The Narrows Trio

 As part of my 20 paintings in 20 days painting challenge, I completed a trio of paintings inspired by a hike I did last October in southern Utah.  

The Hike:  

I fell in love with backpacking on this two-day hike of the Narrows.  Starting at Chamberlain's Ranch, you hike 18 miles and watch the landscape change from a cattle field with a stream to soaring walls of rock with you in the Virgin river.  The hike ends in the heart of Zion National Park at the Temple of Sinawava.  Yes, most of the hike is in the river with slippery rocks...and in my case, a few deep areas where I swam.  Your boots will be wet the entire hike, but it is worth it!  

(Please check with the park for the weather forecast and water flow before beginning this  awesome adventure.)  

The Paintings: 

Being from the fairly flat midwest, I am in awe of the slot canyon landscape.  Every bend in the river presents a new vista. (Just ask my trail-mate how often I had to stop to take pictures:)  When I look at the walls of the canyon I am struck by the contrast of two things.  The first contrast is that of the warm and cool colors created by the make-up of the rocks and the dramatic lighting created by the position of the sun.  Secondly, I am fascinated by the contrast in the texture of the canyon walls.  At some points the walls are worn smooth and exhibit these more feminine cured coves, while other areas are rough and sheer verticals.  When I look at these paintings, I begin to see not just a canyon-scape, but a landscape of figures and faces.

The canvases are intentionally 2 by 4 feet in size.  I want the viewer to feel the pull of the vertical lines and the grandeur of the height of the canyon walls.  I limited my palette to burnt umber, burnt sienna, persian blue, yellow ochre and mixable white.

(See the page on Zion Works for closer views of the paintings.)