Monday 2nd June 2008 - studio

I finally got around to finishing off this painting of Robin that I started a couple of months ago!



Her outfit was what she would wear to a ceremonial dance, so I painted in the Pueblo behind her, trying to capture the feel of a sunset.

Waiting for the Dance - 20 x 16" - oil on canvas - $975

Saturday 31st May 2008 - Rita

This saturday we had Rita modelling for us. I really enjoyed trying to get the transparency of her beaded shirt. With her hair piled up and the strong colouring, it reminded me of a Manet paintings and I darkened the background to emphasis that effect.



Rita - oil on canvas - 16 x 12" - $575

Friday 30th May 2008 - The River at Pilar

I met up with Lina, Shari and Michelle to paint this spot in Pilar overlooking the Rio Grande River. I particularly enjoyed painting the trees and the reflections in the river.



The River at Pilar - 20 x 20" - oil on canvas - $1,200

Wednesday 28th May 2008 - Danea again

A second session with Danea in this lovely pose. She is 8 months pregnant and told me she felt quite blissed out on all the hormones. The baby was quite active while she was posing and moved around visibly in her bump.



I went to Danea's baby shower on the following Sunday. Danea is a wonderful massage therapist and all the other guests were also masseurs except for myself and another artist. We performed a moving ceremony where we put ourselves into the role of fairy godmothers and picked out beads to create a necklace for Danea to wear or have close by for the birthing. We each gave our individual blessings as we strung the beads. Very Taos!

Danea, 8 months and counting - 22 x 30" - oil on canvas - $1,750

Tuesday 27th May 2008 - Palette Knife Experiment

I went to a couple of art talks on Monday and came away really inspired to push myself a little harder with the painting. In the middle of the night I woke up and found myself wanting to try to paint in the style of my good friend Michelle Chrisman, whose work is very different from mine. She starts with a bright undercoat and then uses a palette knife to apply the paint in thick squishy bright colours - what I call lickable paint.



It was really fun to paint in a completely different way and i felt that I learned something from going out on a limb like this.

Gorge - 12 x 12" - oil on canvas - make me an offer if you're interested!

Sunday 25th May 2008 - El Monte Sagrado

Tis was a charity fundraiser event that took place in El Monte Sagrado Hotel and Resort. We were raising money with the Lion's Club for Kidsight and Scholarship programs. A banquet on Friday, another event on Saturday and on Sunday local artist came to paint in the lovely grounds of the hotel. There were about 20 of us in all.


I stood painting in the shade of a willow tree with my friend and fellow painter, Clarence Medina. He was painting the water lilies and I was painting the waterfall and the bridge. People were wandering through watching the artist's at work, asking questions. It was a lovely way to spend a sunny afternoon.

Bridge at el Monte Sagrado - 8 x 10" - oil on canvas - $295

Saturday 24th May 2008 - Chrissie

I really enjoyed doing this painting! Chrissie has lovely colours in her skin and it was enjoyable to capture them. I don't normally bther with patterns or details on clothing, but I enjoyed putting in the embroidery on her blouse and I think it looks quite effective.

At the end, a fellow painter and I were saying how angelic she looked so I implied a halo with my fingernail to highlight that mood.

Angelic - 16 x 12" - oil on canvas - $575