The Italian Alpine region may be called the Milky Way, but there’s nothing cloudy about the inspiration the site of the 2006 winter Olympic Games holds for artist Nick Paciorek.

Paciorek’s interest in Italy’s countryside was born during a ski trip to Cortina d’Ampezzo a few years ago. The site of the 1956 winter games, the visit there fueled his passion for snow-capped Alps, the charming villages nestled in their lush valleys, and the interplay between landscape and athlete. He recently returned to the country ready to share with his viewers the unparalleled beauty Olympians and spectators will experience next year in the city of Torino and its environs.

Unlike American ski resorts, Torino’s roots lie in automotive design. Known for his cityscapes, the clean lines and subtle tones of the modern concrete structures piqued Paciorek’s interest. But the juxtaposition of the retro urban center amidst the backdrop of dramatic mountain peaks was what captured his attention.

Paciorek marveled at the awesome summits and their relationship to those that attempt to tame them. Guided by a local, Paciorek still felt the danger of the mountains at every turn. One mistake on a run and he would find himself at the edge of a precipice. The feeling was eerily reminiscent of his art: he’s always pushing, taking himself to the brink before recovering, knowing a single stroke can kill a painting. For Paciorek, arriving at the top of a slope was like stepping up to a canvas.

To mark his impressions, Paciorek kept a daily journal. There, he documented the intense colors of the peaks as they faded into the dusk sky, the dramatic shadows cast over the long valleys, and the pristine runs that unleash the skiers’ blinding speed. He colored his words with sketches and photographs, many drawn or snapped midway through a run – the same runs the athletes will attack in next year’s competitions.

Paciorek’s series, titled “Olympic Inspiration: On the Slopes, in the Valleys” includes 40 works of the city and the surrounding Games venues seen from dawn to dusk. Central to the paintings is his signature use of brilliant color: the luminous blue skies melding with the yellow and orange sun-cast peaks, cooling against the snow’s translucent purples.

The finished pieces are primarily landscapes, but Paciorek included some skiers in the paintings. They are small, the way Paciorek felt in the presence of the majestic mountains. “The landscape speaks for itself in a way no human can,” says Paciorek.