Tag: Southwest Landscape

Aravaipa Canyon, Spring

The majestic and awesome Aravaipa Canyon, in central Arizona.

Image

Can one even try to capture the raw beauty?

Image

(oil sketch, 6 x 12 inches).

A little further down the trail,

Image

with a view of the Cottonwood grove in the canyon.

A little pastel sketch begun,

Image

a little more…

Image

And then it’s time for a late afternoon Sycamore sketch in oil.

Image

Image

The oil palette, very tidy.

Image

Aravaipa is so lovely in the late spring.

Rincon Peak from the Miller Creek Trail

To get to the beautiful and scenic Rincon Peak from Tucson takes about an hour and a half, promising a warm afternoon of painting en plein aire.  

Image

Before you get to the Miller Creek Trailhead, however, you must past the old movie set, the town of Mescal.

ImageA town not too tough to die, but desolated anyway. Seasonal tours on Saturdays. Not sure what movies were made there. Do you know of any?

Image

Then passing through Happy Valley, beautiful Oak, Sycamore, Juniper and Mesquite trees surround dry creek beds. Until finally we set up in a spot near the Miller Creek Trailhead. The trail is an 8 hour hike to the top of Rincon Peak. We’ll stay below.

ImageImage

Image

Finished oil sketch, 14 x 16 inches. A study for a future studio piece to come. It was 100 degrees when we got back to Tucson Town! Isn’t it too early for that?

Desert Plein Aire Painting at Saguaro Monument East, Tucson

 

Long vistas and prickly saguaro friends are very appealing on one of my recent excursions to the far east side of Tucson, Arizona. The winter weather has been cooperating well – gorgeous sunny days, not too warm or cold. Makes for a great excuse to get out there and enjoy the desert and work from life.

Image

The light on the saguaros becomes an integral part of the composition in my 14 x 11″ study in oil below:

Image

and will become information for a larger studio piece coming up.