Marinade No. 2 (Diamond Peak)
THE TWO BEST TIMES on the river, deep inside a canyon with refracted light, are coffee time and cocktail time. Waking up before the sun hits camp and watching the walls change color as you prepare to motivate for the day. Winding down after a full day as the sun’s final rays bathe lingering spots in light. I enjoy staring at the walls during this time, but my favorite perspective of the light show is on the river itself. The glowing walls and sky and shadows blend together with the current to offer a unique take on the landscape. This is the second piece in my Marinade series (others are forthcoming). I call it ‘marinade’ because the scene makes me want to soak everything I own in that magical broth and absorb some of it for later.
The landmark reflected in this piece is Diamond Peak in Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Spotting this butte is a poignant event - it indicates that your ~16 day Grand Canyon river trip is just about over.
Pastel and found campfire charcoal on watercolor paper
Artwork dimensions: 6" square
Floating into our final night’s camp upstream of Diamond Peak