Some paintings become companions, and for me, Tequila Sunrise is one of them. It began as a vision of the desert’s first light—the moment when the horizon glows with rose, amber, and gold, and the silhouettes of saguaros stand like quiet Desert Sentinels. Sedona’s skies at dawn have a way of making you feel both grounded and uplifted, and I wanted this painting to carry that duality.
I painted Tequila Sunrise in fluorescent acrylics, a medium that allows color to behave like living light. In daylight, the hues radiate with warmth: rose gradients climbing into orange, gold spilling across the desert floor, and the noble saguaros rising against it all. But the painting carries another secret. Under black light, the original transforms. Pigments ignite, stratifying the sky into luminous bands, while the saguaros gain subtle dimensionality. The scene feels as if it’s expanding beyond the canvas. Collectors who have stood before the original often describe it as two paintings in one: a glowing desert sunrise by day, and a quiet spectacle by night.
Multiple saguaros anchor the piece, their forms steady against the shifting colors. They are not just desert plants; they are symbols of endurance, of watching centuries of light pass across the land. I tucked hidden hearts into their shadows and the desert forms around them—small invitations for viewers to pause and look deeper. These hearts are reminders that love for the land is always present, even if it is not immediately apparent.
Over the years, Tequila Sunrise became more than just another painting. It became my most requested, my best seller, and eventually, the visual muse for my Sedona Art Studios logo. Its silhouette and palette carried forward into the identity of my studio, a symbol that one painting could convey not only beauty but also a sense of belonging. In many ways, Tequila Sunrise is the heartbeat of my career, proof that a single image can connect across time, collectors, and purpose.
Collectors often choose this piece for spaces where they want both energy and calm. Over fireplaces, in sunlit living rooms, or in entryways that welcome guests, Tequila Sunrise radiates a sense of presence. Reproductions in canvas gallery wraps and luminous metal prints preserve the painting’s depth and glow remarkably well, while giclée prints provide accessible ways to bring its warmth into any space. Though only the original transforms under black light, each reproduction carries much of the layered brilliance that makes the painting feel alive.
Tequila Sunrise also belongs to a larger conversation in my Top Nine collection. Where Pitiado embraced experimental watercolor textures, and Pure Joy explored scale and gratitude with Cathedral Rock, Tequila Sunrise embodies Sedona’s morning light in its most radiant form. It also connects naturally to later works like Devil’s Bridge and Coyote’s Lunar Serenade, which use the same fluorescent medium to create glowing, dimensional experiences. Together, they form a constellation of works that explore how light transforms space and emotion.
Why does Tequila Sunrise resonate so profoundly with collectors? I think it’s because it mirrors a universal feeling. Everyone has experienced that first light of day—the sense of renewal, of hope, of possibility. By anchoring that light with the timeless form of Iconic Saguaros, the painting becomes not just a Sedona scene, but a shared human experience. It’s a reminder that each sunrise is both an ending and a beginning, and that beauty can be both steady and fleeting.
For me, Tequila Sunrise is more than a painting. It is a companion. It has traveled with me through years of painting, through countless conversations with collectors, through gallery walls, and into homes. It is a reminder that art, at its best, does not just depict a scene—it becomes an integral part of your life.
Explore Tequila Sunrise and the full Top Nine collection here.