Julie Carlisle
Desert Series
My connection to the desert has influenced my landscape painting. I reflect the spirituality found in the silence, dry heat and unique formations that the mountains and rock faces provide. There are moving shapes over the course of a day that inspire and move my paint brushes in a more curious way to discover form. The open sky brings a feeling of brightness while the clouds keep watch as they drift by.
Sunrise Mountain
The morning mood is set when the sun starts carving shapes out of the mountain. Then the paint starts to flow in and out of the crevices finding shape and form. The rustle of the trees and the song of the Cactus Wren provide the soundtrack for painting.
Acrylic on Canvas 24"x 37"
Desert Garden
When a neighbour dropped by with this beautiful piece of cottonwood that they had found I knew it would be part of a painting. After they casually laid it in the garden the lines and texture were speaking aloud. So the Prickly Pear and the Agave decided to lend their texture for the painting also.
Acrylic on Canvas 21"x 34"
Saguaro and Organ Pipe Cactus
The drive through Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in Arizona is especially picturesque. The Organ Pipe Cactus are mingling with Saguaros in a dream-like cactus forest. After finding the perfect spot for "plein air" painting, the green tones and brown hues crept onto the canvas while the moon kept me company all day.
Acrylic on Canvas 30"x 40"
Cactus at Sunset
The spectacular swirling clouds in this sunset immediately drew me in. I had to grab a canvas and head out there with a chair while I was being enveloped in colour. The wind and the clouds directed my brushes around the canvas capturing a beautiful moment.
Acrylic on Canvas, Mixed Media 31"x 42"
Escape in the Chollas
One of my favourite places in the world to escape is a Cholla Garden in Joshua Tree National Park. The beauty and serenity emanates when the sun shines through the cactus needles. My flurry of painting grew from the speckled desert floor and up. This cactus grew on the canvas branch by branch in layers of paint to emulate the plush look that hides the sharpness of the needles. A curious bit of scrub brush crept into the painting as well.
Acrylic on Canvas 30"x 40"
Purple Prickly Pear and Silver Star
These two sat side by side and every time I walked by one of them would touch my leg. I thought I had better paint them before my leg was completely covered in scratches. Starting with swirling peppered paint for the texture of the desert floor where the wildflowers were playing, the two cactus grew from there in a mid-tone colour. Once their mood was captured all of the sharper contrast and the detail was completed at home.
Acrylic on Canvas 30"x 34"
Trio of Ocotillo
It was one of those spring days when the desert is popping with colour. The sky and the mountains traded colours in a way I couldn’t resist. The lines of the Ocotillo plants cut through my canvas knowing that they were creating even more lively shapes.
Acrylic on Canvas 42"x 30"
Joshua Tree Crevice
Rock climbing on these unusual formations created by molten magma gives an unearthly vibe to Joshua Tree National Monument. That being said, I wanted to paint a different view showing how textured the rock formations are up close. At the same time I pushed through the crevice with a lighter tint into the vast expanse beyond.
Acrylic on Canvas 40"x 24"
The Windstorm
Driving down a desert dirt road, the wind starting whipping up and the Palo Verde trees started dancing. I could not pass up that opportunity to paint the action. I had to paint right out of the paint tubs because my pallete blew away just like the clouds. The wind just about took the canvas right out of my hand so I needed to finish it up inside. That worked out because I had already caught the essence and the movement.
Acrylic on Canvas 18"x 32"
Saguaro at Bartlett Lake 1
The striking contrast of shapes and colour at Bartlett Lake captured my attention for days. Blocking in shapes and then utilizing bright colour with a more decorative style reflects how the sun played across the rocks, mountains and lake.
Acrylic on Canvas 12"x 12"
Saguaro at Bartlett Lake 2
"Plein air" painting is such a pleasure at Bartlett Lake. I found this cactus that looked like it was applauding the other cactus. I wanted to capture that animated feeling that radiates from this landscape so I painted that cactus just as it was.
Acrylic on Canvas 12"x 12"
Hole in the Rock
The red rock vistas in the Valley of Fires, Nevada can stimulate your senses and never cease to inspire. The rock formations seemingly come to life and touch each other to create a beautiful scene like "Hole in the Rock." Taking a very light approach, I concentrated the detail only on the focal point of this painting and allowed the paint to drift away down the rocks.
Acrylic on Canvas 14"x 18"
Piano Rock
After being drawn in by the essence of the incredible red mountains and rocks it’s time to choose one to focus on. Piano Rock is an outstanding natural formation in the Valley of Fires that I highlighted in a vignette with a watery sky. This minimalist approach creates the feeling of a memory or a fleeting glimpse.
Acrylic on Canvas 14"x18"
© All artwork copyright - Julie Carlisle
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