Spring Has Sprung

Spring Has Sprung

I checked the last time I blogged and it was March 11.

That is crazy.

Life has gotten really busy or

I have gotten really lazy.

Maybe a little bit of both.

SPRING IS HERE!

Easter is tomorrow and I can't believe it.

It's almost May.

Here are my latest photos:

 This is a photo I took of my peach tree in March.

The blossoms were just beginning to open.

 I decided to take a trip to Corrales

 to see if there was any "new" green there.

Not much.

This is one of the acequias.

 A large bush of flowering quince.

 An old shed surrounded by winter trees.

 Aha! A sign of spring.

Daffodils - yay!

 This is one of my favorite scenes to photograph.

I love this orange house,

the blue of the mountains,

and the yellow grass.

 This is "my" cornfield.

I'm trying to take weekly photos

because some of the land is for sale.

I don't want it to change!

 Pretty shadows on the old Corrales church.

 Flowers at the old cemetery.

 Back at my house.

Now the blossoms are opening.

This is one of two crabapple trees.

When they are in full bloom,

the bee-buzzing sound is incredible.

 I think this one is the cherry tree.

I have never gotten a decent crop of cherries. 

But one year I had sixteen big warm ones,

and we ate them all right off of the tree.

Maybe this year....

 These are my little gala apple blossoms.

I got about five apples last year so

this year I'm hoping for a bumper crop.

 The lilacs are also in bloom.

This is in Corrales.

 Awesome puffy clouds and shadows at the Sandias.

 Road trip to Taos!

We headed up to celebrate my daughter's birthday.
I've never been in March or April
so it should be interesting.

 Scenery along the Pilar area

 The beautiful river flowing through the mountains

 Snow on the back mountains

 An old truck right next to the house we stayed in.

Taos has some of the best old trucks!

 The road to our relative's house

 a magpie bending a pine tree 

under a grey sky

 There's a storm brewing....

 Beautiful Taos mountain in sunlight

 The scene looking west from our house

 A pond near our rental home

 my favorite little stream

 Chamisa and snow

 Two magpies fighting over an old tree branch

The one on the right won.

 Arroyo Seco cemetery

 Blossoms around an old fence

 The village of Arroyo Seco

 El Salto Peak in Arroyo Seco

 The ditches and streams were running like crazy!

 Beautiful snow

 Church at Arroyo Seco

 Snow covered mountains

 Grazing horses

 I couldn't go to Arroyo Seco

and not take a picture of my favorite old truck!

 Courtyard of our house

 My view form the backyard.

 My second painting

 Taos mountain in sunlight.

Gorgeous!

 Clouds rolling in....

 More cloud cover

 Down into the ski valley.

I've never seen it like this.

 And....we have SNOW.

 More cloud cover

 Apple trees and the view west

 Adobe and snow

 I think this is Pedernal from the back view.

Does anyone know?

 And now I'm back in Corrales.

This is a view of the Sandias from the western side of Corrales.

 What is this bush, does anyone know?

I thought it was yerba mansa, but not sure.

 Pretty view of a Corrales acequia

 Redbird tree in full bloom

 Security guard at Milagro Vineyards

 Pig Mailbox.

Now this is unique.

 More lovely lilacs

 The first iris I've seen

 Tulips and a "Taos Blue" window opening

The ditch gate.

NEWS

I'm starting to gather my gear for a week long

paint out in Jemez with a group exhibition

at the Jemez Fine Art Gallery.

The show openings on May 6.

Details to follow.

Lots more coming up too - 

day trips, paint outs, group shows,
garden painting, and a Fall Art Party!

Stay tuned and Happy Easter!

new paintings, new pictures, new events

I've been working on my 150 CHALLENGE paintings.

I have 46 more to go and I should be finished by 

the middle of April, if all goes as planned,

Which is good, because I have a lot of fun things coming up!

Here are the three newest paintings:

(When you're done reading this blog,

if you're interested in one of

these paintings, 

CLICK HERE.)

 #48  THE GOLDEN HOUR

8x10"

oil 

$150

This is from a beautiful photo I took of the 

Sandia mountains at sunset.

 #47 "MEMORIES"

8x8"

oil

$150

This is from a bouquet hanging on a

barbed wire fence at a cemetery in Taos.

 #49  "SUMMER AT THE GORGE"

8x10"

oil

$150

One of my favorite scenes in the whole world,

the Rio Grande Gorge near Taos, NM

So, these past two days, 

I've been going around looking for some signs of spring.

And I found them!

These tulips are in my own yard and I didn't even know they were up.

 They bloom a beautiful light pink.

 I also have blue hyacinth blooming and din't know it!

 And of course, the wonderful dandelions.

So great and first food of spring for the bees.

 One of the peach trees at the back fence.

 This is actually what a peony looks like

at the first sign of spring.

Not nearly as pretty as those beautiful showy flowers!

 This is a spent peony flower from last year.

If I was an efficient gardener, I would have removed these last fall.

My pups in a line.

Do your pups do this? 

Mine lay the same direction, almost always.

 See what I mean?

 Flowering plum blossoms

 Beautiful little trees against a green fence

 One of the Corrales ditches

 Flowering quince bush

Isn't this gorgeous?

It does have thorns though, 
so you have to be careful handling it.

 A pretty old wooden shed

 Daffodils!

 I think this is a flowering pear.

 I think this is my favorite picture.

I love the yellow of the grass,

The green of the little tree by the house,

the orange of the house itself,

and the blue of the mountains.

A future painting!

 A little orchard

 A railroad car partially hidden by fenceline.

 The front porch of Casa Vieja,

a beautiful old adobe and event center in Corrales.

 Fruit tree at my favorite garden in Corrales

 Mailboxes

 Prickly pear cactus.

The blooms from last year are spent.

My cornfield that is for sale.

I don't want it to become a row of houses.

I am going to take weekly pictures

and paint it as often as possible.

 No water in this ditch yet.

 Beautiful blossoms

 An irrigation gate

 An old building as seen through barbed wire.

 Now THIS is a compost pile!

 Adobe wall

Notice how the top has a layer of mud or concrete so that 

the adobe doesn't disappear when it rains.

 Acequia coming to life

 No water in this one yet.

 More daffodils in shade

 Beautiful scene

Mountains, adobe, blossoms, fenceline

And shadows

 Forsythia!

I don't know what these are.

Can someone tell me?

My trip to Corrales has inspired me.
It's easy to find inspiration in such a beautiful place. 

Now, on to other things.
I have some great events coming up this spring and summer!

EVENT NEWS:


 JEMEZ PAINT OUT AND SHOW

APRIL 28 - May 6

Five day paint-out in Jemez with PAPNM and 
a group exhibition of completed paintings 
at the Jemez Fine Art Gallery
Reception May 6 1-3pm


CORRALES GARDEN TOUR

JUNE 4

Painting for the Corrales Garden Tour
with a group exhibition at Corrales Fine Art
Details forthcoming


WILD RIVERS PAINT OUT AND SHOW

JUNE 22-24

Two days painting in and around Questa, NM
with a group exhibition at OCHO Gallery in Questa

SEPTEMBER 9

DEE'S ANNUAL ART PARTY AND STUDIO SALE

Join me for a fun-filled event
Details coming soon.
Limited to first 75 registrants.
Free food, music, prizes, and more!

MONTH OF DECEMBER

POSSIBLE GROUP CHRISTMAS POP-UP SHOW
DETAILS TBA

Also, lots of day trips to Taos, Chimayo, Abiquiu,
and southern New Mexico.
Stay tuned....

perils and paintings

The Perils of Painting a Truck

Man, I had a heck of a time with this truck painting.

This is a photo of an old truck from Corrales.

I hate lines. And perspective. And composition!

I don't like to grid anything.

I hardly like to sketch anything.

But when I'm faced with a building or a vehicle,

I freak out.

And I don't want to figure out all of those little

details that make a painting spectacular.

I just want to record my feelings and memories about 

my subject immediately using the biggest brushes I can.

I will probably paint this old truck a few more times

this week. 

I know I can do better.

It does look kind of chunky and whimsical...

Here is the original image:

So now you see what I mean!

After I finished painting the truck, I was determined to create 
something using the last of my paints before squeezing
out a new batch.

Since it's almost spring, here is "FONTINA", 10x8" oil:

To view these paintings and all of my 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, new challenges....

My newest 150 CHALLENGE painting:

HAZY MOON

8X8"

oil on cradled board

I love this painting.

I don't paint Canyon Women very often, 

but I love this one!

These women are walking to the top of the hill 

to get a nicer view of the beautiful full moon.

The oranges in the landscape contrast nicely with

the blues of the women.

I have 53 CHALLENGE paintings to complete

and I am taking my sweet time finishing them.

I am also working on some gifts and commissions.

My next project is in the planning stages and I

will let you know as soon as I know for sure!

In other news, I already have a show scheduled for 2018.

Keeping it under wraps for a while.

And BIG NEWS!!!

I am hosting an ART PARTY in later Spring!

I'm working out the details now,

but I'm thinking the middle of May.

This will be a free event limited to the first 75 registrants.

The food will be free (you can bring a dish if you like),

the food will be Mexican and the fun will be fantastic.

Carlos and Mezcla Latina will be playing again,

there may be dancing,

and I will also open up the studio for a special

STUDIO SALE!

 stay tuned for more details and get ready to PARTY....

For purchase information on the HAZY MOON,
CLICK HERE