This complex little pastel feels like a postcard from the heart of the Chihuahuan Desert—one that’s small in size but mighty in spirit. I almost called it "Tenacious Spirits of Big Bend".
Have you ever stood in the Big Bend and felt the hush of the desert, broken only by the wind and the distant call of a falcon? That’s the moment I wanted to capture here. In this 5" x 7" miniature, the familiar silhouette of the Sierra del Carmen rises across the Rio Grande, with “Pico” standing sentinel—a landmark for anyone who’s ever wandered these wild borderlands. (If you know, you know. And if you don’t, well, Pico’s the kind of peak that makes you want to salute nature.)
The foreground is a study in resilience: prickly pear, mesquite, sage, and creosote bush (greasewood, if you’re local), all thriving where most plants would throw in the towel. Their shadows stretch long and blue across the sunbaked earth, each one a testament to survival and stubborn beauty. I’ve spent years painting these characters—yes, I personify these plants and know each well—because they remind me that grit and grace can coexist, even in the harshest places.
So this fully developed miniature painting is my love letter to survivors, especially to all those tenacious spirits—plant, animal, and human—who call the Big Bend home. It’s also a reminder that even when the heat is on, there’s beauty to be found in standing your ground and stretching past the shadows.

Burled wood style frame (sustainable wood and made in the USA) , sealed under non-reflective Optum TruVue museum acrylic for protection and optimal viewing