Quick Draw at The Gardens - Palm Dessert, CA

This was a great event put on by the Desert PlaenAir Association. So many great artist and the weather was amazing.

This event was a good reminder of why I paint outdoors in the first place. Working quickly and under pressure strips things down to what actually matters—composition, value, and intention. Seeing all the work together reinforced for me that I’m less interested in pretty and more drawn to mood, restraint, and structure. Plein air continues to be a place for me to test ideas, sharpen decisions, and better understand my own visual language. Each event clarifies the direction a little more, and that feels like real progress.