These four framed paintings are going to a new space in 

Madrid, New Mexico called Little Luna Gallery.

The gallery is run by Jillian and Lillian and already has a nice little stable of artists.

They will be opening very soon.

They don't have a web presence yet.

I can't wait to go see the space and drop the paintings off.

It's so fun just to go to Madrid!

Also, I am painting two BIG paintings for the upcoming Weems show, "SKIES."

I'm thinking one of them has to be a New Mexico rainstorm!

And last but certainly not least, I am getting my studio

set up for my 145 day Challenge, "SWEPT AWAY" -  which begins in 2 days!.

I have unpacked 145 6x6" panels and will be unwrapping them

and starting to tone them my special red/burnt sienna wash.

I have to pick up my grey palette paper at Artisan tomorrow

and I just finished the commission for the Luna Mansion in Los Lunas, New Mexico.

Life is good!

"UNDER THE BLUE"

"UNDER THE BLUE"

10X8"

This painting is a nice warm up for the upcoming Weems Gallery group show 

coming up in May titled, "SKIES."

This show is going to be a blast because the theme of skies can mean a lot of things.

I have a ton of fantastic photos of sunsets, rainstorms, 

big puffy clouds and scenes like the one you see above.

I am itching to get out and paint and photograph all over the state. 

You can bet that I'll be looking for clouds.

I actually have a little time now to go and explore.

My car is in good working order (knock on wood) which is great.

 My camera is broken but I have a little Sony back up. 

I don't really like it, it's way too thin and I can't even feel it when I'm turning it on. 

But it will do in a pinch.

I also have my plein air gear primed and ready to go.

By the way, I have something very big coming up starting on May 9. More on that later.... 

If you are interested in the painting above, please email me at dee@deesanchezart@hotmail.com.

Have a great week!

"ILLUMINTATA II" working process

STAGE 1

I've been working madly on my large paintings for the Weems flower show.
I chose four large chunky canvases and started creating.
This is canvas number two.

I always start by toning the canvas in a very thin wash of orange/red.

Then I move to what I call, "making marks."

I sketch a very loose sketch of where I want to put in the main flowers and stems.

Then I start loading thin color on the brush and placing the main shapes.

STAGE TWO

I've worked a while and have the canvas covered.

Looking at it, I can see that I don't like the sky so dark and I am 

unhappy with the dark green in the upper right corner.

This is spring - it needs to be brighter!

STAGE THREE

This is the finished painting.

It's been painted black around the sides (in acrylic) and varnished.

The painting is actually laying flat on my easel and I photographed it at a weird angle.

As you can see, I've lightened a lot of the color,

gotten rid of the dark green in the corner and added my sky color further down into the painting.

It is now at the gallery for the opening tomorrow of the Weems show, 

"FLOWERS, FRUITS, AND VEGGIES."

I dropped my paintings off in a hurry yesterday, 
but I took a peek and the show is going to be fantastic!  

"ILLUMINATA II" is 30x30" on a 3" deep canvas and is $2100.

Contact Weems at 505-293-6133 for details.
They are located at Montgomery and Louisiana NE.

Happy weekend!