TAOS TRIP

The village of Arroyo Seco

The hammock at the home where we stayed. Taos Mountains in the background.


Cows right off the main road into town

The antique car show at Kit Carson Park

Beautiful El Salto Peak with sunset
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We had a wonderful time in Taos - it is so beautiful there. I took over 400 photographs and I'm quite sure a lot of them will become paintings for Weems Artfest. The trees are still so green, I can't wait to go back in October when all of the aspens are turning! Stay tuned for more pics and new paintings as I am inspired and motivated!

Finished!

"ON THE WAY"

6"X12"

SOLD

This painting looks very surreal to me - almost mysterious. This is the way parts of New Mexico look to me. There's a lot of quiet intrigue in those beautiful mountains! Usually when we are driving to Taos and pass by these hills near Santa Fe, I always want to get off the freeway and onto those tiny little dirt roads to see what's there.....

"CHIMAYO SNOW"

"CHIMAYO SNOW"

8"X8"

SOLD

The finished painting!

work in progress

"ON THE WAY"

6"X12"

SOLD

A version of a 150 CHALLENGE painting I'm working on. It should be finished tonight.

About the ARTFEST 101 paintings: they may be available at this time. I say "may" because, if you see a painting that speaks to you, feel free to email me. If I have the time, I can create another for the show. As it gets closer to show time, paintings may not be for sale until the actual opening of the show. You may be able to pre-buy but not pick up until after opening night. I hope that makes sense!

"PUEBLO SUN HOUSE"

8"X10"

SOLD

I am enthralled with this adobe pueblo house painting. The original photo had no flowers and the door was dark blue. Once I finished the actual painting, I turned it upside down and started the lining process. The lines just flowed from one color to another and the upper right-hand corner looked just like a sun with rays. I also like the blue variations within the door. This is from a photo a Taos Pueblo, therefore, the title. Purchase information is below. Also please check out my two new paintings for my upcoming Weems Artfest show in November. The link is:

www.artfest101.blogspot.com

Two paintings available

"THE RIO"

6"X8"

This painting is from a photo taken at the Alameda Bridge near my home. It is a beautiful place and so peaceful. If you came to take a photo of this river every single day at the same time, it would never look the same. I love living near it - it's full of wildlife, and the trails near it are full of runners, walkers, bikers, joggers, and people just out taking a leisurely stroll with their pups. You know, that's an idea! A photo and painting of the river every day for a year. Hmm....Email me for purchase information.

"AUTUMN ACEQUIA"

6"X8"

This scene is just down the street from my house. It's an acequia in late, late summertime - the sunflowers are in bloom but on their way out. The water is peaceful and still. One day I was walking and a mother duck and her five little ducklings walked across the road and jumped in

the water. Wow, you just don't see that everyday! Email me for purchase information.

Don't know what's up with this huge font.

"CHIMAYO SNOW" work in progress

"CHIMAYO SNOW"

8"X8"

SOLD

This painting should be finished tonight and I will write more later when I post.

"VALDEZ FROM THE RIM"

"VALDEZ FROM THE RIM"
8"X8"
Oh man, I love this view. Right before you go down into Taos Ski Valley, this is the view you see of those beautiful mountains and the little village of Valdez. I don't know if you can tell, but there are all kinds of trees surrounding the exterior and inside, you will find little houses and barns dotting the landscape, along with flat land (the lighter portions), which is used for farming. I've decided that I'm going to find every photo I have of this scene and paint them ALL!

Purchase information is below:

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $99.00 plus $10.00 s/h
Or, send me an email

Commissions

"HIDDEN HORSES, SANTA FE"

9"X12"

SOLD

"HIDDEN IN LAVENDER"

8"X10"
SOLD

I never noticed until I posted these two paintings that they had 'hidden" in their theme. They are both going to the same person, who is a friend, so I will ask her about that! Tomorrow, I promise, I'm tackling the big canvas. Not til afternoon though, I have to hype myself up foe that one!

"CHAMISA CANYON"

10"X8"

To me, this painting was about the chamisa hidden down in the canyon - below the mountains and the cliffs. I love the spots of red peeking through at the bottom. Purchase information is below:

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $99.00 plus $10.00 s/h
Or, send me an email

"ORANGE HILLS II"

10"X8"

SOLD (commission)

I love painting this scene - I painted this one for Nancy and I liked it so much that I decided to paint one for ARTFEST 101 and another for tonight's daily painting (which is drying).

Tomorrow I will ship this piece out along with three others and I MUST get started blocking in that huge canvas that will become sunflowers against the backdrop of the Rio Grande Gorge.

"STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO"

10"X8"

SOLD

Perspective is difficult when sketching for a painting like this. I didn't actually take this photo, but I was looking down on this street in exactly the same way. I'm not a very patient person - I don't have time for highly detailed drawing, so scenes like this are tough for me. There are a few subjects within the scene that stand out for me; the stop sign, the criss-crossing of the wires above the street, a few parked cars. I love the perspective of looking down on the street and then watching it rise up to meet what feels like the sky. Purchase information is below:

An empty canvas - an artist's worst nightmare. I always have to tone them as soon as possible so I don't have to look at the "brightness" of it all.

My process of covering the canvas with a thin burnt sienna/red wash. It's pretty easy on smaller pieces, but larger canvases like this one are a bit messy.

The finished sketch. This is similar to a small painting I did recently titled "Suns on the Gorge. " I wanted to see what it would look like BIG, so here it is, 48x60 in all its glory. The linework will be exhausting.....
I am also finishing up a couple of commissions to ship out tomorrow.

Entries for an upcoming Plein Air Show

"ALAMEDA SUNSET"

6"X8"

"THE RIO"

6"X8"

"AUTUMN ACEQUIA"

6"X8"

I got an email with a deadline of tonight at midnight that I could submit three paintings of the Albuquerque Open Space for inclusion in a show called "LITTLE GEMS" that starts September 12th. The show is for all of the members of Plein Air Painters of New Mexico and is juried. The paintings could be any medium and they didn't have to be painted on location, they could be studio paintings. SO, I put everything on hold and worked on these paintings on panel and whether they get in or not, I am proud for busting myself to complete them! If accepted, they will be framed in antique gold frames and $150 each.

"ON THE BAY"

8"X8"

SOLD

My first painting from my San Francisco photos. This one is at Fisherman's Wharf and it is two lovely sailboats out on the water. I'm assuming they're sailboats - not being a "boat" person. This is totally out of my comfort zone - my first boats, my first water that is not a stream or lake. I'm kind of pleased with it. I can feel the sun on those sails.

Also, check out my new paintings #2 and #3 on my ARTFEST 101 blog. It's up and rolling now!

www.artfest101.blogspot.com

"WINDBLOWN"

8"X8"

SOLD

A nice change to do something totally freeform and just let the colors fall around the sunflower. I could paint these all day. Purchase information is below. Also, please check out painting #1, "HOLLYHOCKS AT RANCHOS CHURCH" on my new blog for my upcoming show in November. Click on this link: www.artfest101.blogspot.com. If you would like to receive this blog as new paintings are posted, please email me and I will add you to the list. Good night!

********
My new blog,

"ARTFEST 101"

starts this evening -

be watching!

********

www.artfest101.blogspot.com

"MISSY"

10"X8"

SOLD

It was time for another dancer. She is from memory and an old rough sketch I found that I had done at an art fair a couple of years ago. I think she looks at home in her mountain surroundings. Purchase information is below:

TOMORROW MY NEW ART BLOG STARTS:

"ARTFEST 101"

Join me as I complete my way through to the middle of November for Weems International Artfest. How many paintings can I complete? What sizes? What subjects? Might there be a painting giveaway? I will start with #1 and work my way UP this time. If you're not signed up to receive the posts and would like to, email me and I will add you to the list. I'm excited but there is SO much to do!

New Blog address: www.artfest101.blogspot.com

"ORANGE MIST"

8"X10"

There are quite a few contrasts in this painting; the blue of the sky, the touch of blue meandering through the orange in the hills. the green/yellow of the bushes with the blue of the stream and little hints of purple throughout. It doesn't stand for anything really, just a quick photo and an exercise in color. I'm starting to get excited again! I have two huge canvases calling my name. I need some motivation!!! Purchase information is below:

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $99.00 plus $10.00 s/h
Or, send me an email

"SUNS NEAR THE GORGE"
8"X10"

SOLD
I am back in the studio - it's really warm here, so I am dragging my feet, hoping for cooler weather. But I am painting!
This painting is from photos I took on my plein air paint-out up in Taos about two weeks ago. It's a scene from the highway coming in with a view of the Rio Grande Gorge and wild sunflowers. The gorge is the dark blue to the left of the painting. I really like the different oranges that are roaming throughout - they lead your eye through the piece. The colors there were gorgeous and I am going back in about three weeks to hang out and paint some more. The gallery is asking for more paintings, so these paintings will be posted for aproximately one week. If not sold, they will be transferred to the galleries. Purchase information is below: