I made a recent trip out west to see rocks, buttes and arches. I wanted to fill my imagination with Red Rock Country and create new paintings of rocks and cairns. Imagine my surprise when the first painting to come out of me upon my return was of the San Francisco De Asis Church in Ranchos de Taos. Perhaps it’s because it’s an icon of the American west, and one of Ansel Adams great subjects. Attracted to the strong highlights and shadows I painted “Under Turquoise Skies” as stylized interpretation of this western classic.