Stone Stories of Sloan Canyon

Medium: Acrylic 
Size: 8X10 inches
Location: Sloan Canyons, Nevada 
Year: 2026

This original en plein air painting was created on location at Sloan Canyon, a Bureau of Land Management site in Nevada known for its remarkable collection of ancient petroglyphs.

Painted directly in the landscape, this piece captures the quiet presence of stone marked by human hands long before written language. The petroglyphs emerge subtly from the rock face, blending into the surrounding earth tones and desert textures rather than standing apart from them.

Working outdoors allowed me to respond to the shifting light, color, and atmosphere of the canyon in real time, preserving a sense of place and immediacy. The muted palette and layered brushwork reflect the weathered surfaces and the passage of time embedded in the landscape.

This painting is both a study of place and a reflection on memory of what remains, what fades, and what continues to speak without words.