Sunday 7th June 2009 - Irises at the Blumenschein

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

Wednesday 20th May 2009 - Irises at Cafe Renato

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

Tuesday 3rd June 2008 - Irises in Paule's Garden

I painted this spot this time last year and Paule said she would invite us over to paint when the Irises were in bloom again, they look so pretty reflected in the water. The painting I did of this last year sold quickly and i got many calls and e-mails about it afterwards.



It was a hot day, Jane, Peggy, Michelle and Shari had the right idea and chose shady spots to paint in. Talk about mad dogs and englishmen - I stood in full sun to get the view i wanted and even with sunblock got a little sunburned. I did the smaller painting afterwards from under a tree.



An Englishwoman's garden in Taos - 20 x 20" - oil on canvas - $1,200
Reflections of Irises -8 x 10" - oil on canvas - $295

Monday 12th May 2008 - Irises at the Blumenschein

It seemed like Shari and I hadn't been out plein aire painting together in a long time! We met up in Queznel Lane as I had liked a tree in full pink blossom in front of a pretty adobe house that I had seen a couple of days earlier. It just shows that if you snooze you lose, because the wind had blown off most of the flowers. Shari suggested some trees in Kit Carson Park but when we got there we found they too had had most of the petals blown off.

We took a walk around the Ledoux Street area and found these first irises under a lilac tree in full bloom and this was definitely the spot. I have to be excited to paint a subject, for it to turn my eyes on, so to speak, or the painting is flat and lifeless and it's all a big waste of time and paint.

Irises at the Blumenschein - oil on canvas - 20 x 20" - sold