Three Sisters Monument Valley

During out PAC6 trip to Monument Valley I painted many studies.  My favorite was called "Standing Strong - Monument Valley".

I decided to use it as the basis for a larger painting.  First I had to think about what were the aspects of the painting I liked best, then what were the things I'd like to treat differently.

What I liked:

     1.  The orangish color of the soil.

     2.  The contrast of the blue of the sky with the ochre and rusts of the rock formations.

     3.  The soft green blue of the sage against the olive-colored trees.

What I wanted to treat differently:

     1.  I wanted to emphasize the "Three Sisters" monument formations.

     2.  I thought I would try to "push back" that formation so it might appear to be farther away even though I was making it more important.  

                                    .    

     3.  I looked at several paintings of Monument Valley by Calvin Liang.  Even though I strived to gain his mastery of color and brushwork and aereal perspective,  it didn't happen.      -All the same I was happy with my efforts.

     4.  I decided to add some faint clouds to emphasize the directionality initiated by the light colored sage and pointing up toward the gap between the "Three Sisters" and the Camel Monument going up and over the Sisters.

Here is the AI generated description of the artwork:

 "The rock formations named the Three Sisters are rendered in shades of red and shadow, creating a stark contrast against the blue sky. The sky itself is a vibrant blue with a few wispy clouds, contributing to the arid, Southwestern aesthetic of the scene. The painting employs a realistic style, capturing the textures and hues of the desert environment with visible brushstrokes, suggesting a sense of movement in the foliage and the interplay of light and shadow on the rocks. "

Ihope you like it.

One of 12 of Marian's painting included in the Santa Paula Art Museum as part of

From Field to Frame: The PAC6 Shows How It's Done

The journey of every finished painting, and every artist, is different. From inspiration and field notes, to finished work and framing, this show will feature a peek behind the curtain of the creative processes used by the PAC6 painters to create artwork inspired by their travels together.

3-9-24 through 7-9-24