The Quality of Light

After visiting Arizona a little while ago, I now know why some artists so love painting out west. I could never understand it before. It's so barren, fewer and smaller trees, and the cool, blue-green mountains I  love are seldom to be found in the rocky landscape.

But there is something about the light. 

Perhaps because of the lack of moisture in the air, the skies seem bluer, the air clean and sharp. The boundaries between objects are clean and sharp, too. And you can see for miles! That light quality is beautiful to paint and opens up sharp colors and clear contrasts to the artist's eyes. I love it, too, now!

Thumb Butte Trail    11" x 14"