Fruition

36” x 36” | 1993 | Oil on Canvas

The 1990’s were my most favorite time for plein air painting, and I created many ‘Red Roof’ paintings during the 1980’s and 1990’s in all the seasons. This was the historic old Purtymun homestead, now known as Cave Springs. Located 13 miles north of Sedona, in Oak Creek Canyon, I could park easily and take large canvases from my van and paint uninterrupted for hours. The rock walls of the canyon move into dark shadow in the afternoon, and the red-roofed homestead structures and apple trees would gleam in the afternoon sun. Many of the original apple trees were still alive in the old orchard in those days. I was deeply saddened when the old homestead was destroyed, and now when I drive past this location, I remember the place I loved to paint.