Monday 11th May 2009 - Hacienda del Sol

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

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

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

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

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 31st July 2008 - Ray's class

Still working on this big old painting! I took it to Ray Vinella's class and he made some helpful suggestions. I painted out the clouds to emphasise the shape of the mountains, added more colour to the water in the lake and painted in the elk, which was great fun. I think one or maybe two more sessions will get this one finished.

Maroon Bells - 30 x 40" - oil on canvas - unfinished

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

Tuesday 8th July 2008 - Hollyhocks at Caffe Tazza

Shari and I got together to paint in the central place in town to catch the hollyhocks in full bloom, but also to hand out leaflets about our upcoming joint show on Saturday. We chatted to a lot of people and Shari sold her painting wet off the easel!



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