We followed the Burr Trail within a crack in the earth. The canyon walls grow higher the further we travel. A copse of cottonwood trees stand like sentinels obscuring the entrance to the slot canyon that opens into the cliffside.
Like hidden treasure the wall opens to reveal a cool shaded place beneath the towering red canyon, protected from the searing Utah sun. A pool of water in the back and finely limbed trees reaching for the light at the entrance.
I sit deep in this magical place and wonder about this fairyland, how finding such a place could mean the difference between living and dying. I could imagine Edward Abbey's Monkey Wrench Gang hiding here from angry authorities, or even Mr. Abbey himself being inspired by this place as I am.
When we explored Utah a few years ago, and as anyone who has done so can tell you, there are so many truly unique and beautiful places that it can get overwhelming. Even though the sheer number of fabulous places are massive, there are some that stand out as so exceptional that I feel compeled to paint it. This particular image I have planned to paint, then use the painting as the design for my next reduction relief print, that is why it is on hold until the print project is completed. I am pleased with the painting so decided to post it and once I get going on the print I will post images of the progress as it goes, unless it gets messed up, hahaha.
We followed the Burr Trail within a crack in the earth. The canyon walls grow higher the further we travel. A copse of cottonwood trees stand like sentinels obscuring the entrance to the slot canyon that opens into the cliffside.
Like hidden treasure the wall opens to reveal a cool shaded place beneath the towering red canyon, protected from the searing Utah sun. A pool of water in the back and finely limbed trees reaching for the light at the entrance.
I sit deep in this magical place and wonder about this fairyland, how finding such a place could mean the difference between living and dying. I could imagine Edward Abbey's Monkey Wrench Gang hiding here from angry authorities, or even Mr. Abbey himself being inspired by this place as I am.
When we explored Utah a few years ago, and as anyone who has done so can tell you, there are so many truly unique and beautiful places that it can get overwhelming. Even though the sheer number of fabulous places are massive, there are some that stand out as so exceptional that I feel compeled to paint it. This particular image I have planned to paint, then use the painting as the design for my next reduction relief print, that is why it is on hold until the print project is completed. I am pleased with the painting so decided to post it and once I get going on the print I will post images of the progress as it goes, unless it gets messed up, hahaha.