Painted on location at Saddle Mountain, Arizona, Protector of the Sacred Path reveals a land alive with spirit. At the base of the scene, a Native figure stands quietly, connected to the earth and attuned to what the modern eye may overlook. As the canyon opens toward the glowing horizon, spiritual forms rise subtly from stone and shadow—most notably the Thunderbird, watching from the rock face like a guardian etched in time.
The painting speaks to an ancient presence, one that continues to dwell in these canyons and ridgelines. As settlers passed by, perhaps unaware of what the land held, the spirits remained—quiet, vast, and watching. This work invites the viewer to walk with reverence, to see with more than the eyes, and to feel what still lives beneath the dust and sun.