Before the Wind Takes Them

Medium: Acrylic on canvas panel 
Size: 9X12 inches
Location: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, New Mexico

Painted during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, this piece leans into the playful abstraction of form and color rather than strict detail. Each balloon is treated as its own study—blocks of color, shifting shapes, and quick brushwork capturing the feeling of lift rather than the exact pattern.

Set against a soft, open sky, the balloons float with a sense of looseness and freedom, their forms simplified and slightly imperfect, echoing the fleeting nature of the moment. The composition feels almost like notes on motion—observations made quickly before the scene changes.

Created en plein air, this work embraces immediacy and experimentation, focusing on color relationships and gesture over precision. It reflects the energy of the event itself—constant movement, changing light, and the quiet awe of watching something rise.