Painting Plein Air in Arizona

"Great White Throne"

Zion National Park

Oil on canvas panel, 8" x 10"

Painting Plein air in Arizona has its challenges, and frankly is not possible this time of year (yesterday was 110!). So recently I traveled to southern Utah, where it was only 100. The light in the southwest is so intense most of the time that a painter must have a clear understanding of the basic types of light. First, there is direct sunlight, which is fairly easy to paint; second, there is formed shadow, which is a shadow but is warm in tone; and third there is cast shadow, being the coolest in tone. Most of the 'shadow' in this piece is formed shadow, but at the base of the "Great White Throne" is cast shadow and therefore s stronger cool blue is used.