jmckew2011's photostream

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Night Battle

Night Battle
(Monitor & Merrimack)
Painting No. 4-J-12
8"x10" oil on canvas panel

Between Arches N.P. and Canyonlands N.P. is a stretch of highway that contains some remarkable formations. After exploring the backcountry canyons and drainages during the daytime, I decided to paint a "nocturne" a night painting of these 2 formations know as the Monitor and Merrimack. Named for the famed Civil War ships that fought against each other; these rocky crags stand in eternal battle readiness. The night was really dark, no moon. I stood for long periods of time in the cool evening breeze listening to the coyotes as my eyes adjusted to seeing by star light. Then I would turn on my head lamp, paint for a few minutes and go back to the still darkness. Kind of spooky being in this vast lonely country, full of mysterious canyons, caves, grottos and petroglyphs. I find myself constantly picturing the landscape (some 500-700 years ago) with no roads, little water and Native Americans drawing images of animals, mountains and people on the canyon walls. It really plays on your mind after awhile.
Notice the Dig Dipper in the upper left corner which is the location as I observed it that night.


Time Travelers

Time Travelers
Painting No. 2-J-12
12" x 12"
oil on canvas board

This is an afternoon plein air painting of the Double Arches in Arches National Park outside of Moab, Utah.
I love this location, so extreme in rock formation and sculpture. The whole region is full of ancient history, from the rock formations to the petroglyphs; it's like stepping through time, so I decided on the title "Time Travelers" and I included some small figures to give an idea of scale to the painting.