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Showing posts with the label sagebrush

Red Cloud Buttes - Colored Pencil Drawing

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"Red Cloud Buttes" Colored Pencil Rising out of Nebraska’s northwest corner, Red Cloud Buttes is a noble promontory bordering the desolate northern plains. The rugged pine ridge is named after the legendary, Lakota chieftain - Red Cloud. The string of bluffs overlooks the White River Valley and historic Fort Robinson, an old military post that featured prominently in the annals of the “Wild West”. Today, the remote wilderness is known for its extreme solitude. Native Americans still revere this sacred rampart and during a sunrise trek, its interior is imbued with an arcane spirituality. The mystical experience is enhanced by birdsong, bison and extraordinary light. A central theme is the profusion of big-blue sagebrush that’s scattered across the burnt-orange grassland. The landscape’s natural color scheme is expressed with a startling combination of complementary colors. A brief shower of summer rain has just passed so the breaking clouds filter the soft morning light. Viewe...

Courthouse and Jail Rocks - Watercolor

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Courthouse and Jail Rocks - Watercolor It's a breezy, spring day in Western Nebraska. Courthouse and Jail Rocks tower above the open prairie. A row of stately cottonwoods traces the winding course of Pumpkin Creek while a field of fresh hay slices through rugged pastureland. The fiery foreground is accented by glittering, silver sagebrush. The cloudless sky is a deep blue as the unusual formation appears golden in the evening light and dark shadows define the bold geography. The steep south face is terraced like a Sumerian ziggurat and descends into a labyrinth of mysterious corridors, caves, tunnels and rattlesnake pits. Composed of Brule clay, Gering sandstone and ash, the rocks are erosional remnants of an ancient plateau formed by volcanic activity thousands of years ago. Later, they became an unforgettable natural landmark that guided emigrants during the 19th century's Westward Expansion. Back then, just passing near the monument offered hope to weary pioneers ...

Courthouse and Jail Rocks - Acrylic

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"Courthouse and Jail Rocks" Acrylic It's a breezy, spring day in Western Nebraska. Courthouse and Jail Rocks tower above the open prairie. A row of stately cottonwoods traces the winding course of Pumpkin Creek while a field of fresh hay slices through rugged pastureland. The fiery foreground is accented by glittering, silver sagebrush. The cloudless sky is a deep blue as the unusual formation appears golden in the evening light and dark shadows define the bold geography. The steep south face is terraced like a Sumerian ziggurat and descends into a labyrinth of mysterious corridors, caves, tunnels and rattlesnake pits. Composed of Brule clay, Gering sandstone and ash, the rocks are erosional remnants of an ancient plateau formed by volcanic activity thousands of years ago. Later, they became an unforgettable natural landmark that guided emigrants during the 19th century's Westward Expansion . Back then, just passing near the monument offered hope to weary p...