Quick piece in a somewhat similar style to another one I did recently – most of the drawings I’m making lately take days or sometimes even weeks to complete, so it’s fun on occasion to whip up something that’s fresh in my mind over a few free hours. The composition is an interpretation of a couple photos I took during our 2016 “desert crawl,” and I was also thinking about those highly stylized vintage mid-century travel posters that undoubtedly inspired countless travelers in the past. 

In April 2016, we set off on a week-long desert road trip to see some big rocks. We flew into Vegas, picked up a rental car, and carved a wide arc through the desert southwest. Along the way, we visited Bryce Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and of course the Grand Canyon, as well as an overnight stop in Williams, AZ along Route 66 on the way back. But the highlight for me was Antelope. I’d seen photos for years, but I knew I had to witness it with my own eyes. It didn’t disappoint.

There’s something about the American Southwest that gets into my bones; the colors, the tumbleweeds, the sense of scale always stay with me. I often find myself thinking about going back. Still high on our bucket list: touring Utah’s legendary “Mighty Five” national parks.