Georgia O'Keeffe fell in love with the stark, sun-drenched deserts of northern New Mexico in 1929 at age 41. She wandered the badlands alone to paint, viewing bleached bones and sharp cliffs not as lifeless, but as symbols of the deep, enduring spirit of the American West. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Desert Exploration and Bones
- Wandering alone: O'Keeffe hiked the remote desert solo with her art gear. This was rare and bold for a woman in the 1930s.
- Collecting bones: She gathered sun-bleached skulls and pelvis bones from the sand, bringing them back to paint against vast blue skies.
- Life, not death: She felt bones connected the desert's harsh survival story with its stark beauty.
If you have been reading here awhile, you know Ms. O'Keefe is my favorite! I have created easy to follow art lessons to help you share this artist with your students.
Art Lessons Featuring Georgia O'Keefe