My Life & Artwork - August 2019

September 16, 2019 Teressa Jackson

After returning from my trip to Oregon that I reported on last month, I don’t seem to have done very much of anything exciting in August. I stayed busy with a lot of contract fundraising work, hid from the Arizona heat, and painted. The last day of August, we headed for Puerto Peñasco (a.k.a. Rocky Point), Mexico, for Labor Day weekend. I’ll report out on that trip in my September blog, and spend some extra time with my paintbrushes instead of doing it now.

I undertook an experiment to cure my own olives this month. On my morning walks, I had started noticing the olive trees producing fruit at a vacant office building. I figured they wouldn't mind if I made use of a few. The process involved soaking the olives in a lye water mixture for twelve hours, then soaking them in a water bath for the next five days (changing the water two to four times a day), brining them in salt water for a week, and then putting them in a final brine with spices. They turned out well and I’m enjoying snacking on the fruits of my labor when I’m craving something salty (which is often!).

I didn’t produce a large quantity of artwork in August (five in total), but I did create some paintings that were large in size and rather time consuming. I’m slowly building up inventory for my show in March-April 2019 at Agua Caliente Ranch House Gallery in Tucson, trying to hold back the larger pieces if I can. Most smaller pieces I am continuing to put in my online shop, as I do need to make a few dollars now, too. :-)

One special piece I created was a collaboration with friend and fellow artist, Ursula Schneider, for the upcoming show at Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery & Workshop. The final piece was titled “Nourishing Community” and featured my watercolor work paired with Ursula’s ink and poetry. I was really pleased with how it turned out, and it was a fun and interesting new approach!

Ursula’s poetry reads:

Nourishing Community
Tall, strong, piercing defenses
Offer shelter for the vulnerable
Ubiquitous needles thread disparate dogmas
The robust can patiently endure the minimal wounds
Inflicted by the fragile
In the hope of humanity’s solidarity

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“Date Night” 20x16” on Fabriano 300 lb. paper This piece is on hold for exhibition and sale at my solo show at Agua Caliente Ranch House Gallery in Tucson, AZ, from 3/21/2020 - 4/22/2020. — “Date Night”
20x16” on Fabriano 300 lb. paper
This piece is on hold for exhibition and sale at my solo show at Agua Caliente Ranch House Gallery in Tucson, AZ, from 3/21/2020 - 4/22/2020.

“Nourishing Community” by Ursula Schneider & Teressa Jackson 10x14” watercolor on 140 lb. Arches watercolor paper Available for purchase at Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery & Workshop until 10/21/19. — “Nourishing Community”
by Ursula Schneider & Teressa Jackson
10x14” watercolor on 140 lb. Arches watercolor paper
Available for purchase at Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery & Workshop until 10/21/19.

Work in process - this is what the piece looked like after I completed my portion and prior to Ursula’s additions

“Spirit Master” 20x20” on Arches 300 lb. paper This piece is on hold for exhibition and sale at my solo show at Agua Caliente Ranch House Gallery in Tucson, AZ, from 3/21/2020 - 4/22/2020. — “Spirit Master”
20x20” on Arches 300 lb. paper
This piece is on hold for exhibition and sale at my solo show at Agua Caliente Ranch House Gallery in Tucson, AZ, from 3/21/2020 - 4/22/2020.

“Pollinator Paradise” 6x4” watercolor on 300 lb. watercolor paper For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase. — “Pollinator Paradise”
6x4” watercolor on 300 lb. watercolor paper
For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase.

“Monstrosus” 5x7” watercolor on Arches 300 lb. watercolor paper For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase. — “Monstrosus”
5x7” watercolor on Arches 300 lb. watercolor paper
For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase.

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My Life & Artwork - June 2019

July 1, 2019 Teressa Jackson

June is my birthday month, and my birthday gift this year was a little solo adventure to northwestern New Mexico. I had read about the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness a few years ago, and had been longing to visit ever since, so I planned a trip to the various sites sprinkled around the region of this destination.

I stayed in Gallup, New Mexico, during my trip. I read a lot of negative things about Gallup before my departure, so I was prepared for whatever might greet me. Personally, while I didn’t spend a lot of time in the town of Gallup itself, I found the time I did spend there to be enjoyable and uneventful. Everyone was friendly and the town was sprinkled with Route 66 charm. It’s interesting how divergent and judgmental people’s perspectives can be.

The route to New Mexico took me through Payson, Arizona. I had never been to this town before. Payson is located on the Mogollon Rim, a geological feature that defines the southwestern edge of the Colorado Plateau. At about 7,500 feet above sea level, the edge of the rim is a beautiful ponderosa pine forest with sweeping views of the mountain ranges below. I arrived there in about an hour and a half from my home in Tempe, and, as always, it was amazing to watch the saguaro-laden desert morph into junipers and then ponderosa pines, and the temperature to drop accordingly. I spent a little time on a trail near the Mogollon Rim Visitors Center, and then continued on my way.

As I’ve mentioned before, I am a big fan of Petrified Forest National Park, and am especially fond of the Painted Desert section of the park. Shortly after passing Holbrook, Arizona, I found myself at the exit for the park, and it was too much to resist. I spent some time hiking down into the basin of the Painted Desert, where the hills are sprinkled with petrified wood and huge chunks of mica. During this trip, there were also abundant wildflowers, with bits of yellow and purple dotting the landscape.

Back on I-40, the landscape changed to sandstone mesas as I crossed the New Mexico state line, and soon thereafter, I arrived in Gallup. It was late afternoon and I called it an early night.

I started the next day at El Morro National Monument, a place with inscriptions in the sandstone bluffs dating back hundreds of years, including Europeans beginning in the 1600s and much older Native American petroglyphs. It was a stopping point due to the fact that it had the only source of water for many, many miles. At the top of the bluffs, there was a Native American civilization around 900 years ago, part of which has been excavated. I can see why they set up shop there - the views were so beautiful!

View from the top of El Morro, with Native American ruins

Around mid-day, I made my way to El Malpais National Monument. This park is also home to beautiful sandstone bluffs, but its most remarkable features are volcanic in origin - I saw lava tube caves, a caldera, and hiked around a volcano’s cinder cone. Later, I got a great view of the extensive lava flows from atop the sandstone bluffs. I encountered a very nice family at the monument, and especially enjoyed talking to the mom, who was the same age as me. In fact, it turned out that she had grown up in Harrison, Arkansas, a town that my family briefly inhabited when I was a child. It was crazy to think that she would probably have been a schoolmate of mine if we had stayed there.

The following day, I headed out to the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, the place that had been on my "to explore" list for nearly 3 years. I trekked 8 miles through this weird and wonderful desert world of hoodoos, badlands, and petrified wood, and there was still so much more I missed. I didn’t find any dinosaur bones, but this is one of the famous aspects of this place – it is where the Bistahieversor or "Bisti Beast", is a genus of tyrannosaurid dinosaur, was discovered. Surrounded by legions of strange formations, many of which are humanoid in shape, the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness is the type of place that definitely makes you question your sanity after a while. I’m not sure that any photos can truly convey what it looks or feels like there.

After a good night’s sleep, I drove around two hours to Chaco Canyon National Historical Park. The park is very remote, and the last 20 miles to reach it are via dirt road. However, it was well worth the effort. The Chacoan civilization that existed in the canyon (and beyond!) 1,200-800 years ago far exceeds anything you would have ever pictured... multi-story buildings – including one would have had around 650 rooms, commerce centers, roads, trade with civilizations hundreds if not thousands of miles away. These people traded to get chocolate and macaws from Mexico and seashells from the Pacific and Gulf of California. I drove away wondering what was under the earth all around me, even after I left the park. There is so much we don't know.

On my last day before driving home, I visited the Pueblo of Acoma (a.k.a. “Sky City”), where the native people built their homes on top of a mesa around 1,000 years ago. I had actually encountered some people from Acoma at the San Xavier del Bac mission in Tucson last year and never forgot their beautiful pottery or their genuine friendliness, so it was a special treat to see where they lived. Some of the tribe members still live up on the mesa, and they do so without running water or electricity. Their people are believed to have descended from those who inhabited Chaco Canyon. I so enjoyed meeting all of the wonderful people on the mesa, and I think Acoma was probably the highlight of my whole trip!

I ended the day with a hike to the top of Pyramid Rock at Gallup's Red Rock Park. It was a gorgeous red sandstone wonderland, and I was so glad that I found time to experience it. Lots of people were out for a Tuesday afternoon hike, and the views from the top of the rock were pretty spectacular.

Back home in Arizona, Aaron and I celebrated the day of my 43rd birthday with a trip to Slide Rock State Park in Sedona. The water was VERY, VERY (did I say VERY?) cold, and part of the day’s fun was watching people’s reactions to it. We laughed and laughed, froze a bit ourselves, and grabbed some food at a little Mexican diner on the way home.

The rest of June was spent painting, working, and thanking my lucky stars for the invention of air conditioning, as temperatures climbed into the mid-100’s and then beyond that to 112 degrees. I just tell myself that summer here equates to winter most places, when I wouldn’t be enjoying much of the outdoors, either. Most days, it is still pleasant if you get out before 9 a.m., too. I created a total of nine paintings, all of which are featured below, and many of which feature scenes from my birthday excursion.

Atop the Cinder Cone at El Malpais National Monument

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“Sky City” 10x8” watercolor on Fabriano 300 lb. paper For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase. — “Sky City”
10x8” watercolor on Fabriano 300 lb. paper
For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase.

“The Birthday Party” 20x16” on 2” cradled Aquabord This piece is on hold for exhibition and sale at my solo show at Agua Caliente Ranch House Gallery in Tucson, AZ, from 3/21/2020 - 4/22/2020. — “The Birthday Party”
20x16” on 2” cradled Aquabord
This piece is on hold for exhibition and sale at my solo show at Agua Caliente Ranch House Gallery in Tucson, AZ, from 3/21/2020 - 4/22/2020.

“Picacho Spring” 8x10” watercolor on Fabriano 300 lb. paper For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase. — “Picacho Spring”
8x10” watercolor on Fabriano 300 lb. paper
For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase.

“Open Arms” 5x7” watercolor on Aquabord For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase. — “Open Arms”
5x7” watercolor on Aquabord
For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase.

“The Giants of Marshall Gulch” 2x3” watercolor on Fabriano 300 lb. paper For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase. — “The Giants of Marshall Gulch”
2x3” watercolor on Fabriano 300 lb. paper
For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase.

“Mogollon Rim, Payson, Arizona: 6/7/19, 10:28:36” 2x3” watercolor on Fabriano 300 lb. paper For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase. — “Mogollon Rim, Payson, Arizona: 6/7/19, 10:28:36”
2x3” watercolor on Fabriano 300 lb. paper
For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase.

“Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona: 6/7/19, 13:50:18” 2x3” watercolor on Fabriano 300 lb. paper For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase. — “Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona: 6/7/19, 13:50:18”
2x3” watercolor on Fabriano 300 lb. paper
For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase.

“Red Rock Park, Gallup, New Mexico: 6/11/19, 14:59:23” 2x3” watercolor on 140 lb. watercolor paper For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase. — “Red Rock Park, Gallup, New Mexico: 6/11/19, 14:59:23”
2x3” watercolor on 140 lb. watercolor paper
For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase.

“Superior, Arizona: 5/10/19, 7:45:43” 2x3” watercolor on 140 lb. watercolor paper For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase. — “Superior, Arizona: 5/10/19, 7:45:43”
2x3” watercolor on 140 lb. watercolor paper
For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase.

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My Life & Artwork - April 2019

May 3, 2019 Teressa Jackson

The first day of April was moving day! Thank goodness movers did the heavy lifting, and my back was spared the agony. It’s amazing how long it can take to move, even when you don’t feel like you have much “stuff.”

We hadn’t seen our actual apartment in Tempe, and I was a little anxious about it. Our place in Tucson had been such a nice spot to call home. I was pleasantly surprised to arrive to an entirely renovated, brand-new unit. I couldn’t ask for anything nicer. The view isn’t quite what it was in Tucson, but it’s not bad, either. We have a nice view of Bell Butte (which they kindly adorned with a “T” for “Teressa” …. er…. maybe for “Tempe,” which makes for a good sunset backdrop since it’s directly west of us.

Mid-April, I got some fantastic news! I was selected to exhibit my artwork in a solo show at Agua Caliente Park’s Ranch House Gallery in Tucson from March 21 to April 22, 2020. It’s good that I have nearly a year’s notice, since I have 88 LINEAR FEET of gallery space to fill. I had applied for this opportunity last year without success. This year, I was one of just ten artists to be selected to show during the course of the year. It will be my first solo exhibition in over twenty years! I’m very excited, and have already started creating paintings with this space in mind.

Some lovelies from Desert Botanical Garden

It’s cactus flower season, and the desert is popping with the most gorgeous, lush blooms. I’m not sure why cactus flowers seem magical, but they totally are. With that in mind, my friend Ursula and I spent a day at the Desert Botanical Garden, one of my favorite slices of desert paradise. I’m lucky to live just about 15 minutes from it now that I’m in Tempe, and a great place to soak up some artistic inspiration.

I tried out a new painting surface this month. I hadn’t ever used Aquabord before, but it caught my eye at Jerry’s Artarama and I bought a few pieces of it. It’s basically a clay-coated surface for watercolor painting. After sealing the painting, it can be framed without glass. It has definitely been an adjustment to paint on this surface, as it handles the paint in a very different way from paper. I certainly still like paper, but Aquabord will definitely be an ongoing addition to my painting arsenal. I have now created several pieces on the surface (see below!) and I’m in love with the vibrant colors I am able to produce. I think these will be really nice additions to my body of work for the show at Agua Caliente, too.

And just like that, April whooshed out the door and May arrived. I have a feeling that March 21, 2020, will be here faster than I would prefer. Hi ho, hi ho! Have a great May, friends!

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“Pusch Ridge Rainbow” SOLD (Commission) 7x5” on watercolor paper — “Pusch Ridge Rainbow”
SOLD (Commission)
7x5” on watercolor paper

“I Don’t Bite” SOLD 5x7” on watercolor paper — “I Don’t Bite”
SOLD
5x7” on watercolor paper

“Winter Watcher” For sale as of this blog posting 3.5x5” on watercolor paper — “Winter Watcher”
For sale as of this blog posting
3.5x5” on watercolor paper

“Perched Plumage” For sale as of this blog posting 3.5x5” on watercolor paper — “Perched Plumage”
For sale as of this blog posting
3.5x5” on watercolor paper

“Ice Cream Dream” For sale as of this blog posting 5x7” on Aquabord — “Ice Cream Dream”
For sale as of this blog posting
5x7” on Aquabord

“The Ringleader” SOLD 7x5” on Aquabord — “The Ringleader”
SOLD
7x5” on Aquabord

“The Incubator” For sale as of this blog posting 5x7” on Aquabord — “The Incubator”
For sale as of this blog posting
5x7” on Aquabord

“Prelude to the Pursuit” This piece is on hold for exhibition and sale at my solo show at Agua Caliente Ranch House Gallery 11x14” on Aquabord — “Prelude to the Pursuit”
This piece is on hold for exhibition and sale at my solo show at Agua Caliente Ranch House Gallery
11x14” on Aquabord

I have not yet titled this piece. I’m also not completely sure it’s finished! This painting is on hold for exhibition and sale at my solo show at Agua Caliente Ranch House Gallery 12x12” on Aquabord — I have not yet titled this piece. I’m also not completely sure it’s finished!
This painting is on hold for exhibition and sale at my solo show at Agua Caliente Ranch House Gallery
12x12” on Aquabord

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My Life & Artwork - April 2018

May 2, 2018 Teressa Jackson

Well, April sure has been fun and interesting!

The saguaros are blooming and it's spectacular (photo from Saguaro National Park West)

The desert has been in full bloom and it's been pretty spectacular. The palo verde trees are trimmed with yellow flowers, the yucca are popping out big stalks of white blooms, and the cacti are bursting with all sorts of amazing petal configurations. I'm enjoying every minute of nature's celebration. While April was mostly beautiful, May is looking toasty, with the first of the year's triple-digit temperatures set to hit this weekend.

Aaron and I did several interesting things this month, including attending a Mexican street food festival, stargazing at Kitt Peak National Observatory, glass blowing at Sonoran Glass School, and chowing down at the Pima County Fair. We especially enjoyed the glass blowing experience, and will very likely return for more fun with molten materials at some point in the future.

I took a day trip to Phoenix to visit the Desert Botanical Garden, Jerry's Artarama (art supply store - $$$), and my friend Kalisha. I also trekked all the way across Tucson to Saguaro National Park East, since I hadn't been there in over a year. It takes nearly an hour to get there, and although it's certainly nice, I confirmed that I am a bigger fan of Saguaro National Park West, which is a much closer trip from my apartment (about 20 minutes). And, I couldn't resist paying a visit to the blooming corpse flower at the Tucson Botanical Gardens, one of only a handful that will bloom in captivity this year. I thought that it smelled like dirty socks.

What else... oh yes, ART! :-)

I had a really lovely month in this realm. I began April by putting the finishing touches on a special piece for my dear friend's nursery, one which contains a lot of meaning and love. So while I never in my life thought I would paint a raccoon playing a guitar surrounded by fireflies, I ended up rather enjoying the challenge and the result.

Next up, I was commissioned to paint a dog portrait by a Tucson local who discovered me on Instagram. This was a really fun project because her dog Stella is a total doll, and I met a lovely person in the process (a.k.a. Stella's mom). It was also pretty fun to see the internet pay off in terms of both art sales and people meeting. So yay for the internet!

I was then commissioned (is there a theme here?) to paint a piece for my second cousin to give as a gift to a friend. My cousin Kim lives here in Tucson, and wanted to give something special to a friend who lives in Kino Bay, Mexico. We came up with one of my "reverse mermaid" scenes set in Kino Bay, with some special touches (i.e. heart necklace, paddle board, and wine glass) to make the piece unique to her friend's life and interests.

Some of these cactus flowers are just gigantic (photo from Tucson Botanical Garden)

My mother hired me to paint a portrait of her mother in front of her parents' hardware store as a gift for my uncle's birthday, and this project was next on the agenda. This was a bit of a departure from my recent work, but harkened back to pieces I've created in the past. It was fun to do and especially heartwarming to see all the lovely memories people posted on Facebook when my mom shared the piece on there. Apparently my grandparents' hardware store was full of special memories for a lot of people who grew up in Mason, Ohio.

Last, I took a quick break from commissions (yes, I have another one in the works) to create a piece inspired by spring in Southern Arizona, featuring the blooming ocotillos. These thorny, dead-looking sticks get happy, grow leaves, and bloom a few times a year, and this month has been one of those times.

But wait - I'm not done yet! (Sorry this is a long one...)

April was almost over, but I had another fun surprise in store. Another Tucson artist, Addy Cottle, contacted me via Instagram and asked if I would be interested in showing my work with her at Epic Cafe on Tucson's historic Fourth Avenue. Of course the answer was "yes," and I spent the last few days of April framing art and preparing to display my creations.

The corpse flower at Tucson Botanical Gardens

Addy and my show will run through the end of May, and while I know that many of my blog readers won't be in a geographically feasible place to see it, I appreciate the many well wishes I have received. I'm excited to have an opportunity to show my work publicly and connect with new people in Tucson.

I can't wait to see what happens in May. Stay tuned for my next blog!

And now, this month's creations. The only one of these still available for purchase is the last piece, and it's currently only available for sale by visiting Epic Cafe. If it doesn't sell during my show, it will be back online for sale starting June 1.

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Coonie's Reprise (special gift for my friend's nursery)

Gates Pass, Tucson, Arizona: 3/27/18, 9:13:07

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My Artwork - March 2018

April 3, 2018 Teressa Jackson

March was a beautiful month here in Tucson. I tried to enjoy the fantastic weather (70's and 80's) as much as possible before the summer heat's impending onslaught. As a matter of fact, we've already crossed over into the 90's a few times.

Having lived here about six months now, I have to say I have no right to complain about the heat when we have had months on end with almost entirely fantastic weather. I don't think a week (and rarely a day) has passed during which I did not have my windows open for at least a little while. Gosh I love fresh air and chirping birdies!

The warmer temps have made the wildlife happy, too. Hummingbirds seem to be literally everywhere, and the sunset hour is now filled with tiny bats fluttering about. The lizards are back in full force, doing pushups in the sun outside my window. Walking through the desert, there is movement everywhere on the periphery as ground squirrels have come out of hibernation. Believe it or not, they've been pretty much holed up since early last fall when I arrived. These cute furry friends remind me of little prairie dogs.

I tried some different approaches with my art this month, employing new subject matter, media, and sizes. My trip to the Grand Canyon with my mother was commemorated in an 8x10" painting from Hermit's Rest. I used my usual gouache and watercolor paint in this piece, but also accentuated it with watercolor pencil. The pencil provided texture that I found to be so fitting to the canyon's layers. I was really happy with the result.

Blooming ocotillo in Tucson Mountain Park

In addition to walking around the neighborhood, I also visited the San Xavier del Bac mission south of Tucson, went on a tour of historic adobe homes in the Old Fort Lowell neighborhood (a former U.S. military outpost), and spent some time in Tucson Mountain Park, my favorite local hiking spot, among the blooming ocotillos. I created a piece featuring one of the historic adobes, and am currently working on another piece showcasing the fiery blooming ocotillo. I also painted a special painting for my dear friend's nursery, which will be revealed in next month's blog, as it is a pending surprise and was finished in April.

I continue to enjoy my weekly drawing class and worked on three drawing pieces this month. I haven't listed any of them for sale, but if you happen to be interested in one, feel free to contact me. I'm sure the pricing would be reasonable. ;-)

I was excited to get my first local commission this month, and will be working on creating a dog portrait of a sweet smiley pooch named Stella. As of this blog posting, a few of my March paintings are still available, so if one catches your eye, head on over and shop now ›

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona: 2/22/18, 11:53:26

Old Fort Lowell Neighborhood, Tucson, Arizona: 3/24/18, 11:23:18

Casas Adobes, Arizona: 3/19/18, 18:34:44

Casas Adobes, Arizona: 2/10/18, 18:14:26

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Returning to the Land of Red Rocks

April 12, 2017 Teressa Jackson

On Sunday, I packed up the bikini and beach towel and boarded a plane back to Las Vegas. With my base tan established, I was prepared for more desert sunshine!

My car had been relaxing at the airport for about six weeks, and I was starting to feel like that was my big Vegas gamble. As the parking lot shuttle rounded the corner, I saw her there smiling at me. What a relief! I assessed the exterior: no flat tires, no broken windows, and no new dings, dents, or scrapes. In the final test, I turned the ignition. Voila! I was on the road again.

Since my time in Vegas had been pretty brief (and I wasn't sure that my car would be ready to roll on down the road), I booked a few days at an Airbnb on the outskirts of town. My plan was to see some of the natural beauty surrounding this land of slot machines, roulette wheels, and poker tables.

Monday, I took a short drive west to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. The park was full of people enjoying a gorgeous, sunny, mid-70's spring day. I drove the scenic loop, stopping at most points of interest to take some short hikes, snap photos, and drink in the beautiful landscape. I was afraid I had missed spring in the desert, but there was still a pretty abundant sprinkling of flowers to be seen.

Following my tour of Red Rock, I spent some time on a more typical Vegas activity - shopping. My hiking shoes were ready for retirement, and probably had been for quite some time. After a few tries, I was happy to be able to locate the same type of shoe (Ahnu Sugarpine Air Mesh), which had worked really well for me for the better part of a year. I guess I'm not very "adventurous" in my wardrobe choices! :-)

Yesterday, my trek was a little more extensive. I drove about an hour through sparse desert terrain to the Valley of Fire, a Nevada State Park. I had seen a lot of photos of this park, especially its "Fire Wave," and it did not disappoint. It is home to some really unique formations, intensely red rocks, petroglyphs, canyons, and petrified logs. I drove most of the park roads and stopped at many of the scenic points. Hiking the Fire Wave trail, I saw more lovely desert flowers and made the acquaintance of a few chuckwalla lizards.

Leaving the park's east entrance, I wound my way through Lake Mead National Recreation Area. After about an hour of the area's varied desert vistas and distant glimpses of the lake, I caught up with the throngs of tourists who were headed with me to see Hoover Dam.

I can't say that visiting Hoover Dam was anywhere near the top of my list of places I want to see, but it was actually pretty interesting and picturesque. I am definitely a fan of Art Deco architecture, and it's a fantastic example of this style. The Lake Mead side of the dam was pretty surreal looking, with its blue water, art deco towers, and the waterline on the surrounding cliffs. I'm glad I stopped and braved the crowds!

Today, I am doing some work, catching up on things (like this blog!), and painting. I wanted to take it relatively easy since I have a long drive ahead of me tomorrow, when I head south to Phoenix, Arizona, my home for the next two weeks. Stay tuned for more reporting from the Valley of the Sun!

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