About a month ago, I stood at this spot looking south as the sun sunk lower in the sky. The temperature was dropping in pace with the sun and it struck me the moment felt like the first moment of Fall.
These rocky cliffs are the first noticeable change as you travel from Arizona into New Mexico on Interstate 40. I always feel like I have arrived home when this scene comes into view!
I saw this scene from the top of Sandia Peak looking down into the valley a couple months ago. The clouds, rain, and sun were in constant flux, but with every change, I couldn't help thinking it looked like the heavens were opening up.
I hike this trail a couple days a week because I can start from my front door and go continuously uphill for about half an hour. Because I am so familiar with this scene it's usually the first place I notice the subtle change of seaons. The chamisa lining the trail are just about to bust with yellow flowers this time of year.
Well, it's not quite fall here yet, but this photo from a couple years ago caught my eye as I was looking through my files. The attractive thing about fall in New Mexico is that the yellows are added to a palette of other beautiful colors that are already in the landscape.
I relish summer here because I can be on my mountain bike as the sun starts to shine on the Sandia foothills early on a warm morning. I especially tresure the feeling of crossing over the diffuse transitions between sun and shade.
Although I pursued wildlife science and environmental communication as a career, creating art has been a way for me to capture the natural places I love.
Upon moving to Albuquerque in 2001, I quickly became infatuated with the wide open spaces and clear sunlight and eventually switched to art full-time. With soft pastels, I am able to capture the rich colors and dramatic lighting that I find in the New Mexican landscape.
I hope my paintings will not just be a record of beautiful places, but an expression of the affection I have for these special areas. By sharing the beauty of the outdoors, I hope to inspire others to appreciate the importance of nature...whether it’s a sweeping wilderness or a special corner of a backyard.