Purple Prickly Pear

I’m excited to share the first painting from my series inspired by Big Bend National Park!

While camping in Chisos Basin, we asked a park ranger for places to stop on the way to Santa Elena Canyon; one of his suggestions was the Homer Wilson Ranch, which can be viewed from an overlook on the side of the road.

Once there, I was quickly distracted by the plants growing along the side of the cliff, especially this vibrant purple prickly pear cactus, which seemed to shimmer in the desert sun.

The original photograph I took near Homer Wilson Ranch.
Drawing the outlines of the image, in preparation for painting on canvas.
Purple Prickly Pear, acrylic on canvas, 24″x36″
Detail, showing the looser, more painterly style I’m embracing with visible brushstrokes.

I also recently finished a painting of Santa Elena Canyon and am currently working on one of the Ocotillo (those strange, stick-like succulents that have fiery-red blooms). I’m excited to share those with you soon!

THINGS I’M LOVING

This article about Austin, which does a fantastic job at exploring the issues I wrote about in my last post. I especially relate to the idea of “double vision,” as memories of old places exist alongside their replacements in this ever-changing city.

Listening to the Human Behavioral Biology lectures by Dr Robert Sapolsky, nicely organized on this website. Before switching to Fine Art, my first declared major was Psychology, and my interest in it has stayed with me.

The birds that visit the tiny bowl of water I keep for them on my porch. I’m starting to recognize specific cardinals and goldfinches that come multiple times each day. Their presence is a nice reminder that Spring isn’t far away!