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

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

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

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

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

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

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.