Desert Fire

Medium: Acrylic on canvas panel
Size: 8X10 inches
Location: Desert National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada
Year: 2026

Painted during my residency at Desert National Wildlife Refuge, this study captures the final warm light hitting the Sheep Mountain range as the desert floor faded into cool shadow. The mountains briefly shifted into intense reds and oranges before the color disappeared into evening.

Painted outdoors from observation, this piece focuses on the dramatic contrast between glowing desert light and the cooler violet tones settling across the foreground. The simplified shapes and loose brushwork were painted quickly as the light changed minute by minute.