DeAnna Beachley

There is a wetlands area in Las Vegas, NV. Wetlands. In the desert! 

My pieces are all based on things seen in the Las Vegas Wetlands Park. It is one of my favorite places to walk around. Water is always an issue in the desert, too much or not enough. I think about water all the time. In 2024/early 2025 we went for 214 days with no measurable rain. Wetlands are important ecosystems that should be protected. I used a mix of acrylic painting and collage (with origami paper) for my pieces. I have been captivated by reed reflections in the ponds noticing their subtle differences in the fall and winter, and the fish that swim in them. Two of the panels are reed reflections, one in acrylic, the other collage. One panel shows carp in a pond and is a mix of acrylic and collage. The other panels relate to the Las Vegas wash coming into the park, acrylic, a Great horned owl which resides there, collage, and a cottonwood tree with a peace sign carved into it, acrylic.