Art Adventures - by Patricia Banks©
Published May 2018 in Nanaimo Magazine and Voyager Magazine
Published May 2018 in Nanaimo Magazine and Voyager Magazine
The temperature was extreme: hot! Sunburnt sand grains and dry red dust filled the gritty air as we trudged across the searing desert floor. We chose our way carefully between the nasty prickles and threatening thorns displayed by survivalist plants. The blinding sun would have uncaringly fried us if we had paused too long. Even the limited shade was not kind. Our wide brimmed hats, sunglasses, and clothing protected our tender skin. The searing heat generated its own fitful gusts of arid wind across the desert floor evaporating all traces of moisture. Insects and birds wisely waited out of sight for cooler temperatures at nightfall.
A small canyon that was formed long ago by erosion, was our destination. We scrambled upward along the narrow trail, between large boulders, skinny Palo Verde trees, and unfriendly cacti. We paused to absorb the mesmerizing views across a wide, ancient seabed, peppered with rocky outcroppings and small, flat-topped mesas. The panoramic vista faded into hazy, blue mountains at the horizon. We selected our places and set up our painting gear. A few sips from our water bottles washed the dehydration from our throats. The worn-down rocks provided just enough shelter for the duration of our task. The white-hot sun followed us as it slowly moved across the westward sky.
A landscape artist must observe the elements of an environment, first hand, and capture the nuances it has to offer. Spending time sketching, and painting outdoors is key to accurately understanding your subject and representing an artist’s personal interpretation.
We painted in scorching heat, in the rugged Sonoran Desert, making marks, color notes, and sketches. We filled our senses with information from our surroundings about what we saw and how we felt. An Art Adventure can be an interesting, exciting experience, and it can make your paintings come alive!
