High Desert Rocks, 2026 by Ray Patrick — original oil painting — 2026.015.011

Subject

Boulders and a yucca in high desert sun, with a pale sand wash running between them and a far blue range beyond.

Composition

Built from a few large simple masses — two rock groups right, one left, the yucca upright between them — arranged round an open centre. The eye is sent through the gap in the middle to the hills.

Palette

A flat, saturated cobalt sky over sunlit tan and ochre rock, with cold blue-violet in every shadow. Small spots of magenta flower are the only broken colour.

Handling

Square, loaded strokes with abrupt ends; the rocks are two or three strokes each and nothing is refined afterwards. The yucca blades are single drawn pulls of the brush, light over dark.

Medium and support

Oil on board. Canvas texture reads through the thinner sky; the foreground is thicker. The board's edges are painted white.

Signature

No signature visible within the painted area.