Launch Perspective

Medium: Acrylic on canvas panel
Size: 9X12 inches
Location: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, New Mexico
Year: 2024

Painted during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, this piece captures the experience from the ground—where balloons loom large in the foreground while others begin to rise and scatter across the sky.

The composition emphasizes scale and perspective: partially inflated balloons anchor the bottom of the painting, their bold colors and textures up close, while smaller, fully lifted balloons drift higher in the distance. This contrast creates a sense of motion and progression—the moment between preparation and flight.

Brushwork is loose and expressive, focusing on color relationships and energy rather than detail. The balloons become studies in shape and saturation, each one slightly different, contributing to the layered rhythm of the scene.

Created en plein air, the painting reflects the dynamic, ever-changing environment of the festival—where no single moment lasts long, and the sky is constantly shifting as balloons rise, drift, and disappear.