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Painting "Desert Rules"
My friend Jean and I were traveling to Arizona
along the back roads of Utah and came upon the most extraordinary
scene. Out in the middle of nowhere in one of the most
desolate stretches of Utah desert, near the Arizona border, we
discovered an abandoned rock house built into an overhanging bolder.
The surrounding area was strewn with huge oddly shaped rocks and the
cliffs behind the house were wreathed in clouds-stunning! We
were captivated! I took 50 or so photos form every angle. I
definitely wanted to paint this scene!
I decided on a small piece and
did very tight detail work to capture the textures and colors.
There was nothing alive in the area except some brownish bushes here
and there. I decided the piece needed some life in it, so I
experimented with various creatures, snakes, lizards even gila
monsters. Nothing seemed to fit. Since I wanted to sell the image I
also decided that whatever "life form" I added must be not only
indigenous but also not-too-yucky to hang in someone's house.
Since snakes, lizards and such are kind of yucky, I had to come up
with something else. My niece and I were bouncing ideas around
and she mentioned a bird shadow and it immediately clicked with me.
No actual living creature, just the shadow of a predator!
Edgy but not yucky - rich with symbolism-perfect for my painting.
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