Paria River Canyon underpainting

Here are the first layers of color...mainly ultramarine blue, manganese thalo, cadmium red deep, cadmium red light and a little naples yellow. I will be expanding this limited palette somewhat..but this piece is based on a blue/red concept. You can see the shapes are taking on a life of their own already. Long ways to go....

Grand Staircase - Paria Canyon - drawing

Started a new painting from one of my photos taken in early fall...the Paria River Canyon area....24x24 oil .. one of my favorite areas...a relatively unknown vast high desert region of the Grand Staircase NM...just on the border between Arizona and Utah. A painter could spend a lifetime in that wonderland. Here are two versions of the structure...the initial layin.. a de-saturated version and the drawing I did on the canvas with my brush...prussian blue over a dried flesh-colored acrylic wash..just to seal the canvas and cut the white glare. I find this the only good use for any 'flesh' named paint...the earth as corporeal. Onwards!

'Sanctuary' - Lake Powell finish

Finally! I am calling this finished...20x30 oil on canvas...cruising in for the night on the magnificent Lake Powell. This started from a photo from one of my houseboat expeditions...but it has changed significantly from that image... to one expressing the beauty of reflected light into this unknown cove and the peace of nightfall...sanctuary.