In the hush before sunrise, the high desert of the Texas borderlands holds its breath, as if summoning up strength and courage for whatever the new day holds. “High Desert Awakening” captures that fleeting moment. On the broad West Texas horizon, the Davis Mountains stretch hazy silhouettes against a sky barely beginning to blush with color. Ribbons of clouds drifting across still-dark sky catch color-- the first hints of lavender and peach precede the sun's gentle rise, and as the landscape waits for the sun’s warming touch, light gilds the edges of those cloud ribbons as if to fancy them up a little for anyone who might be watching the day emerge.

I painted this scene from photo references coupled with a fair bit of longing—there’s nothing quite like watching dawn break over this vast expanse of Far West Texas where we lived for over two decades.

Making my marks with sticks of buttery-soft pastels allowed me to delicately layer color just as the early morning sun shares light: soft, luminous and tinged with promise. The high country is a resilient landscape, a place of rugged beauty where every dawn feels like a quiet celebration before facing whatever drama the day might offer.

If you’ve ever stood on a mountainside sipping coffee at first light, you understand the sense of renewal I share in this skyscape. My hope is that this piece brings both peace and possibility into your own space in a daily reminder that beauty is always waiting on the horizon, ready to awaken your senses and soothe your spirit.