Comanche Moon Rising

This is an image of the Caprock canyons country of West Texas. It is a favorite subject of mine not only for its rich visual resources, but also for the lore of the region, and the tales of the hardscrabble residents of generations past. This area is known as the heart of the "Comancheria", the home of the Lords of the Plains, the Comanche Indians. It was said that if the sky was clear and the moon was full, the Comanche would raid at will. Thus, the term "Comanche Moon". I am fascinated by the way the moon illuminates the harsh landscape, and I absolutely love manipulating watercolors, from transparent, warm undertones, to overlying cool, opaque shadows.