Valles Light

Medium: Acrylic on canvas panel
Size: 8X10 inches
Location: Valles Caldera National Preserve, New Mexico
Year: 2024

Painted on location in Valles Caldera National Preserve, this plein air study captures the wide-open feeling of the high mountain grasslands just before evening settled in. The distant ridge line, bright sky, and thick summer greens created a scene that felt both expansive and quiet at the same time.

Created during my residency at Valles Caldera, this piece was painted outdoors from direct observation, responding to the shifting light and atmosphere in real time. Loose brushwork and layered greens keep the focus on the feeling of standing in the landscape rather than recording every detail.