We Wonder At The Dark Recesses

I couldn't take my eyes away from the dark shadows in the rocks. If I was in a boat exploring the shoreline I would be drawn into these dark recesses. What is the attraction of the unknown? Rocks and water are powerful elements in the landscape. There is the compositional advantage of the unusual "prow of a ship" shape in the rocks and luscious reflected color in the water. But the property of light that creates shadow, hence contrast, and therefore mystery kept my eyes riveted, my imagination fired, and my trusty paint brush in this place. This moment in the landscape can be found at Virgin Falls Park, a few miles west of Zion National Park.

This painting was juried into the 89th Annual Spring Salon in Springville, Utah and was on exhibit from April to early July 2013 at the Springville Museum of Art.