Daddy's Christmas Angel

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Intrigue and Glory - the U. S. National Parks

 

Canyon Changing Light ©MM Sikes

Over the years, my husband and I have visited numerous national parks. When we were first married, we took a crazy bus trip across country to California. It was a real adventure, and it featured our first visit to the Grand Canyon.

We spent a night at the famous El Tovar, and I recall standing near the canyon edge outside the lodge and marveling at the colors far away on the other side. I marveled even more at the light changes as sunset approached. At the time, I didn't know that the El Tovar was a famous National Parks Lodge. I was disappointed because we had to share a bathroom with others staying there. However, I later discovered you have to book a year or two in advance to get a room in the El Tovar.

Often, when we travel to Sedona AZ, we take a side trip to the Grand Canyon and to El Tovar. We have driven around the canyon, north to south. When our two oldest children were young, we took them there on a cross-country trip. The venturous little girls frightened me when the got too close to the edge of the canyon.

©MM Sikes

The photo on the right was taken from an airplane window during a more recent visit to Arizona. The Colorado River winds through the canyon walls.

The Rocky Mountains and the National Parks associated with them fascinate me. When I attended art graduate school, my graduate thesis show was of Rocky Mountain paintings. Over the years, I have drawn and painted many scenes from those glorious rugged mountains.

Grand Canyon Wall  ©MM Sikes

 

 

 

This pastel painting is a study for a large 7-foot long acrylic painting I created of the Grand Canyon.

Painting the canyon is an addiction. I will paint it again and again.

And write about it, as well.

 

 

 

"Canyon" pastel ©MM Sikes

 



4 comments:

Birgit said...

It would be nice to see the Grand Canyon which I have never seen. Your painting is stunning. I love the shaping and the colours which shows how much you have captured the place.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

The painting is great. I saw the Grand Canyon when I was a kid but of course I didn't appreciate it at the time.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Mary, that's beautiful. I've only seen it from the air.

Notes Along the Way with Mary Montague Sikes said...

Thank you, Birgit. You must visit the canyon. It is so amazing!

Alex, thank you. That was the working drawing for a big acrylic painting, 7-ft. wide.

Diane, the Grand Canyon is amazing from the air as well as the land.