I have a strong preference for painting at dawn instead of sunset. At dawn, twilight seems to last longer and the light changes more slowly and smoothly. Early morning air tends to be clearer with less dust and pollution. That makes morning haze softer than evening glare. There’s seldom anyone around except me and my trusty dog. And you can make last-minute adjustments without fiddling with your head-lamp.
But mostly it’s because I’m an early riser (a trait that’s exaggerated when I travel west). While the predawn hours can be chilly, that rapidly resolves when the sun rises. I’ve spent so much time outdoors watching the dawn that the changes are predictable to me. There’s the first birdsong in the gloaming, followed by color on the eastern horizon and finally the morning breeze as the air starts to warm up.
Are you a collector looking for an original fine art piece that captures the true spirit of the Southwest? I think Dawn along Upper Red Rock Loop Road has the potential to bring the quiet beauty of Sedona directly into your home.
I returned to the same spot before dawn over multiple mornings to paint Dawn along Upper Red Rock Loop Road. My dog and I got there in darkness, set up and then painted until the dimness resolved into daylight and the lizards and hikers came out. These are the authentic colors and atmosphere of the desert at first light, caught in real time.
There’s an immediacy in painting from life that’s different from studio paintings, even when the plein air paintings are as carefully measured and executed as this one.
Why did I include the power poles and wires? I’m perfectly happy to edit things out, but I thought their linearity balanced the soft dawn colors and iconic red-rock forms. That blend of the natural landscape with everyday human presence is fundamental to Sedona and gives the work depth and narrative.
I hope this plein air Southwest landscape also radiates the peaceful, calm energy I feel whenever I paint in Sedona. If it resonates with you, the painting is available here. Or, you can join me in Sedona in March, 2026 for my weeklong workshop, Canyon Color for the Painter.
Registration is now open for workshops in 2026! Reserve your spot:
- Canyon Color for the Painter | Sedona, AZ, March 9-13, 2026
- Advanced Plein Air Painting | Rockport, ME, July 13-17, 2026
- Sea & Sky | Acadia National Park, ME, August 2–7, 2026
- Find your Authentic Voice in Plein Air | Berkshires, MA, August 10-14, 2026
- New! Color Clinic 2026 | Rockport, ME, October 3-4, 2026
- New! Composition Week 2026 | Rockport, ME, October 5-9, 2026