best way to spend it is to jump on a boat and glide across the lake, full speed ahead while the sun sparkles like a million diamonds and the wind tousles your hair.

The clouds parted and the sun came out after a stormy morning, creating a one of a kind lake color: sand churned up into an ombre of beige fading to aqua, turquoise, and eventually deep navy blue on the distant horizon. Breathtaking and memorable.

A place too gorgeous to seem real, Emerald Lake is nestled in the Canadian Rockies in Yoho National Park. A family favorite since childhood, this mountain lake is hard to get out of your mind once you see it with your own two eyes.

Golden hour is fading quickly over the dusky mountain silhouettes in the distance as they tower like gentle giants over the wooded landscape.

The discovery of a lush field on a warm summer afternoon. The wind combing through the grass and leaves beyond.

The road winds along the Rio Grande river on the way to Santa Fe from Taos, New Mexico. If you find small crosses on the top of the mountains, hang a left and soon you will find yourself in the tiny town of Dixon, NM. Blink and you will miss it!

Hiking a path high above the town of Sedona, vistas of the famous red rocks stare back at you with their infinite wisdom of a world that existed long before we did.

Crickets chirping, the sand cool beneath your feet. Gazing out and the moon is greeting the lake, looking at itself in the mirror of the water’s surface and painting it orange. Goodnight.

The iconic, lanky palms signal your approach to Scribe Winery in Sonoma, California and lure you toward a refurbished hacienda from the prohibition era. A fitting location to sip a delicious glass of wine.

Mid-September and the first feels of fall are settling in. You want to deny it so you glance across the bay to convince yourself that the color of the water still looks like that of summer and the shoreline is not yet burning with the reds and oranges of autumn leaves.

A handful of coral, white, orange, and black ranunculus pop out against the backdrop of a marble table during a visit to the local coffee shop.

Gazing down from the highest point on the island of Capri, classy boats tour the shoreline, showing off their speed and grace while the morning sun burns off the haze that settled over the ocean the night before. Everything is beautiful, the Amalfi Coast is just beyond - a late summer’s day in Italy.

The sun filters through a pleasant grove of cedar trees as the afternoon sun lowers in the sky.

A springtime hike through the Whaleback Nature area in Leland, MI. The leaves delicately unfurl and scatter sunlight onto the first grasses of spring. The colors bright and airy, almost glowing and unreal. Just beyond the stand of trees, the refreshing air rises off of Lake Michigan below.