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Sarah Uhl–Rear View Mountains

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“I’m self-taught, my friend” says illustrator Sarah Uhl over heavy static from the road on her way back to Carbondale, Colo. from Hood River, Ore. “I started making illustrations about a year ago.” Her work has appeared in the latest issue of Alpinist, various projects for The American Alpine Club, Mountain Flyer Magazine and on semi-rad.com’s tees. Uhl lives in Carbondale where she works as the 5 Point Film Festival’s event coordinator.

–Chris Van Leuven

It seems as if I’m always dreaming about mountains and it doesn’t matter what shape or size they come in. All mountains are equally desirable and equally on my mind. This illustration appeared in Alpinist 49.

[Illustration] Sarah Uhl

In July 2014, I hiked up to Sahale Glacier camp in the North Cascades to learn how to draw mountains while sitting in front of them. Turns out it’s hard to draw them when you’re engulfed in a cloud and all you can see is white. Just like drawing mountains at home, I had to use a sense of imagination. To my delight, I woke up the next morning feeling as if I had become a part of my imaginary picture, as there is nothing more surreal than waking up above the clouds and looking out at a sea of peaks.

[Illustration] Sarah Uhl

People always ask ‘Where is that?’ when they see my landscape art. More times than not, I say it’s an imaginary place.

[Illustration] Sarah Uhl

I still have not been to Yosemite National Park, but drawing pictures of its magnificence is one of the greatest pep-rallies I could ever ask for. I hope 2015 is the year I get to meet this magical place.

[Illustration] Sarah Uhl

Tenaya Peak, Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite. A friend asked me to design her wedding invite with Tenaya Peak on the cover because it was the site of their engagement.

[Illustration] Sarah Uhl

I designed 100 postcards in 100 days and most of them were mountain themed.

[Illustration] Sarah Uhl

For more of Uhl’s work, follow her on Instagram or check out her website.