Second Glances

Spring is an odd time of year here. The white sycamores are still barren, the oak trees turn orange as if it's Fall, and the cotton wood trees are the only ones sprouting green leaves like no tomorrow. The Verde river is low and quiet from lack of rain. I couldn't find magic until the sun hit at 4pm, where the shadowed edge of the cliffs sloped and pointed at the sunlit Mogollon Rim to the right. Ah, there you are, you beautiful image!

A 2 session plein air painting at the East Verde Estates in Payson, AZ on wood. I've been toying with a limited color palette of pthalo blue with cad yellow and red, with a dash of ult blue. It's tricky working with such powerful pigments.