While many hunters, fishermen and adventure seekers frequent the Bristol Bay area and Southwest Alaska every year, it isn't everyday a group of artists makes its way into town.

Four oil painters, all from the Salt Lake City, Utah, area were in Dillingham last week, recording scenes of local Alaska beauty.

The foursome, made up of oil painters Rob Adamson, John Hughes, Bonnie Posselli and Kathryn Stats spent seven days floating the Tickchik River in Southwest's Wood-Tickchik State Park. The foursome then spent time in the Dillingham area along the Snake Lake and Aleknagik Lake.

"We did a lot of landscapes and scenics," Adamson said. "The first couple of days the light was a bit flat, so we concentrated on the mountains. The sharpness of the peaks with the snow crags was really awe-inspiring."

"This area is pristine," Posselli said, "It is just really amazing. It would be great if we could come back and do this again."

Down at the Dillingham boatyard, the four concentrated on older, more experienced-looking fishing vessels with "character."

"I did painting in a boatyard near Seattle recently," Posselli said, "But they were nothing like these. They were all shiny, metallic and new. These are fishing boats."

Apparent in their "rough" paintings, the artists were trained through schooling or experience.

"It's been a while since I've done boats," Stats said, as a fishing boat took shape on her canvas. "I have been painting for about 30 years, so I've been at it a while anyway."

Artists work with the aid of inspiration, and this group confirmed that there was no shortage here in Bristol Bay.

"It's great up here," Hughes said. "Just to know that someplace like this still exists is really inspiring. So much is disappearing in other parts of the country."

Rob Adamson gets the feel for Alaska fishing boats at the Dillingham boatyard upon returning to the downtown Dillingham area. Adamson and three fellow Utah artists spent a week on the Tikchik River and spent so much time in waders that Adamson said they were turning "amphibious."

As most of the Lower 48 eventually do, the adventuresome artists dared to try taking a dip in Alaska waters, which never look too cold.

"I would have thought that someone could have heard me in Dillingham when I screamed," Hughes said. "I did try going in the water, and let me tell you it was cold."

Upon returning to Utah, the artists will take the smaller, rougher paintings and expand upon them. The artists also said they would most likely organize some sort of event to showcase their Alaska works.

John Hughes records an authentic scene from Alaska.

"We'll be doing some sort of show together," Posselli said.

Mike Larsen, local contact and host for the artists, said their creations would be available to be viewed locally, and the final products could be seen online.

"We will possibly do a small show of some of the pieces here," Larsen said, "But all of these artists have Web sites, which you can get gallery info from. Just search under artists by their names, or go to utahartists.com and type in their names."