Arizona Landscape Acrylic Painting – “The Doves at San Xavier”
San Xavier del Bac Mission near Tucson, Arizona is a popular tourist destination, but it is also an active church. Father Kino founded it in 1692. The first church was constructed in 1756. It is the oldest European structure in Arizona and was completed in 1797.
Having lived in Tucson, I visited this mission many times and because it is white – even from a few miles away – it looks like a friendly beacon amidst the surrounding desert landscape.
I was taking pictures of the west tower a few years ago, and looking up, I noticed that the clouds ironically looked like doves flying over it. How appropriate because it is called “The White Dove of the Desert.” And so, I decided this just had to be painted. I stylized the clouds, but they are not too far off from the original clouds over that tower that day.
To discover this wonderful mission for yourself, you can go to the San Xavier web site to learn more.
Acrylic
Image Size: 24 1/2″ x 24″
A couple early photos of the first stages of the painting:
First look at the San Xavier painting.
One of the first stages of the San Xavier painting.
