Quemazon Blanket Flower

I first noticed these flowers growing at the bottom of Quemazon in Los Alamos, New Mexico early in the summer. I would see them often in June and dreamed of painting them, but I was always caught up with something else. By the time the summer ended and I was preparing to return to Texas, I looked at the flowers with a mix of sorrow and disappointment for never taking the time to paint them.

To my surprise, when I returned to Los Alamos in the fall, they were still there. I had no excuses this time. A few days after arriving, I finally went down for a painting session. I am so glad I made that choice, because only two weeks later a hailstorm damaged the flowers, and a few days after that they were mowed. A small tragedy, but I was able to capture one flower before it was gone.

Oil on primed Rives BFK Paper. About 1 hour painting