it's party time!

150 CHALLENGE SHOW

You guys, my 150 CHALLENGE SHOW is almost done!

It's only taken me an extra six months (maybe more)

longer than I originally intended.

I have 28 paintings left and so much material.

How am I going to decide what to paint?

I will go through reference photos on a daily basis 

and choose just what feels right for that day.

This was my first painting coming back from plein air

painting in Questa.

It feels weird in a way to be back working in the studio.

It also feels nice because there are no bugs and no wind.

And I have ceiling fans and air conditioning!

Can't argue with that.

This is a poppy duet from a photo taken of a beautiful garden

in Corrales, New Mexico.

I really shouldn't paint at night because there are too

many distracting lights, but sometimes you just have to PAINT.

These poppies make me happy.

I have many wonderful paintings from the 

CHALLENGE SHOW in my studio.

A sampling: 

I am now planning my ART GARDEN party!

The party is a once a year extravaganza under the 

cottonwood trees at my north valley home.

The event will feature great Mexican food, music by Mezcla Latina,

and a very special Studio Sale.

This event is free to the first 75 people who register.

You MUST be registered to attend.

The event is happening Sunday, September 3,

from 4-8pm.

To get your name on the list:

Email me at dshadowtail@aol.com or 

Call me at 505-792-1030

Please submit your:

Name

Address

Phone 

Email address

Number of Guests

Postcards will be going out around August 1.

If you have ever wanted to hang out with a cool group of people,

listen to great music, enjoy homemade Mexican food,

and look at an artist's studio, all under the evening 

cottonwoods, sign up now, because when it's full,

it's full!

To see all of the 150 CHALLENGE paintings, 
CLICK HERE.

new 150 CHALLENGE paintings

Hi all,

Here are my two newest 150 CHALLENGE paintings.

It is nice to get back into the groove.

I have 50 paintings to complete, but for some reason,

it doesn't feel like a lot.

I'm not under a deadline and I can paint whatever and whenever I want.

Yesterday, I really felt like I had to paint a still life.

I don't know why - I was just drawn to painting flowers and vases.

I finished CORNER WINDOW, and I was really happy

with the sunlight playing through the window and around the flowers.

Then Jemez called to me.

Maybe because I am itching to take a little day trip there

but I'm waiting until I can see at least a little

green in the landscape.

I hope you enjoy these two and today,

the door is open for me to paint ANYTHING!

I have a new Challenge image for our group,

"LET'S PAINT NEW MEXICO!"

It's an old truck, so I may paint that.

Here is the image:

Here are my new Challenge paintings:

#52 "JEMEZ BACKROADS"

8x10"

oil on cradled board

$150

#53  "CORNER WINDOW"

8x8"

oil on cradled board

$150

P.S. If you are interested in purchasing either

of these paintings, you can click on the link HERE.

new paintings

The paintings are coming fast and furious!

I don't know if I will finish on time, 

but I'm sure trying.

To see the new paintings and all of the

completed 150 Challenge Show paintings,

CLICK HERE.

three new 150 challenge paintings

Hi all,

I sketched seventeen paintings yesterday and I have painted three so far.

I hope you like them and watch for the Purchase link at the bottom of the page.

 "OLD TOWN TWINKLES"

8x10"

oil on cradled gessoboard

$150

I love this sweet little alcove in old town.

The window is a beautiful cobalt blue and with

the pinks and reds of the flowers and the twinkle lights,

it's just a grand place to visit!

 "BIRDSONG"

10x8"

oil on cradled board

$150

A scene from last week's garden in Corrales.

I fell in love with the beauty of this gorgeous wildflower garden!

I arrived about early in the morning to paint

and all I could hear were the sounds of nature.

Birds singing, bees buzzing (mosquitos too).

Therefore, my title of BIRDSONG.

"SPRING ASPENS AND LILACS"

8x10"

oil on cradled board

$150

Oh my gosh, I can't tell you how

much I love this painting!

It is spring aspens and lilacs in Taos, actually in Arroyo Seco.

The sunlight was shining through the trees and I 

had to capture the scene with my camera.

The finished painting is very impressionistic,

maybe that's why I like it so much.

Up close, it looks like nothing but colors.

But step back, and it becomes something that

really reminds me of that beautiful morning.

For Purchase information,

CLICK HERE.

in the zone

I am definitely in the painting zone now.

I've been averaging two paintings per day

and painting like this really strengthens your skill

because you are going, going, going.

Just pick your top three reference photos

for the day and GO!

Good things happen to those who paint every day!

At least I hope so.

These are my two newest paintings:

  "SUNNY WINDOW"

8X8"

#120

One of my favorite scenes - 

flowers inside, flowers outside!

"GORGE VIEW"

10X8"

#119

The Rio Grande Gorge near Taos.

Ever-changing, ever-magical.

To purchase either of these paintings,

CLICK HERE.

What's is Happening

I have been busy!

Painting 150 Challenge paintings is my life right now.

 BUT - summer is going to be non-stop work and fun.

~ I have an art event this week at Nedra Matteucci galleries this week.

~ I am painting at a gallery on Canyon Road this weekend.

~ It's almost Mother's Day.

~I am gifting myself a three day weekend in Taos to paint, read, photograh, and enjoy good food.

~ I am painting at the Corrales Garden Tour on Sunday, June 5 from 9am-5pm.

~ I am in the upcoming Santa Fe Plein Air Festival, painting five days in and around Santa Fe with an exhibition at the end.

~ I am going to a wedding and seeing old friends and family!

~ I am having an Art Dinner Party in July 
to celebrate the end of the 150 Challenge.

I can't wait!

 I took a trip to Corrales last week and I always go to my favorite garden.

These pretty purple iris were the first bloomers.

There is so much more to come in this garden.

I'm trying to go by once a week to chart the progress of the flowers.

 A weird half-car sculpture.

Does anyone know what kind of car this is? 

It looks like something my uncle used to drive.

 My favorite "pumpkin head" couple.

They have an umbrella and flowers. 

I guess they're ready for that saying:

"April showers bring May flowers."

 This is a cool photo,

A man working his garden with

the apple orchard in the background and

the Sandia mountains beyond that.

I see a painting here.

 Our lady of Guadalupe fits in everywhere!

 The Mexican evening primrose looked so pretty 

against this grey adobe wall.

 A cool Mexican outfit and folk art chicken.

 I also ventured over to Los Poblanos.

It's another local treasure that I like to photograph regularly.

The trees and flowers always look different and I love to paint 

the lavender when it's in full bloom.

 A not quite green little vineyard.

 See, she fits in everywhere!

 I found this cool book at the antique store.

It has great old pictures in it.

I haven't read it, but I bet it's filled with interesting info about 

Miss Mabel and all of her friends.

 One of my peonies in full bloom.

 These pansies volunteered themselves from last year.

 I also took a little side trip to Algodones last week.

I bet it's much greener now.

This is a beautiful scene.

So many greys and greens!

I'm going back this week.

 Okay, these horses have a LOT of space to mosey.

Yet they choose to graze in a single file line.

What's up with that?

 Nice vistas.

 Working on the 150 paintings.

Lots of blank canvases underneath!

 New 150 Challenge paintings

 I painted this painting, sold it, and forgot to remove the

Paypal button and I sold it again!

So I had to call my customer and apologize.

Now, I am painting a new one for her.

Sometimes it pays to make mistakes....

 roses at Rancho de Chimayo

 one purple flower in a sea of oranges

a riot of yellow for spring

More coming....

To see all of the 150 Challenge paintings created so far,

CLICK HERE.

NEWS

Hi all - 

Wow, time is passing way too fast these days!

I am busy at work on the 150 Challenge Show.

Below you can see the latest paintings:

 "SPRING MEADOW"

8X10

#143

 "MOUNTAIN ASPENS"

10x8"

#142

SOLD

 "THE BLUE DOOR"

8x8"

#145

 "DREAMING OF TAOS"

8x8"

#144

SOLD

Interesting story - I sold this painting immediately and marked it SOLD,

but I forgot to remove the Paypal button so I sold it twice!

So I called the second buyer, explained the situation, 

and now I am painting another one for her.

Sometimes things work out...

This is a finished commission painting for one for my regular collectors.

She wanted the mountains, putple and orange flowers,

and my old school acrylic style.

I have another finished commission I am shipping out tomorrow.

I will post pics after its on its way.

I hope everyone is doing well, 

enjoying the beautiful spring most of us are having.

I saw pictures of Arroyo Seco on facebook and they have snow!

The mailing labels for my postcards are bring printed as we speak.

Postcards will go out by Friday.

DON'T FORGET - 

I am having a free Art Dinner Party in July to

celebrate the end of the 150 Challenge Show.

You HAVE to be registered to receive a ticket to attend.

So much to do.

Dee