starts tomorrow!!

This is the new postcard for my RETRO CHALLENGE 2014 that starts tomorrow!

I think it's beautiful.

It has a vintage New Mexico sunset as the background and some of my favorite

acrylic/ink paintings, along with a pic of yours truly.

Okay, so here's the deal.

Tomorrow, I start painting.

As soon as the paintings are done, I will post them here and on the new blogsite, which is:

www.deeretrochallenge.blogspot.com

I will be painting 150 small, 25 large, and 50 hand-painted ornaments.

The show will actually open at Weems Gallery on Friday, September 26, 2014.

Between now and then - if you see a painting you want to buy:

1. Write down the title and the number.

2. Have your payment information ready.

3. Call Weems at 505-293-6133 or Dee at 505-792-1030. 

4. Or email Weems at weems@weemsgallery.com or Dee at dshadowtail@aol.com

5. Tell them you are calling about Dee's Retro Challenge 2014.

6. Give them your information.

THEN:

7.On opening night, if no one else wants to purchase the paintings you choose,

 you get to buy them for $150 each.

8.If two or more people want the same painting, we draw a name out of a hat!

The person whose name is drawn gets the painting for $150.

Most people have second and third choices, just in case.

Once all the multiple paintings are sold, 

you may walk up and remove your painting from the wall and make your purchase.

For people not present, we will notify you and ship your painting.

That's it - it's pretty simple, really.

We're having a big party on opening night with an artist's reception from 5-6pm.

You can enjoy great music, food, refreshments, visit with me, 

and preview the paintings all in one location! 

That will be 175 paintings, all in one huge gallery room.

The show and sale will begin promptly at 6:30pm.

Larger paintings and ornaments will be priced accordingly and posted on both sites. 

I will be painting landscapes, florals, churches, figures, 

canyon women, sunflowers,and much more. 
This will be your last chance to buy old-school lined work.

So I hope you will all watch and support me as I begin this new challenge.

I'm ready!! 

If you have any questions, just drop me and email or give me a call.

 

  

getting ready for the Retro Challenge

 There has been much cleaning and unpacking going on!

I am finally getting motivated - mostly because I know I have a huge project

coming up and time is wasting away...

The Retro Challenge 2014 is coming!!

What you see above is the reorganization of my studio - 

the packing up of unused canvases and gessboards and the unpacking 

of 150 new gallery wrap 8x8s and 8x10s.

The moving around of oil paints and a new oil painting area.

The purchase of acrylics for painting

and acrylics for ornaments.

Lots of sealer and ink too.

 Isn't this beautiful? Just kidding.

This is my old rickety chair, a bunch of trash and the displacement of many things!

 Can you tell I have no idea what I'm doing yet?

 These are my ornaments-to-be.

They have been sanded and primed and are awaiting painting.

I plan on having at least 50 of these for my Weems show in September.

 These are the wooden chopsticks that I use for holding ornaments while

they are being painted. I slip them through the golden top

 and then I can twirl them any which way to paint.

I also use them for hanging ornaments to dry.

My nice clean canvases all stacked and ready to go.

And, oh so intimidating!

My postcard is being produced now and will be

ready for mailing in about a week.

The Retro Challenge begins on March 1, and you can follow along here.

"RICH"

10x8"

oil on hardboard

SOLD

I'm getting ready to embark on a big seven month project called the Retro Challenge,

which starts March 1 and opens on September 26!

My studio is basically clean. As clean as can be for me, anyway.

My paints are organized into two areas - the acrylic area and the oil area.

I will post pictures of those new set-up later.

I also have a specific place at my table for working on ornaments.

Really, the only supplies I am waiting on right now are 150 gallery wrap canvases, 

which should be here any day.

Once the Retro Challenge starts, I will be working mostly in acrylic.

Since I'm painting 150 small paintings and 25 large paintings, most of my

time will be taken up with acrylic 
and I'm sure it is going to drive my absolutely crazy some days.

I still want to offer my juicy little oil paintings to my daily paint sites and to

my customers and clients who love them.

This particular painting is showcasing my HUGE desire for spring and summer to be here.

I find the older I get, the less I like cold, ice, and snow.

I would much rather be surrounded by warm days, beautiful flowers, and buzzing bees.

So, this paintings keeps me in mind of the beauty that is headed my way in a month or two.

It was so much fun to paint - lots of thick texture and bright colors,

Maybe my next challenge will be a  whole year of painting with a knife!

"BRIGHT BEAUTIES"

6x6"

oil on hardboard

available at Farm and Table Restaurant

  

I am really in the mood to paint flowers.

I think it's because I want spring to be here NOW.

Then I think about the folks up north who are experiencing so much cold, snow, and ice

and I am happy that I live in New Mexico. I hope winter ends early for everyone....

This is a crazy still life - a pretty bunch of wildflowers in a blue vase.

I wanted to just let go and let the brush direct me.

Now, I think I'm ready for a landscape.

On another note, I am going to lunch with Tom's daughter today.

We haven't really had a chance to talk since her dad passed away and 

guess where we're going? One of Tom's favorite Mexican food restaurants.

They have the best cheese enchiladas, fried potatoes, and sopaipillas.

I will take pictures so you can drool from afar!

On another note, I am gearing up for the Retro Challenge:

organizing, ordering supplies, designing the postcard, setting up show details, etc.

More on that soon.

Have a great winter day!

daffodils...

"HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL"

6x6"

oil on hardboard

$99
SOLD

My first painting in quite a while since one of my best friends passed away,

I really have not felt like painting.

He had such a beautiful soul and I haven't met anyone who loves my artwork as much as he did - 

including my family and friends.

It has been cold here but no snow or really bad weather

and I am sure spring is just right around the corner.

Spring brings daffodils and crocus and once you see them,

you know that lilacs and roses are not far behind.

I always think to myself -

the reason we have winter is to make us appreciate spring and beautiful weather.

So come on spring!

Thanks to all of my readers who sent me nice messages about Tom.

I really appreciate them all.

THE BEST OF FRIENDS

I have not been able to paint.

A very close friend of mine passed away on January 11.

He went in for major heart surgery and just never woke up.

I met Tom in 2007.

I had just started offering my paintings for auction and sale on ebay.

He bought a few, we connected on an emotional level and became fast friends.

Tom was born in New Mexico, but moved to California 

about twenty years ago to pursue his architectural career.

His ex-wife and children also live in New Mexico.

Tom called me one day and said he was coming into town and 

would I consider going out to dinner and meeting him and his family. 

I get requests like this from time to time and have met lots of interesting people this way.

I said sure and my husband and I met Tom and his family at El Pinto restaurant.

What I didn't know was how much I would grow to love Tom and 

how much he would impact my life.

After meeting Tom, I got to know him.

He would come into town about every three months and we starting taking

day long trips all over New Mexico.

My cousin Goldie and my mother-in-law Dolly often joined us.

We explored Jemez, Tesuque, Abiquiu, Ghost Ranch, the Monastery,

Taos, Santa Fe, Chama, Placitas, Bosque del Apache, you name it.

We looked for interesting sites, great Mexican food,

 and had fun no matter what we were doing.

Tom got to know all of my family and would bring them all 

Ghiradelli chocolates every time he came to town. 

He lived just a couple of blocks from the factory in San Francisco and

I think he was on a first name basis with all of the employees.

We've rented houses together in Taos and he has come to almost every big family event

and art event that I've had in the last six years.

I will never forget the first time he came early to a show I was doing at Weems Artfest.

He helped us unpack 110 paintings and he and his

grandson Andrew stayed to help hang every one.

He was like a little kid in a candy store!

In fact, that is how Tom lived life.

Like a little kid in a candy store.

He was the most positive person I have ever met.

He loved green chile and any kind of Mexican food.

He loved art. He loved Chimayo.

He loved experiencing new things and seeing new places.

He lived life BIG.

Now, some people might see that as a problem.

Living life big and doing things over the top.

But how many of us go through life living it with gusto?

Most of us just go through the motions.

Tom was also in a lot of pain.

He has back surgery several years ago and almost died.

He walked with a cane and a back full of steel rods.

But he always said he was never going to let pain stop him from doing what he wanted to do.

And what he wanted to do was experience life.

And love.

He loved my family and they loved him.

Tom, you were one of a kind and I will miss you forever.

You were getting ready to retire here and wanted me

to teach you how to paint.

You wanted Esta to teach you to make pottery.

You wanted to find a house will enough walls to display all of your artwork.

You wanted to experiment and do something creative.

You wanted to sit on your new back patio and drink tea and enjoy the sunsets.

I am sorry that you will not experience any of those things.

And I will think of some way to honor you every year 

and keep your memory alive.

Tom, may your spirit soar...I love you

and may you continue to inspire me.

I have a new challenge coming up soon and I will dedicate it to you.

  ***NEWS****NEWS****NEWS****

 coming January 26, 2014 

THE RETRO CHALLENGE!!

2014

___________________________

150 -  8x8 and 8x10 Old School Retro style framed acrylic
with ink paintings for $150 each           

25 -    larger Old School Retro Paintings 

An online wet-off-the-easel countdown and new blog starting at Painting #150 and ending with Painting #1

A huge PARTY  Friday, September 26, 2014, on opening night with food, music, and fun  

___________________________

For all of my clients and collectors who have been

asking for new acrylic and ink paintings - it's time!

I was trying to think of something new and interesting

to do for 2014, and something that would REALLY be a challenge for me.

I really love painting in oils, they are my passion.

BUT - I miss my lines sometimes.

Lines are tedious and time consuming for me - thus the challenge.

What better way to really create a new challenge for myself 

than go back to the beginning?

Artists always like to keep moving forward, trying new things and not becoming stale in their creativity. 

I have been painting in oils for so long that I often wonder

if my old school style paintings would be any different from the past.

I guess we will find out!

Here's a sampling of Old School Retro:

I hope you will all be as excited as I am to begin this journey.

The Way It Works:

 - I paint the paintings

 - you watch online

 - If you see a painting you like, you call or email with your info

- If no one else wants that painting on opening night, it's yours

 - If two or more want the same painting, we do a drawing

 - We pick your name, the painting is yours 

So, it doesn't matter where you are, you can still buy a painting!

MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW

Hello

Hi, I realize it's been a while since I posted.

Lots of things have happened!

Mainly, I've been working on a piece of art for my first granddaughter's room.

It's going over her crib and I was supposed to get it done before she was born.

Which leads me to my next thing -

SHE IS BORN!

Sawyer Elizabeth Scott arrived on December 9 at 10:04am,

weighing in at 7lbs. and 8 oz. and 21 inches long.

She will stay in the hospital in the neo natal unit for about a week.

She has a cleft palette and will need surgery at 5 months to repair it.

She has lots of hair and blue eyes that will probably turn a beautiful brown.

She is doing really good.

The main concern is her being able to eat, because she is not equipped 

with the normal sucking motions babies usually have. So far, she is doing pretty well.

BABIES HAVE TO EAT!

Plus mom and baby both have some infection from the water breaking early.

I will post pics as soon as I can.

Also, I just got a new computer and haven't had time to even look at it.

And a new camera for my birthday and I haven't uploaded the cd yet that allows me to

import images off of my camera to the computer.

Oh, technology, you do frustrate me at times.

Anyway, I will update as soon as I can.

I will have a couple of new Christmas paintings and some ornaments to post too.

See you soon!

Oh, and today is my 59th birthday!

I am truly blessed.

DP12 "CONEFLOWER PATTERNS"

"CONEFLOWER PATTERNS"

10x8"

oil on hardboard

 available at Weems Gallery Uptown
505-293-6133

After painting a linear church, I needed to bust loose with

something a little more wild and free. Like a field of coneflowers!

I'm going to be painting a lot of Christmas scenes in the coming days,

so I will probably go crazy with this kind of painting at least once a week.

Maybe call it my "Friday Diversion."

This kind of painting is wonderful because it's so full of texture.

It looks like a meadow of coneflowers from a distance - come up closer 

and all you see are little color notes and patterns. 

It's kind of cold and gloomy outside today and I have errands to run and

doctor's appointments, so I probably won't be doing any painting until

tonight. 

DP11 "WINTER GLOW"

"WINTER GLOW"

8x8"

oil on hardboard 

SOLD

A cool night 

A Christmas tree

The glow of luminarias

The old church

The mountains enclosing.

The winter chamisa all around

The glowing pathway

The Canyon Women enjoying it all

This one may be my Christmas card this year!

DP10 "STAR BRIGHT"

"STAR BRIGHT"

8x8"

oil on hardboard 

SOLD

I am in the Christmas mood, can you tell?

My dream in to be at Chimayo one year for midnight Mass

and see that beautiful old church in all its holiday glory.

There is a little inn right around the corner that has about 5-6 rooms.

I don't know how far in advance they are booked for that night,

but one of my resolutions is to call and see about making a reservation.

I will be painting more paintings similar to this in the coming weeks.

Also, if you would like to commission something similar, and I have time,

please email me.

DP9 "ABIQUIU CHAMISA"

"ABIQUIU CHAMISA"

8x10"

oil on hardboard

SOLD

This makes me long for a trip to Abiquiu!

Those pastel colored hills with chamisa all around

and all that blue sky is enough

to make anyone want to move to New Mexico.

I'm surprised that Georgia O'Keefe didn't paint more of this beautiful

yellow and golden foliage.

I think it was all around her.

Does Georgia have any chamisa paintings?

DP8 "THE TRIO"

"THE TRIO"

10x8"

oil on hardboard
SOLD

Oh, those summer clouds!

We didn't see them very much this year.

They are starting to float across the sky more now that it's late fall and almost winter.

This is a trio of poppies growing on the side of a hill.

They have a beautiful view of the valley below and the mountains above.

In other ramblings - I went to Hastings last night

and bought four Christmas cds to add to my collection. Used, of course.

There was really nothing new that attracted my attention.

I now have over 100. And no, I don't ever get to listen to all of them.

I seem to keep playing the same ten over and over.

I'm really getting in the mood for the holidays!

My birthday is coming up and I always get my tree that day -

From a little house down the road.

Also, I wanted to make it to Weems Artfest this weekend.

We'll see if that happens.

I've had quite a few emails from clients asking where my booth is!

Such a great event - make it out to the fairgounds if you can.

DP7 "PINONS AT SUNSET"

"PINONS AT SUNSET"

10x8"

oil on hardboard

Available at little Luna Gallery
Madrid, NM

I don't know about you but when I'm out driving

and looking for beautiful scenes, I sometimes

wish I could be like other plein air painters - 

the ones who load up a big heavy backpacks on their backs and

head out deep into the woods and mountains.

They get the real deal.

They paint the hidden views that we only dream about.

My version of that is having all of my painting gear in the back of my car.

I see a spot, a vista, and I pull over, get out, open the trunk,

drag everything out, set it up, and finally....I paint.

Or, I go super small, and take a 5x7 or 6x8 thumb box

in the front of my car, on the seat next to me.

I find my spot, get my box, and I'm ready to go.

It's so easy, although a little too cramped.

Especially for someone who likes to wave their arms around when they paint.
And I have to bring my wipees to immediately clean all of the
paint I smear on the steering wheel and the windows.

This scene was one of those scenes.

Way up in the woods, right next to the pinon and sky. 

Candy colors and nature's beauty.

 

DP 6 "TAOS HOMESTEAD"

"TAOS HOMESTEAD"

8x10"

oil on hardboard

Available at little Luna Gallery
Madrid, NM

I miss Taos right now - 

I heard that they just might have snow on the ground today.

THAT I don't miss.

I was never much of a snow person.

I skied, but mostly because other people in my family did

and I went along because they wanted me too.

I was always scared I was going to fall off of the chairlift

and everyone would laugh at me.

Or I would get my poles tangled up in something.

Or run into a tree, or someone would run into me.

I remember the time I fell and my ski came off and went sailing

up a catwalk about 300 feet away from me.

Uphill.

And the COLD.

I hated the cold worse than anything.

So, these days, I let other people ski.

And I remain by the fire with a blanket and a good book.

The painting above is really what Taos means to me.

Lots of beautiful fields, mountains, clouds, and a little tiny house

being a home for some lucky family.

In the spring, summer, and fall.

NOT the winter.

I love you Taos, but I will let other people

take pictures of snow!

In other news, I am going for a physical today. Ugh.
More to report tomorrow....

DP5 "PEACE ON THE JEMEZ"

NEWS:

I have added a Paypal button at the bottom of each painting post.

Just click on the button if you want to purchase

and it will take you directly to Paypal.

Saves a step!

"PEACE ON THE JEMEZ"
8X8"
oil on hardboard
Available at Little Luna Gallery
Madrid, NM

 When I need a break, a getaway from the hustle and bustle

and I don't have a lot of time to take a long day trip, Jemez is the perfect place to go.

It's only 40 minutes from Albuquerque and some of the scenery is heart-stoppingly

beautiful. Red rocks, red cliff, unique formations. With a river running through it!

There is a pull off right next to the river that we like.

We'll pack a lunch, my cousin and I, and pull up, get out,

set up chairs, and have a picnic right next to the river.

Sometimes I will bring along my plein air gear and set up shop in my chair

and paint without moving. Those are the best times...

Doesn't matter what time of year, it's always beautiful.