Mesa like mountains from the Sierra Grande range arise from the Sea of Cortez and I am staying right at their feet, looking up at the naked stone, crumpled with eons of seismic activity, dotted with cactus and caves, hideouts for goats and imagined outlaws.

Below is the drawing in preparation for a watercolor. If it was just a stand alone drawing I would push the values and the line hierarchy. I don’t expect you to know the term “Line hierarchy” - It is organizing line weight difference in a drawing so as to maximize spatial and compositional effect.

The resultant painting is posted below. Rush ahead if you must.

On the day I did this drawing, many other things occurred.: Encountering a pod of dolphins while fishing, watching Bill Gate’s yacht pull into the bay (complete with helicopter) and seeing the Space X rocket blaze across the sky. We had no idea what it was at the time. Quite otherwordly.

Days have been weirdly full in this fairly remote corner of the world. My friend Reed is remodeling a property here at Playa El Coyote with the intent of turning it into a glamping/retreat destination. He is well on his way to completion. He’s also an adventure guide: Fishing, paddle boarding, snorkeling, hiking. There is no couch potatoing going on at Luna Negra.

For instance, today we climbed the mountain that I painted. It is right out the back door. And wow, was that an adventure! No trail, just finding our way around boulders and cactus, and up chutes of rock. Dizzying heights. You had to have your wits about you. Much of the stone is amalgam, a fused combination of rocks, which makes for good hand holds….when it doesn’t come loose.

It was up and up and up, and an incredible view of the bay. Also, it was raining! Which is pretty rare here, but that helped abate the mid-day heat.

Getting down was just as difficult; finding a new route down a steep dried out water course. Some cuts and bruises acquired as boulder hopping fatigue set in. But it is such a satisfying feeling to be up in nature’s grill and not just seeing it from afar. Between the painting and the climbing, I will remember these mountains well.

Paint the Mountain, Then Climb It