Robert Flinkman

Robert Flinkman
Sandstone Cliffs, El Malpais
oil on canvas board
18" X 24"
1996
copyright 1996 Robert Flinkman

 

June 14th, 1996        Friday

Came back from heading up to Fenton Lake - I believe I almost made it, the paved road turned suddenly gravel, like riding on a concrete washboard. I stopped. To my right perched way up were towering pinnacles of rocks, like battlements, looking like granite. The colors were dark, streaked with orange and yellow rust colors. I walked up the hill to the foot of these formations. All along the wind and weather carved out holes and crevices on the walls. Some of the holes had rings inside rings, forming a type of circular pattern inside. I took off my ring and allowed my hand to feel the texture and shape of this natural sculpture. The feel was gritty, rocky, but smooth. I also felt moss and lichen, deep green and yellow-green. I'm glad I got there just as the rain ceased. The earth had a deep, warm, rich scent, especially with the tall pines all around. Once in a while I heard the rustle of a lizard, or the call of a bird. I let my hand wander over the surface - the flow was even, the holes and crevices even, nothing was unbalanced or out of place- there was a beautiful, even harmony here.
Along Rte.4 I spotted some fine spots to do some paintings of these red cliffs - all Park land, so I'll head back there again........I've got El Malpais and the Jemez in mind for paintings, and that pen and ink on Lead and Princeton. So I've really got my summer work cut out for me.