5-24 my impression of tulips

 "MY IMPRESSION OF TULIPS"

10X10" oil

Tonight I wanted to push the paint around.

No sketching, just go!

It looks sort of whimsical and I really tried my best 

not to make the painting looked fully formed and representational.

Message me for purchase information.

What do you think?

a little plein air

Good morning!

Yesterday I met my friend Barb Clark at a 

beautiful local vineyard.

It was so quiet, no one was there, the birds were chirping,

the breeze was swaying...

I hadn't painted on location since before all

of my tooth issues, so it felt so good just to be outside!

We painted from 9am to about 11am,

then it really started to get hot.

I packed up, came home, ate lunch, and crashed out.

I felt so weak from just that little excursion.

I came away with these two paintings,

which I'm kind of proud of.

The top one is a palette knife piece and the bottom is

just the view of the mountains and flowers all around me.

Today I am working on varnishing and framing some

paintings to take to the gallery.

And I'm making cookies!

And I might go for a soak in the spa.

And I have to take a shower.

Most definitely that!

So I hope you enjoy these two paintings.

Where will my next destination be?

 

#98 "TAOS MOUNTAIN AND ROSES"

"TAOS MOUNTAIN AND ROSES"

6x8"

oil $100

My third daily painting of the challenge.

This one was so much fun and it turned out so colorful.

I love Taos mountain and it's calling my name!

SOLD

#105 "POPPIES AND ROSES"

"POPPIES AND ROSES"

8x10"

oil on cradled board

$150

This painting is much prettier in person.

It makes me think of a person dreaming about flowers.

This is what I dream about sometimes after

a full day of painting chaotic gardens and meadows!

For Purchase information,

CLICK HERE.

Obsessed

 Obsessed

I am obsessed with gardens right now.

I drive to Corrales at least once a week to 

photograph a particular garden.

I also drive by an artist friend's house because 

they have gorgeous flowers growing in their front yard.

A little side street near my house

 yarrow, larkspur, and guillardia (I think)

 I love hollyhocks against ugly cinderblock walls.

The blocks are grey in color,

which makes for beautiful contrasts in painting.

 more hollies in different shades of pink

 Red-orange roses - beautiful!

 a field of larkspur

This reminds me so much of my grandmothers.

 beautiful turquoise gate with larkspur,

bachelor buttons, and hollyhocks not yet blooming.

 side garden at my obsession house

 beautiful roses at Villa Acequia in Corrales

 Oh man, these roses are simply divine.

 The center is so gorgeous, just waiting to unfold!

 hollyhocks peeking though

another beautiful painting

I hope you don't get bored with my photographs.

I am so busy and getting busier all the way through the end of July.

Taking time out to photograph a little

beauty in my corner of the world keeps me going.

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.

#149 "FLOWER SONG"

New 150 Challenge Painting

 "FLOWER SONG"

10x8"

oil on cradled hardboard

#149

The second painting of the 150 Challenge.

Can you tell that I am putting off the "FACES" part of the Challenge?

I will try to get to at least one this weekend.

The painting above was a joy to create.

*******************************************

Upcoming Show:

I have created six paintings as a Guest Artist 

for Essence Gallery's upcoming "FEATHERED FRIENDS" exhibition.

The show opens on friday, March 4, from 5-9pm in Old Town.

 "CHUBBY"

6x6" 

oil on canvas

 "FLY OVER"

6x6" 

oil on canvas

 "CHICADEE"

6x6"

oil on canvas

 "LITTLE ONE"

6x6"

oil on canvas

 "IN THE LAVENDER"

8x10"

oil on canvas

"IN THE FIELD"

9x12"

oil on canvas

"CHIMAYO ROSES" auction

"CHIMAYO ROSES"

8x10"

oil on panel

This painting is now available for auction.

I haven't offered a painting for auction for some time!

The auction will last 7 days. 

You also have an option to BUY IT NOW at the auction site.

This is a view of beautiful red roses at Santuario de Chimayo.

The roses were sitting against a warm adobe wall.  

The light was wonderful.

There was a blue mural painted on the wall featuring

a woman holding a basket and a man digging in the earth.

I chose to paint the mural as an abstract.

Lots of exciting things coming up.

In the planning stages of a major shift in life and work changes.

To go to the auction page, CLICK HERE.

On the auction page, you can point your cursor on the painting and
see up close and personal brush strokes!

MOTHER'S DAY

 I've been traipsing around the yard this morning,

looking at the flowers that are just starting to bloom.

Above is the beautiful lilac I got from all my kiddos last Mother's Day.

I can't remember the name of it, but the blooms are beautiful.

It does need a moat around it and a higher berm to hold the water in longer.

 This is a renegade rose bush.

You know the really pretty rose bushes you can buy?

The ones with the long, intricate names?

This is not one of those.

This is the one that the other pretty rose bush is grafted onto.

These hardy bushes sitting on the bottom of the pretty grafted rose bush 

seem to be much sturdier and longer-lasting.

The pretty rose bush grafted onto this one is long gone...

Here's to you, hearty rose bush!

 This one is right outside my studio door.

Always one of the first ones to bloom. 

I love to come and sit out here.

There's a Japanese Maple tree hanging over my old adirondack chair 

and it is absolutely the perfect spot to relax.

 I am thinking of painting another truck like this today.
I didn't like my first effort -
although someone did and they bought it.
I may try a better composition today and see what happens.

 Tomorrow is Mother's Day.

This is a pic of my mom when she was maybe 17-18.

I miss her every day and wish I could tell her 

how much I really loved her.

I wish she could meet my graddaughter Sawyer.

I didn't always do the right thing growing up and

I'm pretty sure I was a trial to her.

I don't think she knew what to do with me.

But I think she always did her best and she was one strong woman.
Sometimes I think we don't appreciate our mothers
 and all they do for us until they're gone.
The ONE person who cares the most about you, is always there for you, 
willing to sacrifice everything for you, and only wants the best for you.
 

I wish she had gotten to live her dreams a little more.

I love you mama.

What are YOU doing for Mother's Day?

I am thinking of taking a day trip!