gotta get away....

Hi all,

Well, it's October and there is a lot happening!

I just got back from a quick trip to Taos.

Kevin MacPherson, a really wonderful painter from Taos,

sent out an invitation for artists to go up and paint his famous pond.

I jumped at the chance.

I left for Taos Saturday morning.

I have to say, the chamisa was amazing all the way up north:

I stopped off in Pilar for a few pics:

I spent the night with my relatives and left

early the next morning for Valle Escondido.

The drive was beautiful and here is Kevin's pond:

I finished two paintings here using my steering wheel easel.

I have to say that using the steering wheel is a little different.
You can only put the seat back so far, 
so they look a little more impressionistic than normal:

"KEVIN'S POND"

8x10"

"ASPEN HILLSIDE"

9x12"

Such a beautiful place, I hope I get to paint there again.

Thank you Kevin, for being so generous with your time,

and your gorgeous setting!

I took a ton of photos in and around Taos, many of

which I'm sure will become paintings:

 Red chile ristras were out in full force

 Teepees against a blue sky

I've always photographed this tree.

I think maybe it died.

 The beautiful Rio Grande gorge

 Beautiful Taos mountain

 The grass was so tall you could hardly see the cows

 Gorgeous fall colors

 The horses were also enjoying the fall weather

 What a wonderful place to be a horse!

 This one didn't want his photo taken

 Village of Arroyo Seco

 Cool old Seco truck

 Old adobe with chamisa

Muted fall colors were everywhere

 Another old truck - with eyelashes

 Virginia creeper and chamisa

 The golden hour, Valdez

 More golden hour

 El Salto and fall colors

 Seco cemetery

 One little golden sapling

 On my way out of town, I stopped by the river to paint one more painting

This is the scene I painted.
I definitely will paint this in the studio
because in this painting, the colors are really warm,
when in reality, they are much cooler.

 "THE RIVER RUNS"

8x10"

And THIS is my favorite photo from the trip!

Golden trees with an adobe wall and an old blue gate.

Viva Taos!!

Tomorrow....new information about my upcoming adventure.

"THE LOS POBLANOS PROJECT"