The Power of Place

I've often thought about why I feel pulled toward painting scenes of Tucson and southern Arizona. Part of it, of course, is that so much of the landscape here is unlike the Hudson Valley of New York, where I grew up. I've lived in Tucson longer than anywhere else I've lived, and still our mountains, flora, and architecture delight me every day.

The architecture is a big part of it. Tucson has a great, funky mix of Spanish and Mexican influences alongside midcentury modern aesthetics. The signage alone in Tucson can fill a portfolio of paintings (a portfolio I've started...). There's so much incredible detail in the buildings--from the cracked adobe and stucco in the Presidio to the domes and columns in the historic downtown buildings to the vibrant colors of the barrios--that an artist could spend a lifetime painting just the buildings.

Empire Laundry, 2024

And then there's the landscape. Our mountains seem to change hue and form every hour. My grandfather was an accomplished artist who lived and painted in the last part of his life in Tucson. He and I would often marvel together at the unexpected colors and shadow shapes on the Catalina Mountains, and how different they could look from day to day and month to month.

Saguaros alone present the artist with a wide spectrum of forms, colors, and even personalities. They're not just an important keystone species in the Sonoran Desert; they're also a powerful and evocative image. Each one seems to convey its own sense of individuality.