DP12 "CONEFLOWER PATTERNS"

"CONEFLOWER PATTERNS"

10x8"

oil on hardboard

$99

After painting a linear church, I needed to bust loose with

something a little more wild and free. Like a field of coneflowers!

I'm going to be painting a lot of Christmas scenes in the coming days,

so I will probably go crazy with this kind of painting at least once a week.

Maybe call it my "Friday Diversion."

This kind of painting is wonderful because it's so full of texture.

It looks like a meadow of coneflowers from a distance - come up closer 

and all you see are little color notes and patterns. 

It's kind of cold and gloomy outside today and I have errands to run and

doctor's appointments, so I probably won't be doing any painting until

tonight. 

For purchase information, click the button below:

DP11 "WINTER GLOW"

"WINTER GLOW"

8x8"

oil on hardboard 

SOLD

A cool night 

A Christmas tree

The glow of luminarias

The old church

The mountains enclosing.

The winter chamisa all around

The glowing pathway

The Canyon Women enjoying it all

This one may be my Christmas card this year!

DP10 "STAR BRIGHT"

"STAR BRIGHT"

8x8"

oil on hardboard 

SOLD

I am in the Christmas mood, can you tell?

My dream in to be at Chimayo one year for midnight Mass

and see that beautiful old church in all its holiday glory.

There is a little inn right around the corner that has about 5-6 rooms.

I don't know how far in advance they are booked for that night,

but one of my resolutions is to call and see about making a reservation.

I will be painting more paintings similar to this in the coming weeks.

Also, if you would like to commission something similar, and I have time,

please email me.

DP9 "ABIQUIU CHAMISA"

"ABIQUIU CHAMISA"

8x10"

oil on hardboard

SOLD

This makes me long for a trip to Abiquiu!

Those pastel colored hills with chamisa all around

and all that blue sky is enough

to make anyone want to move to New Mexico.

I'm surprised that Georgia O'Keefe didn't paint more of this beautiful

yellow and golden foliage.

I think it was all around her.

Does Georgia have any chamisa paintings?

DP8 "THE TRIO"

"THE TRIO"

10x8"

oil on hardboard

$99

Oh, those summer clouds!

We didn't see them very much this year.

They are starting to float across the sky more now that it's late fall and almost winter.

This is a trio of poppies growing on the side of a hill.

They have a beautiful view of the valley below and the mountains above.

Purchase information is below.

In other ramblings - I went to Hastings last night

and bought four Christmas cds to add to my collection. Used, of course.

There was really nothing new that attracted my attention.

I now have over 100. And no, I don't ever get to listen to all of them.

I seem to keep playing the same ten over and over.

I'm really getting in the mood for the holidays!

My birthday is coming up and I always get my tree that day -

From a little house down the road.

Also, I wanted to make it to Weems Artfest this weekend.

We'll see if that happens.

I've had quite a few emails from clients asking where my booth is!

Such a great event - make it out to the fairgounds if you can.

DP7 "PINONS AT SUNSET"

"PINONS AT SUNSET"

10x8"

oil on hardboard

$99

I don't know about you but when I'm out driving

and looking for beautiful scenes, I sometimes

wish I could be like other plein air painters - 

the ones who load up a big heavy backpacks on their backs and

head out deep into the woods and mountains.

They get the real deal.

They paint the hidden views that we only dream about.

My version of that is having all of my painting gear in the back of my car.

I see a spot, a vista, and I pull over, get out, open the trunk,

drag everything out, set it up, and finally....I paint.

Or, I go super small, and take a 5x7 or 6x8 thumb box

in the front of my car, on the seat next to me.

I find my spot, get my box, and I'm ready to go.

It's so easy, although a little too cramped.

Especially for someone who likes to wave their arms around when they paint.
And I have to bring my wipees to immediately clean all of the
paint I smear on the steering wheel and the windows.

This scene was one of those scenes.

Way up in the woods, right next to the pinon and sky. 

Candy colors and nature's beauty.

To purchase, click the button below:

DP 6 "TAOS HOMESTEAD"

"TAOS HOMESTEAD"

8x10"

oil on hardboard

$99

I miss Taos right now - 

I heard that they just might have snow on the ground today.

THAT I don't miss.

I was never much of a snow person.

I skied, but mostly because other people in my family did

and I went along because they wanted me too.

I was always scared I was going to fall off of the chairlift

and everyone would laugh at me.

Or I would get my poles tangled up in something.

Or run into a tree, or someone would run into me.

I remember the time I fell and my ski came off and went sailing

up a catwalk about 300 feet away from me.

Uphill.

And the COLD.

I hated the cold worse than anything.

So, these days, I let other people ski.

And I remain by the fire with a blanket and a good book.

The painting above is really what Taos means to me.

Lots of beautiful fields, mountains, clouds, and a little tiny house

being a home for some lucky family.

In the spring, summer, and fall.

NOT the winter.

I love you Taos, but I will let other people

take pictures of snow!

To purchase this painting, click the PAYPAL button above.

In other news, I am going for a physical today. Ugh.
More to report tomorrow....

DP5 "PEACE ON THE JEMEZ"

NEWS:

I have added a Paypal button at the bottom of each painting post.

Just click on the button if you want to purchase

and it will take you directly to Paypal.

Saves a step!

"PEACE ON THE JEMEZ"
8X8"
oil on hardboard
$99

 When I need a break, a getaway from the hustle and bustle

and I don't have a lot of time to take a long day trip, Jemez is the perfect place to go.

It's only 40 minutes from Albuquerque and some of the scenery is heart-stoppingly

beautiful. Red rocks, red cliff, unique formations. With a river running through it!

There is a pull off right next to the river that we like.

We'll pack a lunch, my cousin and I, and pull up, get out,

set up chairs, and have a picnic right next to the river.

Sometimes I will bring along my plein air gear and set up shop in my chair

and paint without moving. Those are the best times...

Doesn't matter what time of year, it's always beautiful.

Purchase information is below.

DP4 "ASPEN HILLS"

"ASPEN HILLS"

8x8"

oil on hardboard 

$99

CLICK HERE TO BUY NOW

I've been feeling a mad craving to paint a really large aspen painting - 

this is a small study to get me in the mood.

Our beautiful aspen color is almost all gone now.

Pretty soon we'll see nothing but beautiful grey branches against those mountains.

And those branches are still lovely - and so beautiful to paint.

For this piece, I started with no sketching.

The mountains were barely blocked in.

The darker reddish color at the bottom of the trees was placed.

Then the trunks of the trees.

I started shaping the aspen trees and adding color by looking at 

the painting as a whole.

The sky was added halfway through the painting

and finished up after the trees were complete.

I would still like to get WAY loose and more abstract with a painting like this.

It does feel loose, but still controlled.

In other news - 

I'm finished with my Weems Artfest auction painting and it will be delivered 

today or tomorrow.

I will post photos later.

It's a big beautiful Elena Gallegos sunset and will be

offered through a silent auction at Weems Artfest

 this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at Expo New Mexico.
The auction benefits three different New mexico charities.
I declined doing any physical shows at all this year,
so am not in the show, but I am going to go and see all of the fantastic art and artists.

Check HERE to details about Artfest.

DP3 "FIRST SNOW"

"FIRST SNOW"

8x8"

oil on hardboard

$99

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE

I don't paint snow.

Throughout my art career I've probably painted snow five times.

It scares me.

Snow is supposed to be white - right?

But it isn't at all.

If you really look at snow, it has blues, purples, pinks.

I mean, depending on how the light and shadows hit, snow could be any color.

And that's the scary part.

Portraying snow in its reality and still making it look like snow.

I may just paint snow all winter and maybe, when spring rolls around, I can say,

"I know how to paint snow."

In other news, I went to the Presbyterian Ear Institute's beautiful event last night.

It was a little weird because I didn't know anyone, other than the nice lady

who approached me about painting the chair.

My knee was killing me but I didn't have to walk far.

And the pathway was lit with flickering luminarias. Nice.

Inside, Los Poblanos had the fireplaces lit with warm glows and

the silent auction room was decorated really pretty.

They had jewelry, our painted chairs (7), and lots of beautiful Christmas

wreaths that were decorated by groups and individuals.

My favorite was the angel wreath by the wood carvers in Cordova, NM.

Beautiful. And alas, I forgot my camera.

They also had little appetizers and vegetarian tamales that were yummy.

Truthfully, I left about halfway through.

It just felt too weird being there alone.

I hope they raised a ton of money. They were auctioning off

some fantastic fishing, wine tasting, and retreats trips

all over United States and Canada.

Today, it's varnishing and painting!

The Chiefs aren't playing, so I have no excuse not to work.

DP2 "MILA"

"MILA"

8x10"

oil on hardboard

$99

CLICK HERE BUY NOW

This painting is so much prettier in person.

It's full of texture and wildness and jumbles of color.

The focal points are coneflowers and black-eyes susans.

And it reminded me of a name for some reason.

No, I don't know anyone named Mila....

I love it!

DP1 "MOONLIGHT FLOWERS"

"MOONLIGHT FLOWERS"
8x8"
oil on hardboard
$99

SOLD

  

Whenever I take a break from finishing a big project, 

I always want to start up again with sunflowers.

They are so beautiful and yet mysterious - 

always following the sun. 

Providing food for us and the birds.

It is a joy to begin painting again.

I will be offering daily paintings from now through Christmas.

These pieces are unframed and shipping is $10.

If you want to purchase, just click on the link above.

It will take you to the Paypal link and you can purchase

with your Paypal account or any credit card.

I have beautiful inspiration photos from Taos and Chimayo,

so I feel like I want to paint forever...

I am working on two shows, finishing up some ornaments,

some winners' gifts, and a couple of commissions.

Love to you all.