I have just returned from a road trip to the southwest and back. The round trip 30 hour drive was done in a week, which means we spent a lot of time in the car. From the road I saw great landscapes across many states. I am truly inspired and in awe of the diversity that can be found in such a short trip. I observed the flat plains of Iowa, the deserts of New Mexico, the steep cliffs of Arizona, and the mountains of Colorado. The contrast seen in a single day’s drive is astounding. Of course I took many photos and cannot wait to make them all paintings. More importantly, I think I have a greater appreciation for the subtleties in landscape. For example, after half a days spent driving through the Rocky Mountains, I was struck by the quiet elegance found in the yellow plains of Nebraska and Iowa against a sharp blue sky. There is certainly an opportunity for perspective here.