not water - A desert perspective

For the past 3 years, the focus of my work has been centered around water, but I have been so inspired by photos my son, Seth, was sending me that I had to paint some of them. Seth moved to the Northern Sonoran Desert, outside of Yucca Arizona, about 4 years ago. It is a harsh life to say the last, and I admire his strength and ingenuity in spite of the many challenges he has faced. Still, he manages to see the beauty in his surroundings and has been sharing photos with me since he arrived there. I had the chance to visit him in December of 2023. He gave me a tour of many of the surrounding areas, and while nothing was in bloom while I was there, the contrast of the bright blues and clouds of the sky with the browns, ochres, oranges, and soft sand colors were incredible, quite a difference from the colors of his spring photos. This series captures the contrast of what seems barren, to the colors that appear at sunrise, sunset, and for brief periods in spring, and is dedicated to my son, Seth. I love you always!

Photo reference credit: Seth Peterson

This series will be up in the gallery through the first week of May.