The photograph in this puzzle was shot by internationally recognized photographer, Michael Seewald

Michael writes: "This spot is nestled in between the many state and national parks which blanket the area. Blessed to have a job where I am often "working" in the middle of God's country, be it in the U.S. or elsewhere, I try not to take these scenes, or my job, for granted. The serene atmosphere/change of pace is needed for one's soul. In my case I'm so busy promoting, printing and selling my art that when I do go out on a trip to create, I get excessively happy, like Patch Adams at graduation time. The only complaint I receive from my collectors is this: They say after hanging a few of my pieces they find it hard to get their visitors to sit down and talk to them. One said, "they keep looking at the art asking all kinds of questions. Are these paintings Airbrush? Multiple exposures?" No, they are all straight photos. Some display my new 4 by 5 foot ones, the size BEFORE framing!" [John's note: 4 by 5 feet! Now that would be some puzzle!]

For other Michael Seewald prints available as puzzles see: Michael Seewald - Prints

I cut this puzzle in the Open Curl cutting style. This is my second puzzle cut this way, with the first being, Puzzle 26, "Blue Bottle". This cutting style is quite stabile as is very similar to the first Open Curl, although there are a couple of new kinds of peices discovered within the context of this style. Puzzle #31 also features the same image, but with an experimental cutting style, one I've now put on indefinite hold.

As it happened (from my Journal archives)

August 7, 2000

Evening - Put the Dragon disaster behind me and worked a bit on an Open Curl version of Michael Seewald's New Mexico FrozenStream, '98. [Note: "the Dragon disaster" refers to a failed attempt at creating a puzzle similar to the great Puzzle 23.]

August 8, 2000

Finished #33, Michael Seewald's New Mexico Frozen Stream, '98, the second puzzle I've cut in the Open Curl style, came out well. My first Open Curl puzzle, Blue Bottle, Venice, Italy, had 285 pieces. This puzzle, which is the same size, came in at 296 pieces, so I'm fairly consistent. This puzzle will be placed for sale in the "Ready Made Puzzles" Show Room and logged in the Commercial Puzzle Log tomorrow. [Note: "Ready Made Puzzles" was eventually discontinued in favor of the 100 Puzzles Project]

August 9, 2000

Assembled #33, I enjoyed working with the Open Curl pieces. The sky and mid sections went together first, the lower section was more difficult. There are a number of excellent Open Curl pieces in this puzzle. The sole figural, a rabbit, comes up as a surprise - I feel having a few figurals in a puzzle makes them more special than flooding a puzzle with figurals.