The stunning Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is such an surprise of color, even though you are forewarned by it's name. On the approaching drive, the mountains loom gray and blue above the horizon, then the red ochre begins to show above the soft brown desert floor. This small work was painted live on Valentines Day, when the visitor's center was set up with welcoming staff and craft activities. In addition to this 7" x 5" painting on a cradled birch board (so it can also be hung without a frame, or tucked into a bookcase or on a shelf) I enjoyed making a preprinted valentine from a drawing by the staff artist, Lauren Duvall (@laurenduvall_art). Mine said "You Red Rock My World"! To make this painting, I climbed a little ways down below the viewing path, and sat on my jacket to try to absorb and convey the peace and beauty of this sunny, breezy day in front of this precise view. In these majestic sorts of settings, it's not so easy to choose a composition, not too much and not too little, of all your eyes take in, but zooming in on the sworls and swirls, muffin tops and shadows in red stone, striped with yellow ochres and even lemon stripes on the next mountain, was quite the visual feast. Climbers are rapelling here, visitors are marveling and it's so easy to imagine ancient people seeking the dark shade along these canyon crevasses. I want to go back. I've added a photo of the painting on site, so you can see what I saw. Because the original of this work is so small, it won't print very large, so consider it for a gallery wall of my many small southwest views, or among your own collections. I will provide a framed limited edition here soon with a vintage or classic frame, so look here soon if you'd like something in this image but more one-of-a-kind. The original comes framed or not, your choice, photos show it both ways.
The stunning Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is such an surprise of color, even though you are forewarned by it's name. On the approaching drive, the mountains loom gray and blue above the horizon, then the red ochre begins to show above the soft brown desert floor. This small work was painted live on Valentines Day, when the visitor's center was set up with welcoming staff and craft activities. In addition to this 7" x 5" painting on a cradled birch board (so it can also be hung without a frame, or tucked into a bookcase or on a shelf) I enjoyed making a preprinted valentine from a drawing by the staff artist, Lauren Duvall (@laurenduvall_art). Mine said "You Red Rock My World"! To make this painting, I climbed a little ways down below the viewing path, and sat on my jacket to try to absorb and convey the peace and beauty of this sunny, breezy day in front of this precise view. In these majestic sorts of settings, it's not so easy to choose a composition, not too much and not too little, of all your eyes take in, but zooming in on the sworls and swirls, muffin tops and shadows in red stone, striped with yellow ochres and even lemon stripes on the next mountain, was quite the visual feast. Climbers are rapelling here, visitors are marveling and it's so easy to imagine ancient people seeking the dark shade along these canyon crevasses. I want to go back. I've added a photo of the painting on site, so you can see what I saw. Because the original of this work is so small, it won't print very large, so consider it for a gallery wall of my many small southwest views, or among your own collections. I will provide a framed limited edition here soon with a vintage or classic frame, so look here soon if you'd like something in this image but more one-of-a-kind. The original comes framed or not, your choice, photos show it both ways.
#172 Acrylic on canvas board
7” x 5” Painting
13” 3/4 x 11” 1/2 in Frame
