Cactus Fruit and Sunflower

 

This still life is technically accurate realism with a twist.  I place still life objects on a mirror, then put the mirror outdoors. Playful and puzzling, it reflects my training in both classical and conceptual art. It is realism influenced by modernism.

 

Cactus bear fruit in late summer. I forage for them on hiking paths close to home. I set up this still life at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater. I visit the park frequently. It holds mystery and majesty: sunrise, sunset and in every season. Red Rocks is considered sacred by 32 Native American tribes. Discovered by an army expedition in 1820, it took the Civilian Conservation Corps 12 years to build the amphitheater that now seats 9000. Red Rocks was dedicated on June 15, 1941, in a ceremony highlighted with performances by Metropolitan Opera soprano Helen Jepson. The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Ray Charles, Santana, U2 and more have played here but over 750,000 non-concertgoers visit Red Rocks every year. For me and this still life, all was quiet. I set up among the red rocks, took high resolution photos and finished the painting in the studio.