Sundazed – Lake Tahoe

Turning Into The Light

Sundazed – Lake Tahoe began recently at Lake Tahoe, where I’ve painted countless times over the years. Of all the places around the lake, I’m most drawn to the northeast shore, especially the stretch between Sand Harbor and Bonsai Rock. That’s where I feel most comfortable, and where ideas tend to come quickly and one after another.

Over time, I learned that if I wanted to work there, I had to arrive very early—often in the dark—setting up as the sun was just coming up. The reason was simple: by about 3 pm, the sun would hit the water at just the right angle, bounce straight back up, and blind me while standing on that shore.

Then it occurred to me: Anything that forceful is probably worth studying more closely instead of allowing it to conquer me.

So instead of packing up that afternoon, I turned my easel directly into the glare and set up a new board. I tipped my hat down low, squinted, and painted just beneath the brim—reducing that blinding light into a simplified study of color and contrast.

I captured just enough in my color notes to take the idea back to the studio and begin working from it on a deeper level. This simple study in color led to the sensitive design in this block print, my largest to date. While this is an edition of only 12, I plan to print a second edition that will be identified as such.

Edition of 12

Image size: 20" x 20" with generous margin

Frame: 28" w x 29" h

Frame is in natural wood or black.