Solitary Joshua Tree, 2026 by Ray Patrick — original oil painting — 2026.046.072

Subject

A single Joshua tree standing right of centre on a green slope, with low hills behind and a bank of lit cloud along the horizon.

Composition

The tree is the only vertical and it is placed off-centre, its two arms reaching up and apart so it reads against the brightest part of the sky. The hills run down to the left and the ground rises to meet it.

Palette

Cerulean at the top, with cloud in cream, apricot and a faint rose along the horizon. The land is sap green, olive and grey-green; the tree's trunk is maroon and its crowns a deep bottle green.

Handling

The cloud is laid in short horizontal strokes of closely related value, soft where they meet. The ground is dabbed in short flat marks of several greens, and the tree is drawn last — trunk in one pull, each arm in one more.

Medium and support

Oil on board. Moderately loaded, with the brush direction legible throughout and a thicker edge where the cloud sits. The board's edges are painted white.

Signature

No signature visible within the painted area.