Grand Canyon, late morning

The first time one paints the Grand Canyon en plein air, it seems absurdly difficult. The scene is so vast that it can’t be easily sorted. But it grows on you; every year I find myself more capable of slicing and dicing it into manageable bits.

This was done during my third 24-hour painting trip to the Grand Canyon after leaving Sedona. The first time, I went with my Sedona workshop student. An Arizona friend loaned me a cold-weather sleeping bag and I slept under the stars. That shimmering night sky was transcendentally beautiful.

Since then, I’ve repeated the experience twice. Each trip brings breathtaking sunrise views and the utter chill of high-altitude October nights. Next time, I may bring gloves and long underwear, but I’ll keep repeating this adventure as long as I can.