"Afternoon - Kitchen Mesa Cliffs " by artist Brenda Hofreiter

This painting was created en plein air on a trip to New Mexico. I found these wonderful rock formations on Rio Chama Canyon Road outside of Ghost Ranch near Abiquiu, New Mexico. Painting out there
was an absolute joy for me. I was fascinated by all the different coloration that ran through the red rocks and the dark pinyon pines dotted through the rocky passes. This scene shows the rolling hills, distant canyons and the foreground native golden columbine and sage among the pinyons. There is a cloud shadow hiding part of the center rock formation and just the top peaks out into the afternoon sun. While I was painting this, I was attacked by merciless biting flies and had to flee in self-defense. I did manage to get enough completed to finish this in the studio when I returned home.

I think this scene depicts some of the great variety of the mesa rock formations. Looking at this
I am taken back to that wonderful time and place. New Mexico has so much to offer visually. Wish I was there now.