Reimagining a Mission Through Winter
“Sandoval Snow” grew directly from my watercolor “Pueblo Mission,” which was inspired by a historic New Mexico mission I photographed while traveling through the Southwest. After completing that original painting, I began imagining how the same mission might feel under entirely different conditions. With this watercolor I envisioned the structure quieter, colder, and softened by a winter snowfall.
Rather than repainting the mission itself, I chose to experiment. I created a new winter background on a separate sheet of watercolor paper, using magenta and deep purples to define the snowy landscape and sky. This winter environment was then combined with the original mission, allowing this watercolor to feel both familiar and completely reimagined at the same time.
Snow, Color, and Contrast
Snow in the desert has always fascinated me, and “Sandoval Snow” became a way to explore that contrast. Snow quiets everything, yet it intensifies color. In this watercolor artwork, the warm adobe tones of the mission stand against snow-covered ground and the luminous winter sky becomes a balance between warmth and stillness, offering the viewer a visual pause.
Working on “Sandoval Snow” reinforced how watercolor can hold both restraint and boldness. The pigment moves freely in the sky, while the mission remains grounded and deliberate. That balance influenced many of my later desert landscape paintings and continues to shape my approach today.
McKnight Clouds and Signature Style
The stylized clouds drifting through the sky in “Sandoval Snow” are part of what I later referred to as McKnight clouds, inspired by the bold color sensibility of artist Thomas McKnight. During this period, I was learning how the sky could function as an emotional element rather than simply a backdrop.
These expressive clouds appear in several works from this time, including “Pueblo Mission” and “San Miguel Mission.” In “Sandoval Snow,” they help establish a visual language that connects architectural structure with atmosphere and feeling.
Part of a Larger Exploration
This watercolor is one of several variations developed from this mission study. Other works, such as “San Ysidro,” explore warmth and spiritual focus by directing light toward the cross, while “Sandoval Snow” emphasizes season, quiet, and winter atmosphere.
Later paintings like “Navajo Palapa” and “Transient Sky” expanded on this same technique, using separate backgrounds to evoke mood without sacrificing structure. All of these watercolors were created during a formative period when exploration and curiosity guided my artistic choices.
From Early Experimentation to the Gallery Wall
“Sandoval Snow” captures a moment when experimentation felt natural rather than risky. I trusted the process, embraced variation, and followed intuition—lessons that still guide my work today.
My artwork is displayed at The Village Gallery, considered the top gallery in Sedona. It’s a space where collectors can stand in front of my luminous landscapes and Southwest wall art, feel their energy, and better understand how places like the one depicted here continue to influence my artistic journey.
The Heart of It All
Art lights up the same part of your brain as
falling in love—it’s an unforgettable feeling.
Collector’s Note
“Sandoval Snow” is an early watercolor that presents a winter variation of the Pueblo Mission. This piece reflects my exploration of season, atmosphere, and artistic decision-making during a pivotal period of growth as an emerging artist working in Southwest artwork.
