Artfest works in progress...

one poppy - untitled 12x9

clouds on the way to Santa Fe - untitled 24x48

Rio Grande Gorge, Taos

newspaper photo

Hi guys, here is the one of the photos in the newspaper article. It's weird, seeing myself, because usually I'm the one behind the camera or camcorder. And smiling!

works in progress, Weems show...

"GOLDEN MESA"

30"X40"

"OVERCAST, VALDEZ"

16"X12"

"FALL COLORS, BLUEBERRY HILL"

10"X10"

Good morning everyone! It's very hard to post daily when I am in the painting zone for Artfest, so these next few days, you will probably see lots of paintings posted at once.

If you didn't get the Sunday morning paper, please do! There is a fantastic article written by David Steinberg about me, my paintings, and Artfest. It is wonderful and I thank him so much for doing such a thoughtful piece. They said they would make me look smart and sound smart and I pretty much think they did....just sayin'.

I have SO many things to do between now and Friday when the show opens. A 30x40 painting to complete, three 24x30s to finish, and lots of small paintings - I love to save those until the very end so I can paint every subject I didn't get to, it is just a wild ride to the finish! I have 300 magnets to create, an inventory list to make, a mad gathering of supplies; lights, rugs, signs, tables, twinkle lights, and all of the tiny little things that are so eay to forget. Things like sales books, pens, stapler, screws, drill, wire, tape, hammer, postcards, etc.

I want to invite you all to the show. I really feel like this is MY year. All my hard work for the last eight years has paid off. I am relaxed, I am balanced. I have lost 50 pounds ( well, close anyway!), and I want to relax, meet all my old friends, make some new ones, and just have fun at the wonderful, magical venue that is Weems Artfest. Love you all.

Oh, and scroll down for more paintings!

new works in progress for show

"ABOUT THE SKY"

16"x16"

"TREELINE, RIM ROAD"

12"x9"

"IN THE IRIS"

16"X12"

Taos - work in progress

10"x10"

This painting is a square even though it doesn't read that way - I just stuck it in the scanner real quick to get an impression. This is a view of the valley along Blueberry Hill in Taos. If you take the shortcut around town to Arroyo Seco, this is the way you would go. Beautiful contrasts and lots of fields. I am really working now and am going to try to post everything I've done so far, maybe over the weekend.

ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE A FREE POSTCARD TO THE SHOW, PLEASE EMAIL WITH YOUR ADDRESS TO:

seesanchezart@hotmail.com

untitled

5"x5"

A sweet little sunset, a few lines, no varnish yet.

new smalls...

"IN PURPLE"

5"X5"

"RED SUNSET"

5"X7"

"ONE"

5"X5"

Wow, yesterday was crazy. I spent all day until almost midnight addressing postcards and I am still not done. This morning I am mailing everything I have so far, then I will continue on until I have them all ready to send out. I'm also making magnets (over 200), which will take up a good part of my day. I will be finishing up my dancers, a rooster in a lavender fields, two big red poppies, and then I'll see where I'm at. Someone has requested that I paint a vertical sunflower field, so I'll block that in tonight or tomorrow. In the morning, I will take an inventory, see how many paintings I have, what subjects, and how many more I think I can do and what subjects I'm missing that I want to include. I want to include EVERYTHING! Oh, and I am headed to Curves, can't forget the workout, especially since I ate a bunch of Halloween candy. We only had three groups of trick-or-treaters, about 22 total. I expected way more, but I think the local community center had a carnival this weekend, so maybe they were "candied" out. Anyway, more later, Artfest is only 10 days away!

artfest paintings

"EVENING SUNS"

5"X7"

"LITTLE BOUQUET"

7"X5"

I have finished 11 paintings in the last two days! Most of them are middle-sized canvases, but a couple of these are cute smaller pieces. I will post quite a few paintings during the next 11 days and I may not even get to all of the paintings I will have at the show. That just means you'll have to come and see them all!

Baby, it's cold outside..

Okay, I admit it, I copied this off of one of my friend's facebook posts. This is too cute! It reminds me of my mom, my grandma, and my aunt, who were all afraid to go outside without their "head scarf" in place, even though their hair was done up in the over-plastered helmet head so popular in the day. I like the one in the middle with the little leopard outfit. Have a good day everyone, I will be working like crazy....

getting close

Isn't this beautiful? The reddish orange of the bushes and trees against the two versions of blue on the cool old cars. Another day in Taos!

I'm sorry I haven't been able to post much but this is the busiest time for me. Painting, lining, organizing, signing posters, picking up, buying, addressing postcards, etc. I haven't even been able to keep up with my posting of paintings on my Artfest 2010 blog. I'm hoping to get all of that updated before the show, so you can see everything. So anyway, bear with me and know that I am working really hard right now and also trying to stay balanced with exercise and not go totally crazy like I usually do. More tomorrow. Hopefully.

For Sherry - hope this size is better!

more Taos...

El Salto peak covered in clouds with a small patch of sunlight at the bottom

A descanso right by the main road in Taos in El Prado

Two horses living in paradise!

UPDATE
I am painting furiously for Artfest. I have several paintings completed and am trying to finish up all of the large canvases so I can get to the smaller ones. Of the large ones left, I have two 30x40, one 24x48, three 24x30, and one 24x24 left. I have some really dramatic sunset photos that I want to use for a few of those.
Only a couple of weeks left, I have SO much more I want to do. It never feels like there's enough time to complete everything.
So, how is everyone out there? Ready for Halloween? I got a pumpkin last week, it's cute and has the curliest little stem. It looks like a little piglet's tail. I also bought some orange little twinkle lights and got Halloween candy yesterday. Let's see if it lasts until Halloween....
I want to thank you all for your comments and feedback and mostly your support through this past year. Without my daily blog and my ability to connect with my "watchers" I would feel lost! I thank those who have encouraged me in my weight loss endeavors. I've lost 50 pounds and have stalled in my weight loss. mostly because of the stress of getting ready for the show. After the show is over, I will continue on. I am keeping up with my exercise and trying to meditate though, so that helps. So anyway, the postcards are at the printer and I will get them addressed and ready to mail this weekend, so look for that in your mailbox. I will also be giving away a small painting at the show, so hopefully that will teast you into coming.....

no time to write now but a few photos of Taos.....

Valdez - this is the valley in Arroyo Seco right next to the Taos Ski Valley Road. Incredible colors.

Not edited yet - but the color was fantastic. This was taken from the window while I was driving. Orange red brush and two horses on the Taos Indian reservation.

This was part if the hike. The hikers hit rain, hail, and snow. About six made it to the top. This is about 3/4 of the way up and everyone always says that this is the most grueling hike they've ever done. These rocks are perilous and steep. It looks like something from another world!
I will write more tomorrow....

oh, and one more

This is the Sandias from my favorite cornfield in Corrales. The field is empty and has been plowed. I love the clouds over the mountains and can you see the patch of sunlight that is illumintaing the house and surrounding trees? I think a portion of this could become a painting. Maybe move up the fenceposts to the edge of the field and delete the road.....

Scroll down for more Corrales photos.

more photos from Corrales

The ghosts of Corrales! This was one of the homes I passed when I was in the village
yesterday. They look like little carolers, but spookier.

Two farmers discussing where to put the tractor (I guess).

The Rio Grande River by my house.....the trees are starting to turn.

They came to do an interview about the poster and Artfest from the Albuquerque Journal yesterday. I told the reporter and photographer that I hoped I was actually smarter than what I thought I sounded like. He said the photographer was there to make me "look" smart and he was there to make me "sound" smart. I hope they do their respective jobs! Lots more photos coming from a new place.....

Corrales

I went to have lunch in Corrales today and it is So pretty there this time of year. First off, on the way in, they have a vendor selling watermelons that are "blessed by Jesus." I wonder what happens if you eat an unblessed watermelon? hmm.

This photo was of a big scarecrow guy sitting on top of a building. All of the businesses have scarecrows, pumpkins, and other decorations up everywhere. I have a few more photos I'll post later. I wanted to just spend the day there, enjoying the colors and the feeling of fall.

These are two new works in progress. Boy you can tell I was using the same color palette on both of them. They are 12"x16" and I am LOVING getting into these smaller works. I still have large paintings to finish but this is fun fun fun!


I will have some new photos to show you next week and I'm hoping that quite a few of them will turn into paintings. Only about three weeks to go now before Artfest. I am IN THE ZONE!


This is a canyon near Abiquiu. SOLD





This is Georgia O'Keefe's Pedernal that she loved so much. SOLD

Daily Painting available

"IN PURPLE LIGHT"

8"X8"

I went to the gallery to gather some larger paintings today and found this little gem hidden in the bottom of a box. I think it's really cute and I remember painting it, but I can't remember when! I think my favorite thing about the painting are the mountains in the background. Purchase information is below.

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $99.00 plus $10.00 s/h
Or, send me an email

Life ends too soon

I heard that a young rapper, 28 year old Eyedea, Mike Larsen, passed away today. I had never heard of him, so I googled him and saw this video. I also checked out a few of his battles wirh other artists and he was amazing (minus some language). Anyway, this video said something to me so I wanted to share it with you. A young life ended too soon.

The words of one of the Chilean miners rescued really spoke to me today:

But in the end, he said, he's left with one enduring mantra to live by: "Don't worry so much about money. Live your life. Live every second of it."

beautiful fall

I went out to feed the pups this morning and noticed that these beautiful leaves are all over the ground. Since I've been working so much, the only time I go into the backyard is maybe once a day to sit in the swing and get a few minutes of afternoon sun. I hadn't noticed any fall colors until now. I HAVE noticed that the sun seems to be in a different place in the mornings and has a much softer, welcoming feel. I love this time of year. I also bought a pumpkin yesterday! I have a bunch of sets of orange twinkle lights that I usually put up in the archways around my kitchen right about now but I might need them for Artfest, so they may not go up until afterwards. I might have Thanksgiving twinkle lights!

Today I am working on the lines on my big floral painting. I'm also varnishing one of the sunsets and am deciding what subject to put on a 30x40 canvas. Any ideas? Have a wonderful day and "GO CHIEFS!"

works in progress

"ROLLING HILLS OVER MESA II"

15"X30"

"THE WILD GARDEN"

40"X40"

Detail

SATURDAY

Hello - here are some new works in progress. The first, "ROLLING CLOUDS OVER MESA II", is a beautiful New Mexico sunset. We see those clouds here all if the time, but painting really never does them justice, they are just breathtaking. This painting is complete, it just needs varnishing. No lines, because it's simple and beautiful and something told me not to.

The next painting, "THE WILD GARDEN" is a huge piece, 40"x40" and is a big mass of garden flowers. It was so fun to paint and I have started taping it off for the lines. It will take me quite a while to finish this one.

OTHER NEWS

The poster is here and it's beautiful! The Albuquerque Journal is coming to do an article next week about Artfest and the poster, so watch for that.

I haven't had time to post anything on Dee's Lifeblog. I'll try to get to that today.

Have a great day!

Oh, and I need more testimonials. PLEASE......

I NEED TESTIMONIALS!!!!

Yes, that's right, I need your help!

I'm putting together an information packet for Artfest and I need you.

• WHAT I NEED
• Testimonials of any kind. If you have feelings or thoughts about my paintings, my style, myself, stories about commissions, or anything related to my art, I would love to hear them and include them in my packet.
• Maybe my art reminds you of something or someone, just anything that would help other people to understand how and why people relate to my art and why I do what I do.
• The testimonials can be just a sentence or two, or a couple of paragraphs, but I would also love to include any stories or anecdotes you might remember.
• SEND THEM TO ME

Please send them in an email to deesanchezart@hotmail.com. I will only use your first name in the packet unless you specify otherwise. You may also add them in the comments section below. There may be a surprise drawing at the end of Artfest for participants!

Thank you

teasers....

"THREE DANCERS INTO BLUE"

16"X20"

in progress

"ROLLING SUNSET OVER MESA"

15"x30"

in progress

I am busy busy now. Tomorrow my painting goes to press for the Weems Artfest print and I'm going to go down and watch the whole process. I hope to have something to post about that later.
I'm also buying lots of canvas tomorrow - a few larger pieces and lots of medium and smaller sizes. I only have one month left. I can't believe time has passed by so fast! I still have so many subjects I want to paint - will I be able to fit it all in? We'll see.....

new poppies in progress

I'm working on four paintings in the studio now; a Taos autumn, a floral, a big sunflower field and these two nestling poppies. This painting is in the rough stages right now. I can still see the drizzle of the darker toned ground and sketch underneath. This will take many layers and graduations of color to complete the finished piece. I'll post more tomorrow.

Everything is in the zone now - I'm trying to stay balanced and I think it's kind of working! I'm still exercising, meditating, and tonight I went to a meeting of one of my women artists groups, The Rainbow Artists. The meeting was at the Offcenter Art Site located downtown, what a neat space - I had never been there. Lots of good ideas coming out of this dedicated group of women.

Tomorrow will be some errands, lots of work, and there's a basketball game I've gotta see - my husband, his little brother, his other little brother, his brother-in-law, his niece, and his nephew are all playing on a league and I'm videotaping. Also watching will be his mom, who plays in the Senior Olympics in the 75-80 age group. Her team usually comes home with Gold Medals because they have absolutely no competition. Yay for them!

don't mess with me

a balloon over my house

totally not about art

My little three-year-old niece spent the morning with me today

TOP TEN THINGS I LEARNED FROM HER

1. Sometimes you have to put ice in your oatmeal if it's too hot

2. Ditto for cinnamon sugar

3. Three years olds are very heavy when they sit on your knees

4. Barettes make really nice long fingernails when attached to the ends of your fingers

5. We need an exact count of how many poops are in the toilet after she goes

6. Games with just cards and no colorful pieces are BORING

7. Why is the most asked question in the universe

8. Little kids love to hide and also scare and tickle people while they are sleeping

9. Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and The Little Mermaid should all win an Academy Award. Also Ursulla is mean and fat, Malificent is mean and skinny. And when you put the boxes next to each other side by side, they become best friends

10. Just how smart she is and how much I love her

Thank you sweetie

P.S. I just remembered another one: "When I told someone on the phone I was babysitting her, she said , No, you're not because I'm not a baby." I said okay, I am "WATCHING" you. That seemed to be okay with her.

new work for show

"THE ASPEN GLADE"

28"X22"

in progress

This is another work in progress. I decided to cover all of my large canvases, so I would know what subjects I have, and what subjects I still want to paint. I always include at least one aspen painting. Even though the linework takes FOREVER. I think I'm going to love this when it's done. I am posting at random now, when I finish things or start things, I get excited and want you to see them. So if you get too many posts, and are busy, just know it's me with another work in progress or something else that inspires me!
and why won't this font get smaller???

works in progress

These two will be Artfest paintings. The painting above is a 16x20 and I think it's going to look wonderful when finished. I love doing the linework on these crazy masses of flowers. I also like the mystique of them being night flowers; a darker, subdued environment, but still full of color.

This one is a 24x18 and is my interpretation of some of Taos, New Mexico's beautiful fall colors. I have to play with the placement of trees a little bit, they seem a little skewed to me. Okay, I will report back on my progress tonight.

You can see the new Artfest painting, #15, at www.artfest2010.blogspot.com
You can read my newest journal blogpost at www.dees100pound.blogspot.com

a few of my favorites

BOOKS

Books are some of my favorite things in the whole world. I read constantly; mostly art-related books, non-fiction, how-to, self-help, philosophy, spirituality-based, you name it. Someone has asked me to list some of the books I devoured when I was learning how to paint and market my work, so I will start with the ones that I feel imparted the most useful information. This book, "Fill Your Oil Paintings With Light & Color" by Kevin Macpherson is one of my favs. I also love his follow-up book, "Landscape Painting Inside & Out." These books are simply beautiful, filled with great photos, easily readable text, and gave me such valuable information that I feel like I owe Mr. Macpherson a debt of gratitude. He also lives in Taos, which is a big plus in my mind. So this is the first of many books I will share with you.

I am a self-taught artist. I learned by reading. Then by doing. I had no real teachers, which is good, because I have my own individual style, which I love. That's one reason I don't attend artist's workshops - I don't want to be influenced by another person's work. I don't want to paint like anyone else. Okay - maybe there are a couple of people I admire! But with books, it's different. You read one and then you pull what you really need and will use from each one. Eventually and with much much much painting, your style will shine through. Did I mention that I have painted miles of canvas to be where I'm at at this moment? And that I still have a long way to go? And that I will never stop learning how to paint? There will always be a challenge for me out there. So for my fellow artists out there, just keep reading and put in the work. Paint, paint, paint.

STUDIO NEWS AND HAPPENINGS - FALL 2010

Today has been a semi-productive day.
I finished my commission, it was picked up, hopefully loved, and has a nice new home.

I have almost all of my canvases toned in my beautiful wash of red and burnt sienna.

I am starting on a 24x48 canvas - I have a request for hills with flowers.

After that, my next size will be 40x40, probably a sunset landscape.

Then, I will finish up all of the medium size canvases I have, and I'm off to the art store to pick up some 30x40s, 24x30s, 36x48, and maybe a large odd size; they have a 36x60 that I think would be quite the challenge.

I have my hollyhocks being photographed for the postcard. As soon as it's complete. I have to order. Then print. Then address. Then mail. At least 1000 of them.

I still have a bunch of smaller paintings and minis I want to complete.

I have to start making my magnets and bagging them up.

I was thinking of calendars, cards, bags, and tee-shirts. That will be next year.

I have quite a few plans for 2011 - I want to publish a book about the 150 Challenge Show. I want to write a magazine article. I want to do some advertising in American Art Collector magazine, I am on the list for a studio at the Harwood, I am planning a show with framed plein air paintings accompanied by Haiku poetry. Wow, I said "I" a record number of times! Someone stop me.....

two new Artfest paintings!

Click on the photo above to see my two newest paintings for Artfest!

SOLD

www.artfest2010.blogspot.com