Escalante River, Escalante Grand Staircase
Long Cottonwood branches stretch over a trail along the Escalante River. I have passed by this distinctive tree on countless occasions during my visits to this beloved area over the years. The lone tree is representative of the renewing solitude I often feel along the banks of the river. The blues and purples of the shadows are played in striking contrast to the golden yellows and greens of the filtered morning sun. Bold palette knife strokes are used to build impasto texture and rich colors.
If you are familiar with my work, this may look familiar. Years ago I painted a digital version of this painting, but felt that it deserved the analog treatment.