Elizabeth Jose Painter's Journal

8 x 10" paintings - portraits

2009-11-24T08:35:00.000-08:00

8 x 10" paintings - landscapes

2009-11-24T08:30:00.000-08:00

another catch up blogging session

2009-11-24T08:26:00.000-08:00

dear blog followers,

I've been in a strange space with my painting recently, not my usual self. I apologise for not keeping up to date with the blog. I have mostly been painting very small canvasses, 8 x 10", smaller projects, and working on my paint application and light effects. I love to get your feedback!

many thanks,

Elizabeth

landscapes

2009-10-17T08:30:00.001-07:00

figurative paintings

2009-10-17T08:27:00.000-07:00

there are a few more that I haven't photographed and photoshopped yet.

the angel series

2009-10-17T08:24:00.001-07:00

apologies

2009-10-17T08:22:00.000-07:00

dear blog followers,

I apologise for the long gap between postings - the longer the gap, the harder it is to break it. I'll post a digest of the last few months and then hope to get back into a good routine once I'm back up to date.

Thanking you for your patience!

Elizabeth

Saturday 25th July 2009 - Habitat for Humanity fundraiser

2009-07-27T08:05:00.000-07:00

A busy day for me! First the portrait group in the morning where we were painting the lovely Paula from Brazil, and then the Habitat for Humanity fundraiser event all afternoon - that's a lot of painting!

Here I am in my little booth with my angel painting.

My friend that took the photo said that with the light behind me I look as though I have a halo too!
Paula - oil on canvas - 16 x 12" - $750
The Angle Gabriel - 30 x 30" - oil on gallery wrap canvas - unfinished

Friday 24th July 2009 - Radio show

2009-07-27T08:02:00.000-07:00

I was showing my paintings on the radio again! That amuses me mightily! So I take the painting into the studio and we discuss it on the air. I brought in my second angel painting that I'm still working on. We were promoting the Habitat for Humanity fund-raising event that was to take place the next day.

Saturday 18th July 2009 - Genevieve

2009-07-27T07:58:00.000-07:00

The Saturday Portrait Group and this week the model was Genevieve. I particularly liked her dramatic colouring and her bold jewellery.

Genevieve - oil on canvas - 14 x 11" -$595

Friday 17th July 2009 - Angel

2009-07-27T07:48:00.001-07:00

Big changes going on for me at the moment. I've been thinking about painting angels for quite some time now but not knowing exactly where to start. I'm pretty sure it was connected to the massive cleanse I started, cleaning up my act so to speak, but the ideas about angel paintings got stronger until I just had to start.

It's a different way of working for me, slower and more deliberate and lots of checking in with myself about what it is exactly that I am aiming to express and achieve with each painting. This goes beyond capturing a light effect on a landscape or a likeness in a portrait.

Angel - 20 x 16" - oil on canvas - $1,175

Saturday 11th July 2009 - Rosa

2009-07-27T07:45:00.001-07:00

Rosa is the daughter of a friend, rapidly turning into a young woman.

Rosa - 16 x 12" - oil on canvas - SOLD

Thursday 2nd July 2009

2009-07-10T07:27:00.001-07:00

I finished this one off in the studio. If you'd like to compare it to the earlier photo, you'll find that I sharpened up the values by lightening the sky and the road/paving, took out the blue gate which wasn't adding anything, warmed up the shadows under the portale of the shops behind and brightened up the flowers.

Hollyhocks at Caffe Tazza - 16 x 12" - oil on canvas - $750

Tuesday 30th June 2009 - Hollyhocks at Caffe Tazza

2009-07-10T07:23:00.001-07:00

Jane and I walked around looking for the perfect painting spot for the wonderful hollyhocks that are blooming all over Taos but ended up in our favourite spot at the Caffe Tazza - the other places were either too close to traffic or too exposed - easy to get sunburn this time of year at this altitude. I finished this one off later in the studio.

Hollyhocks at Caffe Tazza - 8 x 10" - oil on canvas panel - $395

Monday 29th June 2009 - Lush Green in the Gorge

2009-07-10T07:10:00.000-07:00

A big group of painters got together at an overlook of the gorge I hadn't been to before. Clarence Medina, Kemper Coley, Michelle Chrisman, Sheila O'Malley along with my regular painting buddies Shari Kestenbaum-Ubeschell and Jane Grover.

The gorge looked so green after all the rain we've been having. I found a shady spot by a tree but packed up earlier than I might have when nasty biting insects appeared - my goodness those bites were itchy in the following days!

Here is a photo of the lovely Shari that I took that day

Lush Green in the Gorge - 8 x 10" - oil on canvas panel - $395

Saturday 27th June 2009 - Jennifer

2009-06-28T15:07:00.001-07:00

Jennifer is a singer songwriter, so I asked her to come dressed for the portrait in her musician image, posed her as though she were taking a break from singing, relaxed and casual. I was very happy with the way this one came out.

Portrait of Jennifer - 20 x 16" - oil on canvas - $1,175

Friday 26th June 2009 - Hollyhocks at Caffe Tazza

2009-06-28T15:05:00.001-07:00

I love "hollyhock season" here in Taos, they are such glorious flowers.

Hollyhocks at Caffe Tazza - 16 x 12" - oil on canvas panel - $750

Thursday 25th June 2009 - Aspen Summer

2009-06-28T14:54:00.000-07:00

I went looking for gallery representation in Aspen last week while I was there for the Jazz festival, a couple of galleries have shown interest, so watch this space for news on that one. I took a photograph up the main street to capture the shadows of the trees over the grassy summer ski runs behind the Victorian style shops, a great scene.

Aspen Summer - 8 x 10" = oil on canvas panel - $395

Saturday 13th June 2009 - The Pink Parasol

2009-06-16T08:49:00.001-07:00

Another day of painting in the Blumenschein garden. This time the model was Kafire.

The Pink Parasol - 16 x 12" - oil on canvas panel - $750

Thursday 11th June 2009 - Ray's Group

2009-06-16T08:43:00.001-07:00

The finished Taos Pueblo painting! I went to the Memorial Day celebrations at the Pueblo with my friend Tony who was visiting from London. There were various speeches and a 21 gun salute followed by a feast to which we were invited. It was quite a special day. I was also allowed to take photographs, which is not always the case, so I took dozens to do paintings from.

Taos Pueblo - 10 x 30" - oil on canvas - $975
Pueblo Scene - 12 x 12" - oil on canvas panel - $575

Wednesday 10th June 2009 - The Twist

2009-06-16T08:41:00.000-07:00

And here is the finished painting.

The Twist - 12 x 16" - oil on canvas panel - $750

Sunday 7th June 2009 - Irises at the Blumenschein

2009-06-16T08:37:00.000-07:00

Another day of painting at the Blumenschein opening weekend. This time I chose a shady spot under the portal - I had to sleep off mild sunstroke after painting out in the courtyard the day before. Lots of painters showed up so it was a sociable day.

Irises at the Blumenschein - 12 x 16" - oil on canvas panel - $750

Saturday 6th June 2009 - Go-go Boots in the Garden

2009-06-16T08:33:00.000-07:00

It was the day of the Summer of Love Parade and the Opening weekend of the Blumenschein Home Museum, where we were painting in the courtyard and enjoying the flowers. Our lovely model, Jen, got into the summer of love spirit in this groovy outfit and we listened to hits from 1969 as we painted, good fun!

Go-go Boots in the Garden - 16 x 12" - oil on canvas panel - $750

Friday 5th June 2009 - A Grey Day in Pilar

2009-06-16T08:28:00.001-07:00

Jane, Shari and another painting buddy, Marian Jackson, went to Pilar looking for ruins to paint for a local art event. In the end I chose to paint this overlook instead. The relative cool of the day made a nice change as it has been getting quite hot. The downside was that we were bitten my mosquitos.

I will be entering this painting in the local fundraiser for the Fechin House Art Museum event called "Russian Nights" where it will be auctioned off for charity.

A Grey Day in Pilar - 8 x 10" - oil on canvas panel -

Thursday 4th June 2009 - Ray's Group

2009-06-16T08:27:00.000-07:00

I started the Taos Pueblo painting this week, the photo will be posted when it is finished.

Friday 29th May 2009 - Bent Street Bench

2009-06-16T08:24:00.001-07:00

I met up with Jane and Shari and another painting buddy, Michelle Chrisman, at Bent Street where the flowers were looking lovely.

Bent Street Bench - 12 x 16" - oil on canvas - $750

Wedensday 27th May 2009 - Melissa's Group

2009-06-16T08:20:00.000-07:00

I painted this one in one session at Melissa's group. You can see the finished painting further up the blog.

The Twist - 12 x 16" - oil on canvas panel - unfinished

Friday 21st May 2009 - Dancing Tree

2009-05-26T12:29:00.000-07:00

My goodness this painting has taken me a long time! I like to get a painting finished in one or two sessions so that my energy stays fresh and this one took at least four sessions on it and much looking at it in between. I was determined to make it work! I finally got it to a place where I was happy with it on Friday.

Dancing Tree - 24 x 30" - oil on canvas - $1,750

Wednesday 20th May 2009 - Irises at Cafe Renato

2009-05-26T12:26:00.000-07:00

The lilacs are already over and the irises are coming into full bloom. These ones outside Cafe Renato are just gorgeous.

Irises at Cafe Renato - oil on canvas panel - 12 x 16" - $750

Saturday 16th May 2009 - Portrait Group

2009-05-26T12:23:00.000-07:00

I really enjoyed the unusual contours of this young man's face, the chiselled jaw and cheekbones. I had fun with the colour as well.

16 x 12" - oil on canvas panel - $750

Friday 15th May 2009 - Lilacs on Ledoux Street

2009-05-26T12:18:00.000-07:00

A gorgeous day out painting with Shari and Jane, enjoying the colours of Spring.

Lilacs on Ledoux Street - 11 x 14" - oil on canvas panel - $595

Wednesday 13th may 2009 Lilacs at the Couse House

2009-05-26T12:14:00.001-07:00

The Lilacs have been amazing this year, must have been the wet winter and the warm Spring. Shari and I painted these lovely lilac bushes at the Couse House on a glorious Spring morning.

Lilacs at the Couse House - 14 x 18" - oil on canvas - $625

Monday 11th May 2009 - Hacienda del Sol

2009-05-12T10:36:00.001-07:00

A new home for my paintings!

Some good friends of mine, Reg and Dale, have taken over the running of a luxury B & B here in Taos and invited me to hang some of my paintings in their communal areas. This is me with Reg and my recently reworked truck painting.

It truly is a lovely place with south-west style interiors and great gardens with views of Taos mountain. They also invited me and my artist friends to come paint in their gardens.

"One of the 10 most Romantic Inns in the U.S." - USA Today

www.taoshaciendadelsol.com

Friday 8th May 2009 - Gorge

2009-05-12T10:30:00.000-07:00

On duty in the gallery and worked on this one during the day. Shari showed Jane and I this spot on the gorge north of Hondo, some way down a dirt road that you wouldn't find unless you were really looking for it. We took photos that day but it was too windy to paint.

After doing those big views on tiny canvasses, it was nice to spread out on this larger canvas. As the day wore on I realised that the cold I've been trying to kick for weeks really hadn't gone and I felt really quite ill and spent the whole weekend resting. I look forward to working on this one some more when I'm fully recovered.

Gorge Tree - 24 x30 - oil on canvas - unfinished.

Thursday 7th May 2009 - Ray's group

2009-05-12T10:26:00.001-07:00

I painted these two about 18 months ago, pictures I liked but, with all I've learned, I felt could be just that bit better. I took them into Ray's group and worked on them some more. Ray, a big fan of bright colour, especially orange, urged me to lay in the bright orange of the adobe buildings behind the truck. I tried it (I can always paint over it!) and I really liked it.

Taos Truck - 12 x 12" - oil on canvas - $575
The Church at Ranchos - 12 x 12" - oil on canvas - $575

Friday 1st May 2009 - Pink Trees

2009-05-12T10:20:00.000-07:00

It was great to get back out Plein Aire painting with Shari and Jane - it felt like it had been a long time. We walked around the centre of town looking for pink blossom trees next to adobe buildings, taking photographs and choosing our spots. I picked this spot outside the Bent Street Deli.

It was early and quiet when we set up but became busy and then my 'maestro' Ray Vinella came to eat breakfast at teh Bent Street Del and parked right in the middle of my composition, so I painted around the cars.

The painting looks empty to me, like it needs a stronger focal point, so I plan to paint in a girl walking her dog or something.

Taos Love Letter - 12 x 16" - oil on canvas panel - unfinished

Thursday 30th April 2009

2009-05-12T10:13:00.001-07:00

I continued my theme of painting massive scale views onto ever smaller canvasses, this is a gorge scene on an 8 x 10" canvas panel. Good fun!

Trees in the Crack - oil on canvas panel - 8 x 10" - $295

Thursday 16th April 2009 - Ray's group

2009-04-17T09:27:00.002-07:00

I painted this one in 3 sessions as well, the same as the gorge painting from last week. I block in the overall composition as a second painting in Ray's group, work on it when I am on duty in the gallery and then bring it to Ray to finish it off. Ray really liked this one and urged me to put a higher price on it.

Now I have learned so much about creating a sense of perspective, I am enjoying getting a sense of the massive on a small canvas. The one I started after I finished this one off is on an even smaller canvas, just to see if I can do it!

Rocky Gorge - 12 x 12" - oil on canvas panel - $575

Wednesday 15th April - Melissa's

2009-04-17T09:27:00.001-07:00

I'll post this one later.

Thursday 9th April 2009 - Ray's

2009-04-17T09:23:00.000-07:00

I painted this one over about 3 sessions. It's a new size of canvas for me, 10 x 30" which seemed quite extreme when it was blank but as soon as the drawing of the gorge went in it made complete sense.

Wide Gorge - 10 x 30" - oil on canvas - $975

Wednesday 8th April 2009 - Melissa's goup

2009-04-17T09:22:00.000-07:00

I'll post this one soon

Thursday 5th March - Farmyard Strut

2009-04-16T11:42:00.001-07:00

One of my fellow workshoppers at Ray's group had brought in a photo of this cockerel and a number of paintings had been done from it. It looked like such fun that I wanted to have a go as well and I think it turned out very well.

Farmyard Strut - oil on canvas - 12 x 12" - $575

2009-04-16T11:36:00.000-07:00

I did these two large florals in my studio before and after my trip to England. Prints of these paintings are available through my fine art america web site (link on top left of this page) and they can produce prints of different sizes on paper or stretched canvas in a variety of frames and mounts - check it out!

Glorious - 22 x 30 - oil on canvas - $1,980
Fabulous - 40 x 30 - oil on canvas - $3,600

sorry for the long gap

2009-04-16T11:34:00.000-07:00

dear blog followers,

I'm sorry for the long gap. I took a trip to England in March and then had 2 big shows to hang while dealing with a dying cat ad my tax return, and then resting to try and get back into the routine. Thanks for bearing with me!

Elizabeth Jose

2009-03-01T14:52:00.000-08:00

I painted Nobel's sister, Robin last year in a painting I called "waiting to dance" in ceremonial attire with the Pueblo painted in the background. Nobel was a wonderful model and a very nice young man.

The Tiwa Blanket - 12 x 16" - oil on canvas - $750

Thursday 26th February 2009 - Ray's

2009-03-01T14:46:00.000-08:00

I took a quiet week painting, I think I overdid it a bit last week. I finished off this painting of Taos Mountain in warm late afternoon light and worked on this painting of a Plains Indian from a photograph, I haven't decided if it's finished or not yet.

Late Afternoon Taos Mountain - 12 x 12" - oil on canvas panel - $425
Plains Indian - 16 x 12" - oil on canvas - $575

Saturday 21st February 2009

2009-02-22T08:52:00.000-08:00

I went to the usual Saturday group but I am not happy with the painting I did and don't want to share it! I felt very tired as I was painting and decided that I probably had already painted enough this week. Time to relax and do other things and come back to my painting fresh next week.

Thanks for all the interest in my clearance page. I am happy to report that I have made some sales but there are still some really great paintings left on the page so hurry if you want to take advantage of these ridiculously low prices. Here are a few of the paintings....

www.elizabethjose.com

Friday 20th February 2009 - still life again

2009-02-22T08:43:00.001-08:00

In the background of one of the Richard Scmidt still lifes that Ray showed me were a couple of paintings and drawings and I got the idea of putting one of my own paintings in the composition.

I was back on duty at the gallery on Friday so i set up the still life as before (without the rose - it was pretty wilted) and took a painting off my display wall. I chose the one that looked the most like Taos to continue the theme of art and Taos. I like that my signature is on the painting in the painting rather than in the corner.

Thanks Ray, I think it is a better painting - tell me what you think!

Still Life with Champagne - oil on canvas - 20 x 20" - not for sale until after the competition.

Thursday 19th February 2009 - Ray's Class

2009-02-22T08:30:00.000-08:00

I brought in my still life with the champagne bottle to see what Ray would say about it and he said although it was well painted, the composition was just terrible. I said "don't sugar coat it Ray, tell me what you really think!" He showed me some still lifes by Richard Scmidt where the composition is much fuller and that got me thinking about changes I could make.

Then I settled down to painting this one from a photo I took on Monday on a walk with Jane out to the Morada. The snow is melting now and we're getting warm spring like days, which around here means MUD. It was a claggy, hard going trudge to reach the cross at the end of the walk but the views were worth it.

The Morada itself has been taken back by the church as it was falling into disrepair, the adobe turning back into mud. While it is picturesque (for a while) to see it crumbling, I am delighted to see it restored and protected from the elements.

It was Ray that suggested the Native American in a blanket, leaning against the wall. In my first attempt, my fellow classmates were laughing that it looked like a hobo peeing against the wall! so I implied his face to show him facing away from the wall.

Melting Snow at the Morada - 10 x 20" - oil on canvas - $795

Wednesday 18th February 2009 - Marisol

2009-02-22T08:27:00.001-08:00

What a shock to walk into the studio on Wednesday and see Marisol, who used to have dread-locked hair almost to her waist with a short crop. I partly chose this angle for the novelty of seeing the back of her neck!

Marisol - 16 x 12" - oil on canvas - $750

Tuesday 17th February 2009 - wine still life

2009-02-22T08:21:00.000-08:00

Later in the year we have an event called "The Toast of Taos" which promotes local wine growers and local artists. Every year they run a painting competition for the image they use on the publicity. I decided to enter this year for the first time.

I was on duty in the gallery on Tuesday and set up this still life to work from. I chose a romantic theme, a New mexico "champagne" called Gruet (yum!) and flutes and a red rose that was still lovely left over from Valentine's Day.

Clearance!

2009-02-15T08:17:00.000-08:00

My project for today is to create a clearance web page. If you follow my blog you will know that i am a prolific artist and I have a house full of paintings. I've picked a flat price of $49 (bargain!) or $69 for anything 20 x 20" and above, you can buy the unframed paintings on this page and I'll include include shipping to mainland USA. For outside the USA please e-mail me for a quote. And if you buy 4 I'll throw in a 5th for free!

www.elizabethjose.com

Take a look!

Saturday 14th February 2009 - Kaitlyn

2009-02-15T08:11:00.000-08:00

The lovely kaitlyn was our model at this week's Saturday Portrait group. I decided to do a fuller composition rather than the usual head and shoulders portrait to capture the whole gesture of her playing the guitar.

Ukelele Girl - 16 x 12" - oil on canvas panel - sold

Thursday 12th February 2009 - Ray's

2009-02-15T08:03:00.001-08:00

I did most of this painting when I was on duty at the gallery last Tuesday and brought it in to Ray to see if he could help me make it a better painting. He suggested making the buildings on the right a little brighter - they were very washed out in the photo I was working from. It made a big difference. It was easier to sharpen the definition in the big tree with the paint nearly dry than it was on Tuesday.

Another sunset of the mountain, the light was just delicious and completely irresistible to me. This one is not finished.

Kit Carson Road Shade - 12 x 12" - oil on canvas panel - $575
Late Afternoon Light on Taos Mountain - 12 x 12" - oil on canvas panel - $575

Wednesday 11th February 2009 - Paul

2009-02-15T07:59:00.000-08:00

Paul was posing this week at Melissa's group in a laying down pose which made perspective and foreshortening a challenge. I started this one 4 times before I was happy with my angle and the composition.

Paul - 20 X 16" - oil on canvas - sold

Saturday 7th February 2009 - Portrait Group - Cat

2009-02-08T11:41:00.000-08:00

Cat is a friend of Sarkis, a fellow portrait group regular and I had no idea what she looked like before I turned up at the group - I quite often have an idea or an approach in mind. We set her up next to the window for natural light and hung a bright turquoise mexican blanket behind her as a backdrop.

There is something a little different about this one, it's a little cartoon-like, I enjoyed painting the big hair and the earrings and scarf. I felt the warm glow of the kin works against the strong background colour.

Gipsy - 16 x 12" - oil on canvas panel - $750

Thursday 5th February 2009 - Ray Vinella, superstar!

2009-02-05T12:23:00.000-08:00

Another Wednesday class with Ray Vinella. I've told him that I write a blog about my painting but it took a mutual friend, Jan Mellor, to tell him that I write about my Thursday lessons on the blog for him to ask me about it! Here is a photo of Ray and I at this morning's group along with a portrait I painted of him a year and a half ago.

In this week's class i finished off this evening painting of the Plaza with the pretty twinkle lights in the trees in front of Ogelvie's and painted this scene of the main road through Taos with fresh snow and Taos Mountain behind. The red sign on the building on the right is Jan Mellor's gallery - the Taos Gallery.

Late Night Shopping on the Plaza - 12 x 12" - oil on canvas panel - $575
Beautiful Downtown Taos - 12 x 12" - oil on canvas panel - $575

Wednesday 4th February 2009 - Nina

2009-02-04T13:17:00.000-08:00

A beautiful day here in Taos, sunny and not so cold. We had the lovely Nina modelling for us at Melissa's regular group and I thought this one came out well, which was a bit of a relief because I've seen plenty of improvement and movement in my landscape painting but my portraiture has felt a little stuck recently. This one felt like a shift in the right direction.

Nina - oil on canvas panel - 12 x 12" - $575

Saturday 31st January 2009 - Angelica

2009-02-04T13:06:00.000-08:00

A change in pace from my usual prolific 4 - 6 paintings a week. I've been in a bit of a funk, low energy, migraines and dealing with my elderly cat getting very sick and making a miraculous recovery. Winter blues? maybe. I missed Ray's group this week due to a pounding migraine, not fun. There's another painting I did while working the gallery on Friday which I'll post when it's finished.

I painted Angelica at the Saturday portrait group.

Portrait of Angelica - oil on canvas panel - 16 x 12" - $750

Thursday 21st January 2009 - Adobe Glow

2009-01-23T08:27:00.000-08:00

After a day in the gallery last week, I walked back to where I park my car and there was this fabulous slanting light making the Cabot Plaza tower glow a rich shade of orange, brightening the winter trees and making Taos Mountain glow softly in the distance. I took a photo and worked from it in Ray's Class this week.

Adobe Glow - 12 x 16" - oil on canvas panel - $750

Wednesday 21st January 2009 - Allessanda

2009-01-23T08:23:00.000-08:00

A second week of the same pose with Allessanda. I think last week's painting was stronger in composition but I prefer the skin tones in this one.

The page turner - 16 x 12" - oil on canvas - $750

Saturday 17th January 2009 - Portrait of Danea

2009-01-23T08:17:00.000-08:00

This Saturday, Danea was the model for our regular portrait painting group.

Danea - oil on canvas panel - 16 x 12" - sold

Friday 16th January 2009 - Taos Truck

2009-01-17T08:08:00.001-08:00

A day in the gallery and I finished off the truck painting that I started plein aire on Tuesday. I was interested to see it side by side with the painting I did with the same composition at the same time of year 2 years ago, to have a sense of how my painting has changed in that time. Please feel free to post your comments...

Taos Truck - 20 x 20" - oil on canvas - $1,200

Thursday 14th January 2009 - Ray Vinella's class

2009-01-16T09:07:00.001-08:00

A picture of the famous Ranchos de Taos church as painted by Georgia O'Keefe and many other famous painters, Ray Vinella included. I think it looks quite lovely in the snow.

Ranchos Church in the Snow - oil on canvas panel - 8 x 10" - $395

Wednesday 14th January 2009 - Lost in a good book

2009-01-16T09:03:00.000-08:00

The lovely Allessandra posed for us again - I did a couple of paintings of her last year that both turned out well, so she is a 'lucky model' for me!

Lost in a Good Book - oil on canvas - 16 x 12" - $750

Tuesday 13th January 2009 - truck!

2009-01-16T08:58:00.001-08:00

I painted a similar painting nearly 2 years ago and people are still asking me about it. The original sold at the bank show in April 2008. I'm interested to see the difference that 2 years of intensive study and experience will look like.

Taos Truck - 20 x 20" - oil on canvas - unfinished

Saturday 10th January 2009 - Ruschan

2009-01-11T09:36:00.001-08:00

This Saturday at the portrait we had this very handsome man from Sri Lanka to model for us. He posed quite a challenge for skin tones, quite out of the ordinary here in Taos!

Ruschan - 16 x 12" - oil on canvas panel - $750

Thursday 8th January 2009 - Ray Vinella's class

2009-01-09T09:39:00.000-08:00

Not a bad start to the new year. I started this painting with Shari last week, we had lunch together for a catch up and then took a walk in the snow by this stream at a trailhead just outside of town. We were looking for a good spot to paint in, a good view with some sunshine on us to keep us warm but didn't find one - the good spots were all in the shade or on precarious looking ice. We took photographs and went back to my house, printed the photos up and worked in my warm studio instead.

At the end of the session I felt sure the painting could be better and took it to Ray's class yesterday to work on it some more. he made some good suggestions and I was much happier with it when I finished. Ray mostly encourages me to use brighter, stronger colour.

That lunch with Shari was at the sushi place north of town and I took a photograph of the teepee behind it on that bright sunny day with a recent fall of thick snow. I used that photograph to make this painting in Ray's session too. I think the feeling of light works well in this one.

Ice Bridge - 16 x 12" - oil on canvas - $750
Shelter from the Snow - 10 x 20" - oil on canvas - $795

Wednesday 31st December 2008 - New year's Eve

2009-01-03T11:28:00.001-08:00

I was on duty in the gallery on New Year's Eve, did the monthly accounts in the morning - how I ended up with that job, I don't know! and painted this one in the afternoon. The day before I had taken a walk up to the Morada which is my favourite walk. It was a beautiful sunny day bit the ice on the road and then the deep snow around the Morada made it heavy going. I loved these big icicles hanging down from the gutters.

While painting this piece I was more aware than usual how Ray's classes have really helped, mostly about asking myself the right questions and pushing the painting a little farther than I used to.

Morada Icicles - 8 x 10" - oil on canvas panel - $395

Tuesday 23rd December 2008 - Tara and David

2009-01-03T11:21:00.000-08:00

I spent Xmas day with my good friends Tara and David and gave them this portrait as a Christmas present. I worked from several photos of them that I had, particularly one I took of them out on Hallowe'en wearing their Renaissance Fair gear. They loved the picture and hung it straightaway in a place of honour.

Tara and David - 16 x 12" - oil on canvas panel - not for sale

Friday 19th December 2008 - Devil Kitty

2008-12-22T10:06:00.000-08:00

Devil Kitty - 10 x 8" - oil on canvas panel - $395

Thursday 18th December 2008 - Ray Vinella's Class

2008-12-19T09:04:00.000-08:00

I was shopping in Wal-Mart last week (oh the glamour!) and as I came out there was this fabulous sunset over Taos Mountain, just wonderful. I make a point of carrying my camera with me for just this kind of thing and painted this picture from the photo yesterday in Ray's class. The adobe building on the right hand side (for those who know Taos) is Applebee's restaurant (more glamour!)

Sunset Over Taos Mountain - 10 x 20" - oil on canvas - $795

I brought this little painting of Ed Sandoval's horses to the group - I had started it the previous Thursday and worked on it some more on duty at the gallery on Friday but it was still not right. Ray gave me a couple of suggestions and it all came together in the end. Funny how some paintings spontaneously work and others take several attempts and may never get there.

Horses in the Snow - 8 x 10" - oil on canvas panel - $395

Tuesday 16th December 2008 - Tug on the Heartstrings

2008-12-19T08:47:00.000-08:00

I painted this one while on duty at the gallery.

A Tug on the Heartstrings - oil on canvas panel - 10 x 8" - $395

Saturday 13th December 2008 - Portrait of Marty

2008-12-19T08:41:00.000-08:00

I asked Marty to sit for the group this week, I've always found his face very interesting. He arrived wearing a woolly hat - which is how I usually see him and got a big surprise when he took it off and a big bush of hair came springing out.

Marty - oil on canvas panel - 16 x 12" - $750

Thursday 11th December 2008 - Ray's

2008-12-15T07:50:00.001-08:00

It's strange for me to not be painting, I'm so used to painting most days, but this bug knocked me out for a week. I went to the Saturday painting group but I'm not posting what I did that day, definitely one for the "paint over" pile.

Then on Thursday I went to Ray's group and painted this street scene from my California trip. Heidi and I were heading north out of San Francisco towards the Golden Gate Bridge and the morning sun was hitting the cars parked along the side of the road and I thought that that would make a great painting and took a photo.

I like paintings of city streets but I'd never attempted one before, maybe it's because I'm a city girl, all that time living in London, it's all this open countryside that is new for me. I feel quite inspired that the next time I'm back in London I'll be taking photographs with doing paintings in mind.

San Francisco Street - 8 x 10" - oil on canvas panel - $450

Thursday 4th December 2008 - Ray's Class

2008-12-05T11:33:00.001-08:00

A bit of an off day for me, maybe I'm coming down with something, feeling tired and sneezing a lot. Ray said getting me through this painting was like pulling teeth. I did enjoy the colours, though.

Near Mendocino, California - oil on canvas panel - 12 x 16" - $750

Wednesday 3rd December 2008 Melissa's Group

2008-12-05T11:29:00.000-08:00

Another Wednesday group with Melissa Moe and this week the model is Monica who is a yoga instructor. She is very graceful and has very long limbs and a swan neck. I painted her once before a few months ago.

It was good to get back to painting after all the lovely Thanksgiving distractions.

Monica - 20 x 16" - oil on canvas - sold

Tuesday 25th November 2008 - Watermelon Rock

2008-11-26T11:40:00.000-08:00

Shari and I took a drive down to a little south of Pilar to paint the Rio Grande river with the famous local landmark, Watermelon Rock, so named because it changes all kinds of shades of red during the day. It was a grey, cloudy day so when a shaft of light hit the rock and turned it a pinky orange, I painted quickly to get it down.

Watermelon Rock - 16 x 12" - oil on canvas panel - sold

new web site

2008-11-24T19:38:00.000-08:00

I made myself a new web site! please click on http://elizabethjose.net - the link at the top left of this page
and have a look...

Saturday 22nd November 2008 - Orange Trees

2008-11-23T21:39:00.000-08:00

Again, something a little different. I've been wanting to push my composition and colour a little, to make my paintings more exciting and dramatic. I worked from a photograph I took a couple of weeks ago while the trees were still orange. I really liked the way the bright colour was contrasting with the blue of the distant hills behind.

Orange Trees - 20 x 20" - oil on canvas - $1,200

Friday 21st November 2008 - Kitty

2008-11-23T21:34:00.001-08:00

A departure in style for this painting of my Kitty, I wanted to do something a little more colourful than usual.

Christmas Kitty - 12 x 12" - oil on gesso board - $575

Thursday 20th November 2008 - Ray's class

2008-11-23T21:31:00.001-08:00

I made Ray smile when he saw this one because the lake with the yellow trees is just across from where he used to live and he'd painted that lake many times. Kevin MacPherson now has Ray's old house and actually published a book of just paintings of this lake.

sold

Wednesday 19th November 2008 - Kaitlin

2008-11-23T21:29:00.001-08:00

A second week of the lovely Kaitlin, same pose different angle.

Kaitlin - oil on canvas - 20 x 16" - $1,175

Tuesday 18th November 2008 - California Beach Sunrise

2008-11-23T21:23:00.000-08:00

This was painted from one of my favourite California Coastline photos, I was looking forward to painting it. Did the most part in the gallery on Tuesday and finished it off on Thursday.

California Beach Sunrise - 12 x 16" - oil on canvas - $750

Monday 17th November 2008 - Painting with Shari in Arroyo Hondo

2008-11-23T21:21:00.000-08:00

I'll post the photo of this painting soon

Saturday 15th November 2008 - Ewan

2008-11-16T10:18:00.000-08:00

Ewan stood in for our absent model at the last minute. At 9 years old he is a better model than many of the adults that we hire! My fellow painters agreed that somehow I had made him look older, a preview of the teenager he is to become maybe.

Ewan - oil on canvas panel - 16 x 12" - sold

Wednesday 12th November 2008 - Kaitlin

2008-11-12T19:13:00.000-08:00

Kaitlin - oil on canvas - 20 x16" - $1,175

Tuesday 11th November 2008 - Taos Teepee

2008-11-11T14:37:00.001-08:00

I had a painting date with Shari and we talked on the phone in the morning and we had both had the idea of painting the mountain and laughed that the mountain was calling us. We arranged to meet by the Overland Sheepskin Ranch where they have great views of the mountain and right next to the sushi place for lunch. I made a couple of calls and both Jane and Lina joined us, so we were a busy little group of artists and a fun lunch party too.

Since the last time I painted there, they have put up this teepee so I decided to make it central to my composition, with the snow on the mountains and the grazing buffalo in the mid ground. I have never painted a teepee before and I found it great fun.

The Teepee and the Mountain - 16 x 12" - oil on canvas - $750

Monday 10th November 2008 - Fall Colours on the Rio Grande

2008-11-11T14:27:00.000-08:00

Another chilly day in Taos, working in the gallery. I painted this one from a photo I took of the Rio Grande, a little south of Pilar.

I had an interesting conversation with a good friend and fellow artist, Rich Nichols. I had noticed that I paint differently when I'm in the gallery. Something to do with being interrupted and strangely I find it easier to focus on smaller details than when I am solely focussed on painting or out painting Plein Aire. I enjoyed painting in details like the rocks in the river and their reflections and the bushes and grasses by the water, whereas when I get into my usual painting flow, it's more about broad strokes. Rich said he paints the same way and usually does 80% of his paintings plein aire and then does the finishing in his studio in the gallery. I find this kind of thing fascinating.

Fall Colours on the Rio Grande - 12 x 16" - oil on canvas panel - sold

Saturday 8th November 2008 - Martha

2008-11-08T12:35:00.001-08:00

This week's model at our regular portrait group was Martha, who was a delight to paint!

Martha - oil on canvas panel - 16 x 12" - sold

Thursday 6th November 2008 - more California!

2008-11-07T08:41:00.001-08:00

Another California beach painting. I'm really enjoying painting these beach and ocean views, particularly all the greens and blues in the ocean, makes a great change from mountains and sagebrush.

California Coastline - 12 x 16 - oil on canvas - $750

Wednesday 5th November 2008 - Allessandra

2008-11-05T15:12:00.000-08:00

A second week with the lovely Allessandra. I was very pleased with the one I did last week and it's already framed and in the gallery. What a great model, or maybe she just inspires me because I was happy with this one too.

Alison - 20 x 16" - oil on canvas - $1,175

Tuesday 4th November 2008 - California

2008-11-05T15:04:00.000-08:00

Election Day and the unseasonably warm and sunny weather came to an end and it looked grim and rainy on the Plaza as I was on duty at the gallery, the few visitors coming in to get out of the rain. I really enjoyed painting this sunny beach scene from my trip to California, especially the blues and greens in the sea.

California Coastline - 12 x 16" - oil on canvas - $750

Saturday 1st November 2008 - Portrait of George Chacon

2008-11-03T08:14:00.000-08:00

George is a friend and fellow artist and fellow member of the Taos Society of Portrait Artists. When the model didn't show up at Saturday's session he volunteered to sit for us.

It is so interesting to paint or draw someone who's face I know well because you see so much more than usual and there are so many surprises. I thoroughly enjoyed painting George.

Portrait of George Chacon - 16 x 12" - oil on canvas panel - not for sale

Friday 31st October 2008 - Hallowe'en

2008-11-03T08:09:00.000-08:00

I spent the day in the gallery and enjoyed doing this little painting from one of my photos of the California coastline from my recent trip. In the afternoon I got dressed up for Hallowe'en and had many many local children come trick or treating to the gallery, it was a lot of fun.

Big Sur Sunset - 8 x 10" - oil on canvas panel - $395

Thursday October 30th 2008 - Ray's

2008-10-30T15:31:00.000-07:00

I brought one of my California photos to work from to today's group. This one is of a beach in Big Sur coming up to sunset.

Big Sur Sunset - 8 x 10" - oil on canvas panel - $295

Wednesday 29th October 2008 - Melissa's

2008-10-30T15:23:00.000-07:00

Another new model. I particularly liked the upsweep of her hair, it reminded me of an Edwardian lady. This is one of my favourite paintings I've done in a while.

Lady - 20 x 16" - oil on canvas- $1,175

Saturday 25th October 2008 - Osho

2008-10-30T15:18:00.003-07:00

After 2 weeks of camping it was great to get back to my nice, comfy bed! Osho was the model and the last painting I did of her (in a blue hat) is one of the most popular paintings on my fineartamerica web page. I thought this one of her came out rather well.

Osho - 16 x 12" - oil on canvas panel - $750

Thursday 9th -23rd October - California!

2008-10-30T15:09:00.000-07:00

After all the hard work of Fall Arts, when my good friend Heidi said she was taking a road trip out to California I asked if I could come too. She tied her sea kayak to the rood of the car and I brought my paints and my portfolio too on the off chance I found a gallery I liked out there.

In the end I only did this one painting and a few sketches, I found that without my usual routine of plenty of rest and good breakfast etc before I paint, I wasn't firing on all cylinders. Not to mention all the drinking we were doing down there at sea level!

The Beach at Carmel - 8 x 10" - oil on canvas panel - $395

Wendnesday 8th October 2008 - Melissa's group

2008-10-30T15:01:00.000-07:00

A second week on this pose and I was glad to get it finished

Pigtails - 20 x 16" - oil on canvas - $1,175