Water. In the desert, water is scarce and yet sometimes, very obvious.
Like a beacon in the night, the brilliant lime green leaves of cottonwoods glow in a sea of sandy beige, signaling the presence of water from many miles away.
Big Bend National Park is home to “the Window”, where all the rain and snow pours out of the basin onto the desert floor. “The Window” in this painting is to the left of the trees at the small gap between the mountains. In the background the hazy flattop outline of Casa Grande Peak can be seen.
The trees here are spring fed and truly represent an oasis in the desert.