Solar Fest day 2

I completely overdid it on Friday, 4 paintings in one afternoon! I decided to take it little slower today and just did the 2 paintings. I was exhausted by 6PM and went home for a quiet evening, saving some energy for the last day.

Solar fest paintings, 10 x 8" - oil on panel - $295

Solar Fest!

My 3rd year as an invited artist at Solar Fest. I started off with this little sketch of the first festival goers setting up their chairs in the shade with the teepees for the bands in the background - I painted out all the security fences.

This year the artists have podiums either side of the stage - I felt a bit like a go-go dancer up there! I sketched this one of Sharon Gilchrist and her band.

Hal Ketchum was probably my favourite band of the day, great band, strong songs and Hal is a really good singer.

I was still up there painting on my podium as the sun went down - a beautiful Taos sunset. I didn't get too far with this one od the Bodeans as the light got too dim to really see.


Taos Solar Fest oil sketches - oil on canvas - 8 x 10" - $295 each

Thursday 26th June 2008 - Ray's class

Another hard morning's painting - Ray likes to work us! I finished off the Maroon Bells painting and was very happy with the way it turned out. I'm planning to do a larger version - 30 x 40"

On Tuesday I went with Tara and her husband David to Ojo Caliente for a soak in the hot mineral springs and we really did mean to paint on the way home but we were just too relaxed! We took a number of pictures of the views coming back and I did the painting above from one of these. This is the road back from Ojo via Pilar where you take a dirt road steeply down into the Gorge - a little scary!



Late Afternoon Gorge - oil on canvas - 11 x 14" - $475
Maroon Bells - oil on canvas - 12 x 16" - $575

Wednesday 25th June 2008 - Orlando

Orlando's last session in this pose but I was ready to start another painting. I enjoyed having an overall sketchy feeling this time, only getting a more finished look on the head.

Orlando - oil on canvas - 20 x 16 - $1,175

Friday 20th June 2008 - Maroon Bells

After Ray's class on Thursday, I drove up to Colorado to catch the Aspen Jazz Festival. On the Friday I went to paint Maroon Bells nearby. I didn't realise that in high season there is a bus service so I had to carry my easel and paints onto the bus and then pack up way before I was finished to catch the last bus back or be stranded overnight. I only got about one and a quarter hours painting done in that time.

This photo was taken by somebody out for the afternoon hiking and he kindly sent it to me. The finished piece will be appearing later in the blog.

Thursday 19th Jume - Ray's class

Another Thursday of hard painting. It is wonderful to have the guidance and feedback of such a master and I think the results are showing in my painting already. I certainly hear his voice in my head now as I'm painting.



I did these 2 paintings from photographs I took while out on a hike with my friend Isabelle last weekend.

Shady Path - 14 x 11" - oil on canvas - $575
Curious calf - 8 x 10" - oil on canvas - $395

Wednesday 18th June 2008 - Orlando

Orlando is such a joy to paint! The sweetest man you could imagine as well as having a great physique. Since he started modelling for us he has been taking qualifications to guide river kayaking/rafting trips and we have been watching as his muscles change shape a little each time.

Orlando - oil on canvas - 30 x 15" - $1,350