The Bible story of the prophet Elijah being taken up to heaven in a fiery chariot drawn by heavenly horses really got me thinking. It inspired me to paint this painting of heaven's horses minus Elijah. Here's a Scripture verse about Elijah's being caught up into heaven: "And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven" (2Ki 2:11).

Near Virginia City, Nevada, flowering shrubs (known as chamisa or rabbit brush) make the desert come alive with beauty. Their gorgeous yellow blossoms inspired me to feature them in a desert landscape.