With his paintbox and sketchbook, Minor visited the South Rim of the Grand Canyon for 12 days during 1997. He recorded some of what he saw on paper. One of his objectives had been to observe this spectacular chasm closely with on-the-spot sketches, as did the artist Thomas Moran more than a century ago. Before color photography, Moran's watercolor field sketches of Yellowstone in 1872 had provided governmental authorities with information necessary to consider it for national park status. In 1919 Moran's art had been instrumental in doing the same for Grand Canyon. Minor recorded the date and time he created each watercolor, thus documenting the light and the season as well as natural features. In addition to more than a dozen full-page, full-color reproductions of Minor's field art, several tiny renderings of birds and wildlife are included in this unusual perspective of an artist at work. Minor's brief written remarks accompany the art, lending even more insight about this stark, magnificent--indeed--grand land form. (Ages 10-15)

Award-winning painter Wendell Minor invites readers to explore the awe-inspiring terrain of the South Rim. This picture book is filled with beautiful sketches, photographs, and paintings as well as interesting information about one of the world's greatest natural wonders. Full color.