Lone Cactus, 2026 by Ray Patrick — original oil painting — 2026.028.023

Subject

A canyon wall stepping down from the left, a single tall cactus upright in front of it, and buttes and a blue range opening out to the right.

Composition

The rock mass on the left and the buttes on the right lean toward each other, leaving a gap at the centre through which the distance is seen. The cactus stands exactly in that gap and holds it open.

Palette

Pale turquoise sky, warm cream and ochre in the lit rock, deep blue-violet in the shadow and the far range. The cactus and the slope at the right are the only greens.

Handling

Angular and flat — each rock plane is one loaded stroke with a square end, and the strata are indicated by the gaps between strokes rather than drawn. The cactus is a single straight pull of green from top to bottom.

Medium and support

Oil on board. Canvas weave reads through the sky and the distance; the rock is more heavily loaded. The board's edges are painted white.

Signature

No signature visible within the painted area.