Crystal DiPietro Paintings

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Zion National Park on a bright fall day. Yellow rabbitbrush blooming in the foreground leads the eye up to verdant cliffs on the horizon. Thick line work give...

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"For a few brief moments on the south rim, the morning sun lights up the canyon walls like neon while casting blue shadows into its depths," says artist Cryst...

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Artist Crystal DiPietro shares a spectacular mountain desert view from a camping and hiking trip to the Desert National Wildlife Refuge. Rendered en plein air, Crystal captured the sierra's golden summit as the sun sets, its rays melting into the west. "The late afternoon light lit up the dramatic peaks with a warm glow."

About the Artist
Many artists work with the landscape, but Crystal DiPietro sees her works as different from most in the genre. "I tend not to see landscapes as soft and pretty, but as rugged, dramatic and colorful." Many of her works depict wild storms and moody sunsets. She spends a lot of time in remote spots and uses layers of color to create her compositions. Her work hovers between a brief impression of a scene and a pure dream. Crystal's landscapes of southern Utah seem to undulate and continuously change. What's interesting, though, is that these mountains and valleys seem to do the same thing in person. In these areas, the view changes constantly throughout the day as the light shifts, throwing shadows of faces, mazes and alien patterns across the cliff faces. Crystal impressively captures what's there, and what seems to be but isn't.

Words that describe this painting: mountains, desert, peaks, sunset, landscape, southwest, west, western, plein air, Mojave, Joshua Tree, shadow, impressionism, oilpaint, impressionism, landscape, western, oil painting, blue

Sunset Glow...

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A panoramic view of peaks along the Utah/Colorado border. Crystal says she was inspired by a beautiful September hike up South Mountain in the La Sal Range in...

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A Joshua tree stands among yellow desert bushes, its leaves appearing to glow under the bright sun. In the distance, a blue ridge and a mountain rise. Rugged fo...

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"This piece is inspired by the difficult traverse of a dramatic, jagged ridgeline," says artist Crystal DiPietro. A high vantage point offers an expansive view of veined mountains. The sun's rays glow golden on one side while cool shadows of purple fall between the deep crevices. "Despite its rugged appearance, the ridge seemed to have a harmonic rhythm."

About the Artist
Many artists work with the landscape, but Crystal DiPietro sees her works as different from most in the genre. "I tend not to see landscapes as soft and pretty, but as rugged, dramatic and colorful." Many of her works depict wild storms and moody sunsets. She spends a lot of time in remote spots and uses layers of color to create her compositions. Her work hovers between a brief impression of a scene and a pure dream. Crystal's landscapes of southern Utah seem to undulate and continuously change. What's interesting, though, is that these mountains and valleys seem to do the same thing in person. In these areas, the view changes constantly throughout the day as the light shifts, throwing shadows of faces, mazes and alien patterns across the cliff faces. Crystal impressively captures what's there, and what seems to be but isn't.

Words that describe this painting: ridge, ridgeline, mountains, desert, southwest, west, western, southwestern, viewpoint, impressionism, sunlight, shadow, oilpaint, landscape, impressionism, landscape, western, oil painting, yellow

The Brute...

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"This piece was inspired by an early morning hike through a lush meadow filled with summer flowers," says Crystal. "The sun was just starting to creep in over...

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Drawing inspiration from her hiking trips, artist Crystal DiPietro paints scenes she personally witnesses. She depicts a hillside view of Saguaro cacti overlooking the canyon. "They stand like sentinels along the landscape," describes Crystal. She paints the mountains turning...

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"This piece is inspired by a steep hike in the high mountains in summer," shares artist Crystal DiPietro. As a hiker, Crystal imparts the feeling of happiness from these wonderful views she gathers during her adventurous trips. "The flower-filled alpine meadows and stunning views bring joy to the heart."

About the Artist
Many artists work with the landscape, but Crystal DiPietro sees her works as different from most in the genre. "I tend not to see landscapes as soft and pretty, but as rugged, dramatic and colorful." Many of her works depict wild storms and moody sunsets. She spends a lot of time in remote spots and uses layers of color to create her compositions. Her work hovers between a brief impression of a scene and a pure dream. Crystal's landscapes of southern Utah seem to undulate and continuously change. What's interesting, though, is that these mountains and valleys seem to do the same thing in person. In these areas, the view changes constantly throughout the day as the light shifts, throwing shadows of faces, mazes and alien patterns across the cliff faces. Crystal impressively captures what's there, and what seems to be but isn't.

Words that describe this painting: mountains, flowers, hike, landscape, alpine, peaks, wildflowers, southwest, west, western, impressionism, impressionism, landscape, western, oil painting

Alpine Flowers...

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I was inspired to create this piece after spending several days in the Henry Mountains in Utah. It was monsoon season and after some storms, the clouds were c...

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This desert landscape painting captures the dramatic sandstone cliffs in Red Rock Canyon. Blooming wildflowers evoke the joy, growth, and energy experienced on ...

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Red sandstone cliffs tower above a green river valley in Zion National Park, while low clouds swirl across the sky. Loose, sweeping brushstrokes bring energy an...

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Artist Crystal DiPietro reflects a magnificent view of Southwestern Arizona. On an evening hike, Crystal came across prickly pear ...

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Soft light hits two peaks, casting soft, blue shadows on the cliffs below. In the foreground, a meadow lights up with small, dancing trees. The composition and ...

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Artist Crystal DiPietro paints a sunset as the warm light descends beyond the horizon. The golden rays illuminate the towering mesas adorned in shades of oran...

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"Many types of phacelia are a welcome and colorful sight in the desert in spring," shares artist Crystal DiPietro. "In this piece, a large purple variety stan...

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Crystal says this painting was inspired by the beautiful light and shadows after a rare desert snowstorm. She used a limited palette of blues and white and an...

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A small green bush stands out as a symbol of life against an eroded desert. The bright sun reveals the ruggedness of the badlands. A darker mesa rises in the di...

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A fervent hiker and camper, artist Crystal DiPietro invites the viewer on an adventure of the majestic wilderness of the southwest. "This piece is about stand...

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On a solo hike, I passed through some beautiful aspen groves. It was early morning and the sunlight was filtering in behind. I noticed a lone, small pine grow...

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Crystal DiPietro's paintings start with hikes in remote places. She takes many photographs while out in nature. After every trip, Crystal immediately goes th...

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This is a distant view of the hoodoos in Valley of the Gods in Utah. The glowing sunset light and long shadows as I prepared to ca...