Toadstool
(Oil on Ampersand, 2023, 24 × 32)
Inspired by the desert landscapes of Southern Utah, Toadstool reflects the quiet moments in nature when morning light changes the way we see the world. The desert landscape in the painting is built from layers of color and texture, where purples, blues, and subtle greens define the rugged surface of the rock formations. Above it, a pale morning sky creates a soft contrast, giving the scene a sense of calm and openness.
Toadstool (Oil on Ampersand, 2023, 24 × 32)
The title refers to the unusual shapes of the rock formations that rise along the ridge. In the early morning light, these shapes begin to reveal themselves more clearly, almost as if they are emerging from the landscape. Their silhouettes feel slightly surreal, reminding me how the desert often creates forms that seem sculptural or even imaginative.
What interests me most in this painting is the realization of shapes and colors that occurs when light first touches the land. In the quiet of the morning, the details of the landscape become more noticeable. Shadows define the edges of rock, colors become richer, and the entire scene feels newly revealed.
That moment of seeing the land with fresh clarity can feel almost spiritual. It is not dramatic or overwhelming, but quietly powerful. In Toadstool, I wanted to capture that sense of awakening—the feeling that nature, through light and form, can briefly shift our awareness and remind us of the beauty that surrounds us.