Monday 29th June 2009 - Lush Green in the Gorge

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

Friday 5th June 2009 - A Grey Day in Pilar

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 -

Friday 8th May 2009 - Gorge

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 16th April 2009 - Ray's group

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

Thursday 9th April 2009 - Ray's

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

Tuesday 25th November 2008 - Watermelon Rock

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

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

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

Thursday 24th July 2008 - Ray's class

It was so hot today that I decided to paint a snow scene to try to keep me cool. I took the photo of this scene last winter near Pilar.



I took a photo of this Dancer at the Fiesta Parade last weekend - I loved the colours and the movement.

Last Patches of Snow - oil on canvas-board - 11x14" - $595

Fiesta Dancer - oil on canvas-board - 10x8" - $395