This is one of those pieces with a story. I started it two years ago near Moab Utah. I had been exploring southeastern Utah when I fell on a trail and gave myself the biggest goose egg I had ever seen, and the darkest, blackest most horrible black eyes I have ever had. I realized I was really injured and should not be camping alone. A fellow travelling artist was camping up near Moab, so I joined her. Once I was feeling a bit myself again, we set to painting together. I decided to paint a moment I had experienced on the road the days before, when I felt terrible; my head hurt, the road seemed endless and the sun was blazing bright. I was struck by these four pillar clouds in front of me; they seemed like guardians guiding me to my safe destination at Marion's camp spot. (I did get an MRI in Moab and was ok.) I started the piece with her there, but was never satisfied, and worked on it time and again. FINALLY, this last week, I got the piece to the place where I now love it, and it seems to tell the story all over again. Guardians of the Open Road.