Southwest

October 11, 2026. Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. Exploring the top section of the Cream Cellar Road - the next day we hiked the lower section - read that here. The light drizzle of rain slowly ratchets up to an absolute downpour, and I laugh as a gust of wind drives the droplets noisily against my raincoat’s hood. At my feet, the rain is both coming down and bouncing back up, and the spray is swept over the curve of the golden hued slickrock. My Dad and I are d

With each step, another piece of petrified wood comes into view, and every shard is a unique tapestry of color, pattern, and fractured stone. This story shares the unexpected color mixes I came to love for this unique place.

Exploring my favorite colors for painting the desert southwest landscapes of Utah.