Seven Spanish Angels began as a collection of memories. Over the years, I photographed horses and the mountains of northern New Mexico, each image capturing a different moment and place. Rather than recreating a single photograph, I combined several of my own images to create a landscape that reflects how I remember the Southwest.

Painted on a wood panel, the natural surface added warmth and character to the scene. As I worked, my familiar infrared-inspired palette emerged almost subconsciously, filling the aspens, mountains, and horses with expressive color while preserving the peaceful feeling of the landscape.

The mountain range in the distance reminded me of the song Seven Spanish Angels, a title that seemed to capture both the quiet beauty of the land and the timeless spirit of the horses. My hope is that this painting invites viewers to pause, breathe deeply, and experience the sense of freedom and peace that I have always found in the mountains of New Mexico.