One of the most diverse and unforgettable national forests in the United States, the Coconino National Forest stretches from the renowned red rocks of Sedona to Ponderosa pine forests, from southwestern desert to alpine tundra. From Flagstaff to Sedona Arizona, on one of the most surprising and scenic drives in Arizona, the cool, and I mean cool, Oak Creek tumbles beside motorists and cyclists along the memorable canyon route. Oak Creek itself has many entry points and its water's edge takes you to a musical and ancient place. It is so easy to picture early people living here. Especially coming north from the Sonoran desert, because water is so precious, I feel a kind of imagined hunter gatherer connection to these ancestors as I walk beside the stream among blackberry brambles seeking a place, even a boulder to set down my gear. I can't help but be drawn back again and again to these inviting grassy streamside spots in dappled sun and shade, with cool water to rest a hikers feet, and a feast for the artist's eyes of shady greens, grays, wet browns and glinting silvery blues.. What's also so remarkable are the myriad colors, in the greens and yellows and browns, I see rusts, reds and dashes of even cobalt, reflections but also rainbows of rich colors in an ordinary gathering of simple botanical beings, none of them particularly exotic but together so worthy. This 5" by 7" painting is made with artiist's acrylics on a cradled board in birch. It's bark, leaves, water and sky atmospheric treats to delight the eyes and the heart of any lover of the beauty of Mother Earth. A few years ago I discovered Oak Creek and it's still awe-inspiring for me with miles of it yet to explore and capture if I can. It spans about 12 miles down from Flagstaff, finally meeting up with the also gorgeous Verde River in the aptly named town of Cottonwood, Arizona. My eye goes deeply into the green of this painting, I wonder if yours does too? The view reminds me of my very American childhood "in the woods" where the world turned a little more slowly, and we took the time we didn't know we had to look at leaves and insects. I'd also add that when I painted this, as is my custom, I laid out all the primary colors and white on my palette, never black. I don't actively or intellectually choose my mixes, it's all just go, paint, now, before the light changes too much. .I imagine this little untrimmed, unmanicured bit of paradise providing a rush of green relief to a weary office inhabitant doing what my father called the "work of the world." Is that you? May we please offer you this smile?
One of the most diverse and unforgettable national forests in the United States, the Coconino National Forest stretches from the renowned red rocks of Sedona to Ponderosa pine forests, from southwestern desert to alpine tundra. From Flagstaff to Sedona Arizona, on one of the most surprising and scenic drives in Arizona, the cool, and I mean cool, Oak Creek tumbles beside motorists and cyclists along the memorable canyon route. Oak Creek itself has many entry points and its water's edge takes you to a musical and ancient place. It is so easy to picture early people living here. Especially coming north from the Sonoran desert, because water is so precious, I feel a kind of imagined hunter gatherer connection to these ancestors as I walk beside the stream among blackberry brambles seeking a place, even a boulder to set down my gear. I can't help but be drawn back again and again to these inviting grassy streamside spots in dappled sun and shade, with cool water to rest a hikers feet, and a feast for the artist's eyes of shady greens, grays, wet browns and glinting silvery blues.. What's also so remarkable are the myriad colors, in the greens and yellows and browns, I see rusts, reds and dashes of even cobalt, reflections but also rainbows of rich colors in an ordinary gathering of simple botanical beings, none of them particularly exotic but together so worthy. This 5" by 7" painting is made with artiist's acrylics on a cradled board in birch. It's bark, leaves, water and sky atmospheric treats to delight the eyes and the heart of any lover of the beauty of Mother Earth. A few years ago I discovered Oak Creek and it's still awe-inspiring for me with miles of it yet to explore and capture if I can. It spans about 12 miles down from Flagstaff, finally meeting up with the also gorgeous Verde River in the aptly named town of Cottonwood, Arizona. My eye goes deeply into the green of this painting, I wonder if yours does too? The view reminds me of my very American childhood "in the woods" where the world turned a little more slowly, and we took the time we didn't know we had to look at leaves and insects. I'd also add that when I painted this, as is my custom, I laid out all the primary colors and white on my palette, never black. I don't actively or intellectually choose my mixes, it's all just go, paint, now, before the light changes too much. .I imagine this little untrimmed, unmanicured bit of paradise providing a rush of green relief to a weary office inhabitant doing what my father called the "work of the world." Is that you? May we please offer you this smile?
#157 - Acrylic on Board
Painting: 5” x 7”
In Frame: 10 1/2” x 12 1/2”
