new 145 Challenge painting

"VOLUPTUOUS"

6x6"

#118
SOLD

One strange thing I've noticed when painting - 

The first time you paint something, it's fresh and new.

It's immediate and the first original impression of your subject.

You might think it's the best one you've done. 

Because it's the first one. So you are actually right, in a way.

The second time you paint the subject, the results are bound to be different.

Sometimes you lose the freshness, the spark.

You just can't recapture the dynamics of your first painting.

And maybe you shouldn't try.

Sometimes, you do a much better job. 

You've learned the angles and edges of your subject - how the light hits it, where the shadows are.

You look at your original painting and possibly you can see where you made small mistakes.

Maybe something no one would notice but you, the artist.

I paint on location and from photographs and when I use a photograph,

there comes a time when I put the photograph out of the way.

I don't want to see it anymore.

The painting always takes on a life of its own and it becomes an original.

This is an original.

original - SOLD

"AFTER SPRING RAIN"

6x6"

#119

TO PURCHASE CLICK HERE

You know, I love painting these beautiful wildflower masses.

I could do it ALL day...

There's something about not having to place color in a certain spot.

It's more like "making marks" and working with the cohesion of colors. 

I do love painting landscapes and still lifes too, but this is my passion!

REMINDER

EVENT: After the Challenge Mexican Fiesta

WHEN:  Sunday, September 29, 2013, 1-4pm

WHERE: under the cottonwoods at my north valley home

COST: $49 per person

PROCEEDS: benefit local animal group NM Dogs Deserve Better

Limited to 60 people - 40 spots left

DETAILS 

Blue corn chicken and cheese enchiladas

Guacamole, salsa, queso, chips

Flautas, sopaipillas, beans, rice

Dessert

Music by Mezcla Latina

$2000 Dee Sanchez painting giveaway

Door Prizes

To register, mail your check to

Dee Sanchez

403 Camino del Bosque NW

Albuquerque, NM  87114

For more information, call 505-792-1030

"THOSE PRETTY PINKS"

6x6"

#120

My newest 145 Challenge painting.

 Rude Cat was out in full force a couple of days ago.

My daughter left out the door, then immediately returned and 

whispered "Rude Cat is back and she's right by the porch."

So I sneaked out and this is the look I got.

I also noticed that she has one green and one blue eye.

 I kind of thought she was ready to bolt.

 Nope, she decided I wasn't worth the trouble of 

getting up off of the cool ground hidden in the flowers.

How rude.

To see all of my 145 Challenge paintings. CLICK HERE.
To read my newest personal blog post, CLICK HERE.

The Santa Fe, Canyon Road, Tesuque, Abiquiu, Black Mesa, Ghost Ranch, El Rito Expeirence

Oh wow!

I just got back from two days of painting, picture-taking, 

sight-seeing, town exploring, and much more.

And boy, am I tired.

  I am posting these pics for a couple of days for you to enjoy.

 Clay women at Jackalope Pottery in Santa Fe 

 The cross section 

I bought two.

 Rose garden in the Canyon Road neighborhood 

 Beautiful gate on Upper Canyon Road 

It was the upside down pale pink roses that attracted me.

Does this upside down thing mean something?

 What ARE these?

They look glorious against adobe walls!

 An old wagon in front of Jackalope Pottery 

Love the cut-out heart.

 Yellow hollyhocks 

You know these will become a painting.

 Star York's playful horses in front of one of the galleries 

 My favorite sculpture on Canyon Road 

Don't you love the shadows on these faces?

 The contrast of this elk against the orange of the flowers and the blue of the windows.....

 Simple orange lillies against an adobe wall 

 Pot of flowers against a gallery wall 

This guy hangs out all around the Santa Fe Plaza, waiting for people who are tired of walking.

Cool stars and chairs 

Colorful newspaper stands

The beautiful church in the heart of Santa Fe Plaza.

The Algodones plateau in spring 

 Alfalfa fields in Bernalillo

Could be hay, I don't know the difference.

 Beautiful red bushes and the lovely porch at the Abiquiu Inn 

Had to have the huevos rancheros.

 A beautiful cross at Black Mesa

 The San Idelphonso church at Black Mesa

 The very tall ET-like hoodoos at Ghost Ranch

Look at those beautiful colors.

 Abiquiu Lake and Pedernal 

The lake water looked really turquoise today.

 Colored rock formations at Ghost Ranch

 A beautiful old building in El Rito

Wouldn't this make a cool studio/gallery?

 This is actually a working restaurant in El Rito!

The clerk at Ghost Ranch said she had dinner here the night before last and it was good.

Should have checked their hours of operation.

 An old window with fake roses in El Rito

 beautiful Descanso near the water in El Rito

 Old adobe right on the street in El Rito

This one is occupied.

 Old old house in El Rito 

Occupied 

They also have an art studio tour every year.

I'm going to go this year!

 Beautiful old restored church

 An old barn

Someone had strung grapevine wreaths across the front of the gate.

I love this photo.

It shows the old original tin roof before they came out with the new stuff.

The gable is beautiful.

And the colors with the cream-colored adobe, yum.

Hope you enjoyed this little slice of life vignette of New Mexico.
Oh, and to see the newest 145 Challenge painting, CLICK HERE.

122 "SANTA FE FLOWERS"

"SANTA FE FLOWERS"

6x6"

#122

For viewing and purchase information, 

CLICK HERE.

"SUMMER ASPENS"

6x6"

#123

SOLD

"TREES...AND OTHER THINGS"

48x60"

This painting is part of the group exhibition "MONSTERS AND MINIS" at Weems Gallery.

I guess you can put it in the "monster" catagory!

Weems Gallery Uptown

www.weemsgallery.com

505-293-6133

 The view of the Sandia mountains yesterday on our way to Santa Fe.

The clouds were awesome!

I'm taking photos with my little back up camera through the windshield 

and let me tell you, it's time to go for the new Canon bells and whistles...

 Some photos from the Museum Hill Cafe in Santa Fe where I attended an event yesterday.

 Does anyone know what this flower is?

it looks like a poppy, but grows on a bush?

I'd like to know, it's beautiful.

 A close-up view.

 The bush itself.

 A window box.

This would make a pretty chaotic abstract flower painting.

 A view from the cafe.

There are mountains in back of me, and this view in front of me.

You can see that it's clouds and there are mountains in the distance.

Pretty spectacular.

It's called Museum Hill and there are probably 3-4 different museums all gathered in one place. 

Okay, Happy Father's Day today!

Lots going on next week, I'll keep you posted.