We offered a house swap for two weeks with friends living outside of Tucson. They couldn’t get away away but knew of another party with an empty house and willingness to share. We contacted them and it all came together.
Out for a walk above the valley of the beautiful Catalina Mountains, north of Tucson.
The Saguaro only grow in Arizona, that and Mexico as the Sonoran Desert extends far south.
They call it a desert but abundant in vegetation. This is the neighborhood we were in, dotted with residences, maybe occupied, all on dirt roads. I took walks daily, actually multiple, loving it all.
We rearranged furniture and turned the main room into a studio. Here’s Anne at her press, preparing some creative addition to a work in progress.
Space won’t allow showing the many pieces she worked on, generally scattered around the house for drying. None of these shown are finished but will receive further touches another day. It’s her way.
Across the room was my work space. Working in both acrylic and oil, I cut canvas from a roll and focused mostly on medium-large works, corresponding to the size of the backboard which we brought in the van.
Cowboys was one of my themes, and why not, being in the west?
A nearly life size portrait in progress, this canvas taped to a wall for “easel.”
The mountains at sunset really were almost this color one evening. Ever changing, I couldn’t take enough photos. Some turned into paintings and others likely will.
As I’d finish each I’d tape it to a wall for drying and to free up the easel for the next.
Heading home and back to normal life. Of course for us, normal life includes living this way, making art, taking in beauty where we find it, and sometimes traveling to new places.
Thanks for coming with us.
We’re grateful for all things.
11:44 am
Lovely to see you Anne and Hyatt! Amazing to note that you have never lost your love and motivation for art and how it has grown. We send our love and if you ever come up this way do let us know. Al and Gwen.
2:40 pm
Love it all. Especially the cowboys! Miss painting , hope to return soon for coaching!
Robyn
2:45 pm
I have been there. I am always amazed at what you see as an artist and I miss!
3:01 pm
I love Tucson (I grew up there), and I love the work you both did! Great “capture” of the desert!
3:05 pm
Breathtaking!! So wonderful to see all the gorgeous work you and Ann create. Thank you so much for sharing your journey!!
6:12 pm
Love them all! The woman against the green turned out beautiful…the colors in the cowboy paintings and the landscapes are so rich with the golds and reds. Your dancers are all gorgeous. Amazing how productive you and Anne can be in such a short period of time. Anne’s work is truly beautiful. I’m struck at how much she produces, and yet each piece is unique in its colors and design. You two are such a beautiful team. Thank you for sharing your work and your lives with us!
7:59 am
What a lovely photo of the two of you!
I’m heading to Tucson myself in 2 weeks to visit friends there.
Too bad our times did not coincide – I would have loved to see you and your work in real time again (the last time was in Cape Town 2010, where we met).
I love the area around Tucson: so beautiful, as you so well captured in some of your paintings.
God’s best to you both, always.
Bev
8:11 am
Hyatt
You always capture the true nature of any location you paint….
Colors, strokes, emotions, movements
Carmen
11:07 am
Beautiful work! Inspiration,Inspiration = Motivation. Thanks