In the 1990s I planned to travel to the Southwest of the USA to visit the settlements and ritual places of pre-Columbian Indians. Of corse I also visited the most classical national parks on the way. While driving through the countryside I was already impressed - not only by the huge distances, unusual for Europeans - but also by the »roadside geology«, geological formations which appear in different lights everywhere.
At first, all titles of my landscape paintings related to geological strata of the regions I've painted. Later on, in the nineties, the countryside itself became the most important part of my voyage. On numerous walks my impressions were confirmed.
Most fascinating of course were those natural stone arches at Arches National Park in Utah. Following "primitive trails" on the mountain plateau above the Colorado River, I could wander through countless stone arches. Just watching how the canyons slowly seem to rise from the prairie at sunrise and how after a while the sun hit the butes and fins and the light formed shadows ..., this was inspiration for my multi-faceted sketches.
The most impressive highlight was my tours round the Escalante region; Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Utah. Of course I went to Lower Calf Creek Fall, passing relics of old Indian rock paintings. All my wandering reminded me of Everett Ruess, who wandered in the Escalante region in 1930s and said: "... finally I've seen, experienced and listened to so much beauty that is impossible to describe and that cannot be expressed in words or paintings ...".
Sand Dune Arch
Double Arch
Landscape Arch
Primitive Trail
Lower Calf Creek Fall
Windows Section
Kayenta
Hotauta
