Alpine Skies is a 12" by 14" watercolor painting on 100% cotton handmade paper that captures a quiet moment in a natural landscape inspired by the vast Texas sky. This piece depicts clusters of green, spiky plants rooted in earthy brown terrain that anchors the foreground. Beyond, softly layered hills or mountains unfold in muted blues and greens, gradually receding into the distance. Above this landscape, a sky filled with warm yellow light filters through, casting rays of sunlight that gently illuminate the scene. The interplay of delicate brushwork and subtle color blending creates a harmonious atmosphere evocative of early morning or late afternoon calm.

The inspiration for Alpine Skies comes from a compelling photograph titled “Sunset from Big Hill, Alpine, Texas,” by Tim McKenna, featured in the #AlpineTXPhoto Contest. I have long been drawn to the expansive skies and sweeping vistas unique to Texas, and this image offered a wonderful opportunity to explore how watercolor can convey the quality of light and space in that environment. Working on textured, handmade paper allowed me to evoke the natural textures of the landscape while maintaining softness in the sky and hills.

Unlike some of my previous works that focus on figures or symbolic imagery, Alpine Skies emphasizes a straightforward observation of place and atmosphere. The process involved careful layering of transparent washes to build depth and a gentle glow in the sky, balancing controlled detail in the plant forms with an almost ethereal quality in the background. This approach highlights the union of earth and sky, inviting a quiet reflection on nature’s expansive simplicity.

By presenting this landscape through watercolor, a medium known for its fluidity and immediacy, Alpine Skies offers a moment suspended between reality and impression. It encourages viewers to experience the calming presence of light and land, to pause and appreciate the understated beauty found in everyday scenes. This piece reflects my ongoing interest in how light shapes the natural world and how we connect to place through subtle shifts in color and atmosphere.