Good morning!
It's Memorial Day weekend. Wow, I can't believe that its already the end of May. In 8 weeks my youngest daughter will be getting married. I am excited for that - we haven't had a wedding in our family for a long time and I am looking forward to seeing all the family together and having some serious fun!
They are having a DJ and I have given them my playlist of songs to dance to, and they said they are putting them all on the DO NOT PLAY list! How mean is that? Actually I listen to music that is popular today too, including pop and rap, we like a lot of the same music. But not all!
I am really writing today to pump myself and get motivated to paint. I have a lot of work waiting for me and so many things to do and things I WANT to do, yet I am procrastinating big time.
My studio needs cleaning. I clean it up, get ready to paint, and then BAM! I mess it up again. Right now it is full of small boxes that came in the mail with painting supplies, the dog's big pillows are taking up the floor space, and it's dusty and needs a good straighten-up. I did just buy the coolest thing on ebay though - a small thumb pochade box for painting. It's tiny but fits on my tripod. It's handmade from a cigar box from Nicaragua. I am never happy with my plein air painting stuff but this is cool. I have a 9"x12' guerilla paint box that holds absolutely everything. BUT, it's big and bulky and heavy to carry. I am anxious to try out this new one because I can pull my car up to any spot, take a chair and my umbrella out of the back and put this little tiny thing in my lap or use it with the tripod. I can also just sit and paint inside my car if I choose, which is nice during the winter season.
I must admit, I am torn right now. I am known for my studio paintings and my linework, which I love. But which also tedious. I could paint three times as many paintings if I left out the lines. And I love plein air painting. And I love making HUGE paintings too. So which is it? I am trying to do everything and I think that's why I feel stuck right now. I am trying to look at what the public would prefer but I am also trying to look at it from my "artist's" point of view. Do I want to just make work that people want and that sells better than anything else? Or do I want to get out of my comfort zone and create work that I love, is easier to do, but may not sell as well? I think it comes down to linework versus unlined work. I've been painting now for 8 years coming up this November, so I may keep it the same for the next two years while I hammer out a new plan. I REALLY want to just travel all over New Mexico and paint, paint, paint. I could be happy never leaving this gorgeous state. I want to paint people. I want to teach. I want a co-op studio with other artists. I want my own gallery/studio. I want to paint humongous paintings that garner national attention. I want to do a series on the women and the town of Willard, NM, which is where my husband's momma grew up. I want to exercise and get lean and fit. And sometimes I just want to curl up with a good book and have no responsibilities. Help!
and other things.... This is my daily art blog. I'm artist Dee Sanchez and I live and work in Alameda, New Mexico - the land of blue skies, red hills, and three unique cultures. What a beautiful place to paint! Join me on my daily painting quest, my plein air adventures, my video logs, my "getting ready for a show" preparations, my painting tips, and I may even throw in an opinion or two...I also document my struggles with getting healthy and my crazy family life
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
"TWO"
10"X8"
SOLD
This is the first painting from my photos taken of the poppy garden at the sweet lady's home in Los Ranchos. This is a fair undertaking, I'm hoping they just get better and better, the more I paint them. The blending of acrylic paints are very different than oils, it's much harder. With 91 great photos though, I will never be short on inspiration! Tomorrow - a new subject!
Also, check out the new post on my 100 Pound Challenge weight loss blog!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
This is one of my favorite paintings - done in oil on location near the Rio Grande Gorge in Taos. It started a whole series on sunflowers and the Gorge - the largest being 48"x60" so far. I've held onto this painting for a while and I've been thinking of putting it up for auction. I've done a studio clean-out and have lots of new ideas and projects, so keep watching. You may see it on a 5 day auction soon!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
EXCITING NEWS!!
PAINT EN PLEIN AIR AT THE LOS RANCHOS LAVENDER
IN THE VILLAGE FESTIVAL!!
WHO: Plein air painters Michelle Chrisman from Taos and Dee Sanchez from Alameda
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday, June 26, June 27, 2010 8am - 4pm
WHAT: Saturday: painting on location at Los Poblanos and selling works
Sunday: painting on location and offering unique one-time opportunity paintings for $65 each
WHERE: Los Poblanos Inn and Lavender Fields. 4803 Rio Grande NW
DETAILS:
Plan on coming out to visit Michelle and Dee as they paint en plein air during the two beautiful days of the Los Ranchos Lavender Festival.
Michelle and Dee will be painting on location on Saturday, June 26th as well as selling previous artworks painted in the days leading up to the festival.
On Sunday, Michelle will be offering 8"x10" "painted on the spot" portraits for $65 each and Dee will be offering 8"x10" "painted on the spot" landscape portraits chosen from her large collection of photos of Los Poblanos. You may also bring your own photos - as long as they are of los Poblanos or agricultural in nature.
If you're a collector, an artist, or just love lavender and Los Poblanos, come on out and visit with these two plein air artists and have a graet time!
They will also have information and hand-outs about the Plein Air Painters of New Mexico, a state non-profit group of over 200 tbeginner to master plein air painters.
CONTACT: Dee Sanchez deesanchezart@hotmail.com
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Highlights of North Valley Garden Tour
Mr. Happy Face
BEAUTIFUL iris - this will become a painting!
BEAUTIFUL iris - this will become a painting!
A pink poppy in a memorial garden at the entrance to Tinnin Farms
Roses - these are absolutely gorgeous! I saw so many yesterday but the sun was out in full force, so it was hard to get nice shots.
The tour was from 10am-4pm and included four houses and Casa Rodena, the beautiful north valley winery. I could have looked all day! The only problem was that I wanted to see what was INSIDE all of the houses, not just the gardens!
Thursday, May 20, 2010
POPPY HEAVEN
Yesterday, after running errands end exercising, I decided to take the backroads home so I could meander around and look at yards and houses. I came across a lovely house down one street and the front planting bed was just FILLED with these heavenly beauties! I got out and asked the sweet lady who lived there if she would allow me to take some photographs of her flowers. I explained that I was a painter and she said she would be honored. Well, it was already the middle of the day, so I told her I would come back the next day early in the morning - which was today. I took over 120 photos of these poppies and I can see making paintings out of all of the 91 photos I ended up loading onto my computer. Aren't they just beautiful?
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
"IRIS AND ROSES"
12"X6"
SOLD
Wow, I can't believe I actually completed a daily painting - it feels surreal to be back in the groove again. After creating a show for Weems Old Town with no lines, it felt good to add linework to a painting again too. This painting has a lot of qualities I like; purple iris against a contrasting adobe wall background, red roses , and a pretty blue sky. I am going to pick up some photos today from my recent trip to Dixon Apple Farms - I know I will find lots of painting material there. Oh, also, I thought I would let you know that I will have a booth and will be painting plein air and selling small works at the 2010 Los Poblanos Lavender Festival that will be happening the weekend of June 26th and 27th. It's about three weeks earlier than last year, so it should be cooler. I'n inviting you all out to come and see me!
Also, check out my newest posting on my 100 pound Challenge blog:
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
Good morning everyone -
I would like to let everyone know that my new show is hanging at Weems Old Town, 303 Romero St. NW, in Albuquerque, NM. I have 14 paintings in the show and invite you to come down and see them. I may be doing a painting demo outside there next Saturday, will keep you posted on that.
I am beginning my paintings for the poster for Weems Artfest. I will create about four or five and the poster will be chosen from among those.
I have already started my new blog for Artfest paintings, www.artfest2010.blogspot.com, and will get back to those this week. I need to stock up on paints, canvas, a couple of new brushes, and I am back to work. If you have subjects that you would like to see at Artfest, please email and let me know, because I have lots of wall space at the show this year and will have lots of paintings in all sizes. I am thinking there might be some new Native American dancers, buffalo, and crows. I was inspired by the Legacy art event, which you'll read about below.
I will also be doing my second 150 CHALLENGE SHOW at Weems in the summer of 2011.
Other plans:
A new official Dee Sanchez website premiering in October 2010
I would like to curate a show myself - not sure exactly what yet, but that's floating around in my head. Lots of small paintings by lots of artists with a portion of the proceeds going to a worthy cause.
I want to have a studio show, maybe invite all of my friends and collectors over for soups, salad, and good bread around Christmas time, and have a percentage of sales go to charity. I've wanted to do that for quite some time and this may be the year!
These are just a few of my ideas for the next year, so stay tuned and thank you for supporting my work and my artistic vision!
CHECK OUT THE LEGACY EVENT PHOTOS BELOW:
LEGACY ART EVENT
A chair made and upholstered by one artist and painted by Amado Pena. beautiful!
This makes me want to paint crows and buffalo! By artist Carla Romero
My cousin and I with Lou Diamond Phillips
The Legacy Art event was lots of fun, as always. And the art this time was fantastic. It just gets better every year. The event also gets bigger every year. I will tell you that the collaborative buffalo piece sold for over $40,000. All of the proceeds go to fund art scholarships for young people who otherwise could not afford them. Kudos to Amado Pena, Art Has Heart Foundation, the artists, and all of the patrons supporting this cause.
This makes me want to paint crows and buffalo! By artist Carla Romero
My cousin and I with Lou Diamond Phillips
The Legacy Art event was lots of fun, as always. And the art this time was fantastic. It just gets better every year. The event also gets bigger every year. I will tell you that the collaborative buffalo piece sold for over $40,000. All of the proceeds go to fund art scholarships for young people who otherwise could not afford them. Kudos to Amado Pena, Art Has Heart Foundation, the artists, and all of the patrons supporting this cause.
Thursday, May 06, 2010
NEW WEEMS SHOW PAINTINGS
18"X18"
48"X36"
See more show paintings below. The Weems Old Town show will run through the end of May. If you are interested in any of these paintings, please contact the gallery at 505-764-0302.
Tomorrow is the artist's party for the Legacy art event, I am SO excited. It's going to be great fun! I will take photos and video....
WEEMS OLD TOWN SHOW FRIDAY, MAY 7
20"X16"
20"X20"
30"X24"
12"X16"
20"X16"
See more new show paintings below.
NEW WEEMS OLD TOWN SHOW!
24"X30"
16"X20"
36"X36"
24"X18"
18"X36"
These are a few of the fourteen paintings that I will have one exhibition at the Weems Old Town show starting tomorrow. I love all of them and enjoyed working on them. Even though I said I wasn't going to do a show this summer, this was fun! So if you're out and about and would like to see these pieces in person, come on down to Weems Gallery in Old Town, 303 Romero Street Northwest, 505-764-0302.
I will be posting a few more later.
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