new directions

Hi all,

There has been a lot of really cool stuff happening

the past several months:

I was chosen as Poster Artists for the Corrales Harvest Festival.

I went back to Weems Gallery Old Town.

I collaborated with twelve other wonderfully talented artists on a group show.

I took day trips to Chimayo, Truchas, Penasco, Dixon, Jemez, 

Abiquiu, Ghost Ranch and the Christ in the Desert Monastery.

I painted at some great locations!

I also bought a new small paint box to use in my car.

Here is the Festival Poster:

A few of the paintings I have at Weems Old Town Gallery:

A few of the paintings from my plein air collaboration 

with my new artist friends:

I had such fun painting in Corrales, it's a beautiful village

and the people are so welcoming.

And here are just a few photos of my recent day trips!

Enough to keep me motivated during the winter if I have to paint from photos:

 Whew. Now is the time to step back and re-evaluate.

This is the time of year that I think about what I want to do next year.

What direction do I want to go?

What projects might I want to work on?

And this is what I have come up with:

~Have my "SOUP AND SANTA" event the first weekend in December.

~Just REALLY enjoy the holidays!

~Paint one large old-style acrylic each month for one of my galleries.

~Start a new small 6x8" series

~Work on a series of figures and nudes

~Do LOTS of plein air painting

~Enter a couple of shows

And last but certainly not least, get in shape for knee surgery!!!

That is the biggest one, because I now

realize just how much more I could do artwise if my knees were good.

More plein air painting, more hiking, more everything.

What are your plans for the coming year?

I would love to hear from everyone about their vision and goals, 

personally, artistically, and spiritually.

Here's to a great holiday season!

always looking

I know people who like to travel.

Anywhere. Anytime.

All over the world.

Not me.

I DO love traveling.

But I keep my traveling close.

I can (and will)spend the rest of my life traveling all over this beautiful state of New Mexico.

Painting, taking photographs, 

and hopefully hanging out with people I love.

 Or alone.

I find it hard to travel with people 

when I paint.

I need quiet. I need to think.

I need to find that perfect composition.

But other times, I love company.

I love traveling with relatives or friends 
to Chimayo or Abiquiu:

 enjoying Monastery road

 having lunch at the Abiquiu Inn

 Enjoying Ghost Ranch and Pedernal

 meeting new friends

 and finding new, mysterious places

Then, there are other times 

I just really like being alone.

Why?

 to ponder the beauty of creation

 To sit and enjoy a spring day 

 to find sacred places

 to find hidden painting spots

 to see beautiful things

 

Fellow artists, we are not normal.

Not me anyway.

I am caught between two worlds.

In one world I need companionship, relationships, and people.

And in the other world, I need quiet time, alone time,and solitude.

For thinking, planning, and creating.

And sometimes, I just really need to hold my graddaughter.

finally

Back at it. Finally.

Hi all - 

I am playing catch-up here.

I've been working on my Retro Challenge paintings,

enjoying a visit from some nice out-of-town facebook friends,

photographing hollyhocks around town,

pulling weeds in the garden,

enjoying my granddaughter,

and everything else that goes along with summer.

Now I really have to sock it into high gear - 

I haven't even started on ornaments yet!

Please keep in mind that I am painting the Retro Challenge paintings 

for a big show that opens on Friday, September 26, at 

Weems Gallery on Montgomery NE.

It should be a blast!

If you want to know how to purchase Retro Challenge paintings,

please read the link to your right.

Have a great summer ya'll!

(Hint, hint, "ya'll)

Guess where my friends were from??

To see the newest Retro paintings, click HERE.

 This is painting #99, "AUTUMN AT BLACK MESA."

 These are a couple of shots of hollyhocks at a beauty shop 

near where I live. 

 Love the cool colors in this one.

It almost looks like fall with the rusts and oranges.

And fourth of July with the flag!

 This is my friend Connie from Fort Worth, Texas.

We had never met until she came for a visit and now I adore her!

She is so sweet (along with her husband John, and friends Claudia and Earl)

and we went on a day trip, ate lots of Mexican food, and had a great time.

I hope to see her again soon.

Taos Connie, remember??

On another note, this is a photo from my facebook friend Nicole,

who lives in France.

She posts the most beautiful photos and gave me permission to paint this.

And I'm going to!
Thank goodness for wonderful facebook friends....