Lot 37
**Originally Listed At $300**
John L. Mendoza (American, b. 1938). Desert Wash with Saguaros. Watercolor on paper, n.d. Signed at lower right. In this serene watercolor, the desert does not shout - it hums. Three saguaro cacti rise like sentinels from the soft wash of sand and brush, their vertical silhouettes anchoring a scene defined by motion, gesture, and restraint. John L. Mendoza's "Desert Wash with Saguaros" evokes the American Southwest through a minimalist lens, where every stroke speaks with intention. Broad washes of olive, ochre, and umber sweep across the paper, bleeding and pooling like early morning light over ridgelines and mesas. The suggestion of a mountain range hangs in the distance, rendered with a whisper of green-gray, while the pale sky above dissolves into open space. The painting feels both grounded and weightless - abstract in execution, yet unmistakably of the desert. Size of painting: 23" W x 16" H (58.4 cm x 40.6 cm); of frame: 31" W x 24.5" H (78.7 cm x 62.2 cm)
Mendoza's work often walks this line. It is gentle yet passionate, simple yet nuanced, and always intuitive. His brush moves freely and confidently, letting the composition reveal itself in a language of suggestion rather than detail. The vertical thrusts of the cacti are echoed in thin, dark gestures, while the earth tones below ripple outward in subtle turbulence - the kind that only arises when an artist listens closely to the landscape. This painting is not a documentary record but a romantic recollection, a dreamscape of form and feeling. Like much of Mendoza's work, it offers a diary page from his inner world, where washes of pigment become voices, and the desert becomes a quiet, knowing companion.
About the artist: "The work of John L. Mendoza is a diary of the man and his view of life. His oil paintings and watercolors bespeak romance, nostalgia, and natural beauty. Many of his paintings display dual characteristics. They are gentle yet passionate, simple yet detailed, bold yet subtle, and concrete yet abstract. When he paints his best work, the painting magically communicates with him, almost dictating what should be put on paper. His work includes Contemporary Landscapes, Oil Landscape Paintings, Watercolor Landscapes, Still Lifes, Abstracts, and Portraits. His ability to think freely, confidently and intuitively allows him to create a Mendoza world, bursting with avalanches of color, which build wildly romantic and emotional feelings, creating a universal and aesthetic appeal. Vertical and horizontal thrusts that dominate his work sweep downward from the basic motif in a wash that is essential to the painting as a whole. This is the signature that is unmistakably the work of John L. Mendoza. John resides in Pueblo, Colorado, with his wife, artist Dorothy Mendoza." (source: artist's website)
Provenance: private Erie, Colorado, USA collection, acquired in the 1970s; ex-private Fraser collection, acquired in October 1993; ex-Canyon Road Gallery, Denver, Colorado, USA
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#189650
- Condition: Signed at lower right. Mounted behind glass in custom matte and frame with suspension wire on verso for display. Has not been examined outside of glass, but painting and frame appear to be in excellent overall condition. Old receipt from Canyon Road Gallery attached to verso.
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| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $19,999 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $49,999 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $20,000 |