Summer with ICL's Artist in Residence!

The Idaho Conservation League’s Artist in Residence program explores the nexus of art and nature. Launched in 2013, the program shares the beauty of the places we work to protect and tells stories of Idaho in creative new ways.

In June of this year, we welcomed Jasper Vanspoore to the ICL team as our 2025 Artist in Residence. Now three months into the residency, we caught up with Jasper to chat about the summer months, about art, and about what makes Idaho such a special place for both!What’s a favorite summer 2025 memory from somewhere in the great Idaho outdoors?My fiance, dog, and I just finished a Lower Salmon Trip--just the three of us. The peak of the season had just passed and we had the entire river to ourselves. It feels really special to experience the Salmon River in so many seasons--from the river's wild peak of June, to the liveliness of July and August, to the quiet settling of September, I love it in all its forms. What's something about the summer season that you feel influences your work? Are there colors, textures, any other form of inspiration that feel specific to the summer months? Everything about summer inspires me! The sunlight, the water, the flowers, and just the energy overall. I think a lot of us in the West experience the electricity of summer. By using really bright colors in my paintings, I try to capture the vibrancy and excitement that summer brings. Ironically, though, I don't paint as much in the summer because I'm so busy soaking in every minute of the season, but I like to think I'm absorbing the inspiration for the darker months. How do you see your work connecting to conservation issues?My art is a reflection of the love I have for the land. I'd love to spend all my time outside, but when I'm not in the mountains or on the river, my paintings serve as a reminder to me of what matters most. I like to think most people ultimately care about the natural world, but sometimes our lives get so busy that the priority of conservation can fall to the wayside. I hope that my paintings can also serve as a reminder to people of their love for the land and maybe in some small way, encourage them to want to protect it. What about the fall are you looking forward to, especially as it pertains to your art & the creative process?Slowing down and spending more time painting! Like I mentioned earlier, I paint less in the summer, and so fall and winter are when I like to dip into my creative stores. You may have noticed some of Jasper’s work in our digital communications lately—keep your eyes peeled, there will be more to come! To view more of Japser’s work, visit her website.