On The Kaibab Trail 2015

Mark Maggiori made 'On The Kaibab Trail' with oil on canvas and an impressive sense of scale. There’s something really pleasing about the way Maggiori uses thin washes of color to build up this vast landscape, it’s almost like he’s sketching in paint. Look at the horse in the foreground, see the way the white is scumbled over the canvas allowing some of the under layers to show through. It gives a real sense of texture and grit. In contrast, the treatment of the canyon in the background is altogether softer. The blending of the different tones of ochre, brown and grey, create a hazy sense of depth which feels very inviting. The way the light rakes across the arid landscape creates an interesting dialogue between representation and abstraction. It reminds me of those beautiful wide landscapes by Maynard Dixon, but with a touch of something more contemporary. Ultimately, it's a painting that leaves you with a sense of wonder at the vastness and beauty of the American West.