Personal Art Blog

Sharing the lessons I teach at the Artist Guild and the personal discoveries in my art.

Saturday, January 21, 2017

New Mexico Snow

 New Mexico Snow
6x8in oil on canvas panel SOLD

Artist Note. 
Taking a trip to the snowy areas
of New Mexico
is always delightful. 
Although the colors are not those
of my typical bright palette,
I do find I respond with 
pleasure to the 
muted earth tones 
against the bright white of the snow.


52 comments:

  1. Hello Julie,
    when I saw your new picture in my sidebar a few minutes before I thought " A photo in Julie's blog, thats new."
    Now I'm here and see it is no photo. It's a wonderful painted picture in your typical impressionist style.
    You are a very great artist and I admire your work.
    But that's not new for you...
    Best Beate

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    1. Hello Beo, I thank you for sharing your reactions to this painting,
      I think it is the contrast which makes it look like a photo when reduced in size. I saw it on your sidebar and agree completely.
      I am pretty inspired by your creative interpretations from drawing, painting, collaging into your book. The owl's eye made it all perfect!

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  2. You have the temperature correct Julie, I'm ready to put on a sweater. Beautiful palette on this one.

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    1. LOL - love it! Thanks for the praise for nailing the temperature. Not easy when I do not see it often. Hole you are painting.

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  3. This is so lovely!!! I love the bright pops of the white snow between the wintry greens, browns and golds. Scenes like this make me feel that snow isn't always a bad thing. lol

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    1. Hi Joan, I agree - I like snow in small amounts.
      Your are very good at dogs. Especially white ones - you get subtle colors in the shadowed areas. I think Rudy's eyes are really so expressive. My heart melted!

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  4. How not you :) variety is the spice of live. I love this palette, autumnal is always my preference.

    You've caught it beautifully though.

    Still no snow on this little peninsula for 6 years

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    1. Hi John - yes, not me for sure, but it was a pleasure to paint just the same. I pushed the blue a tad because it was really a gray day.
      Really - no snow in 6 years? is that global warming or cyclical?
      We have been in a severe drought i my area but it appears to be
      part of cyclical desert life. More demands are being made on the water supply and that will be a problem if the drought situation doesn't change. We will be going back to the wild west water wars.

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  5. Those earth tones are appealing aren't they? You forget that New Mexico has such a wide climate range-cold and hot with snow and intense dryness. Such a variety!

    Hope all is well.
    Libby

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    1. Yes - a diverse range and that makes it a fascinating place to live.
      The snow doesn't last long due the sun shining most days.
      It was interesting reading and seeing your process Libby. Neat!

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  6. Subtle can also be beautiful. It eludes peace and quiet. Wonderful work, Julie.

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    1. Thank you, Carol. Happy you like it.
      I enjoyed seeing your painting of the tropical fish. Your texture and colors are wonderful.

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  7. Absolutely beautiful Julie! Looks like a great place to take a snowshoe walk.

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    1. Hi Carol, it most likely has all melted already but I did see the ski walkers.
      The ones who walk with skis and poles. Thanks for giving me permission to paint your beautiful photo of the birches.

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  8. Love the quiet beauty and impact of this painting, there is a POWER in the subtle color earth palette. I appreciate the gentleness of your paintings!

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    1. Thank, Jean. Coming from another impressionist who loves color I appreciate the "power" observation.
      The glorious color combination in your new floral makes me yearn for spring to be here.

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  9. You do well infusing your magic into any color palette, Julie! This is a prime example. What a wonderful piece!

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    1. Good to hear you like it - thanks, Chris.
      I am excited to see what is coming out of your daily paintings for the 30 day Challenge. It has got you back into the flow after such a big move.
      I am excited to see what is emerging - especially with the addition of line work. Your drawings are so FINE!

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  10. Very striking and peaceful, Julie! The vertical and horizontal plane directions offer strength and cohesiveness! There is a subtle yet impactful beauty in neutrals. Stunning, my friend!

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    1. Thanks, dear Carol,
      Your point about the subtle impact of neutrals is so valid. I was watching the goldfinches in the sun this morning and marveled how bright they appeared next to the neutral winter colors of the desert behind them. As soon as they went into the green of the Oleander bush near the feeder there was color competition. Fascinating!
      And how are YOU? Are you handling the PT okay. I think of you daily and send positive vibes and prayers your way.

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  11. I also admire your palette with its grayed tones, and your hits of blue, as well as the wonderful overall composition. Most especially, however, I marvel at your ability to abstract from, yet clearly depict, the image.

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    1. Always such great comments from you. Thank you so much, Helene.
      I did push the blues a bit. Can't help it. The abstract bit is just seeing shapes. and how they interlock to make the whole - just like a jigsaw puzzle.
      Looking forward to seeing what you are working on.

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  12. I love the values you used here, just perfect! Big impact.

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    1. Congratulations on your award in the Sedona Art Contest. Thanks for putting the link on your blog to see all the winners and read the judges comments. I got a lot out of his observations. I think he was spot on in his praise about your work.
      Thanks for the neat comment. I always appreciate your visits.

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  13. Gorgeous piece Julie!! I love the earth tones and and the blue mountains in the background is perfect!!!!

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    1. You are great - thanks, Hilda. I was smitten by your ballerina slippers. Wow! and in oil too. Beautiful painting.

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  14. I love these subtle and quiet colors, really beautiful . Sometimes I too try to stop using bright colors, but I only succeed in making it look dull.

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    1. I understand what you mean but when all you have in front of you are neutral colors you have to paint what you see. After a while they appear to get richer.
      Love your new portrait. You captured something extra...She looks like a woman I would enjoy getting to know.

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  15. its actually really interesting seeing a piece by you with such a muted pallete :) the painting skill is still easy to see and how you work the limited colours so they look their best.

    You don't see the desert painted often like this, its usually more colourful, but I think this is a good representation of the desert at a time we dont see very often. People don't think snow and desert, so its nice to see this :)

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    1. Thanks for the great comment, Jennifer. I live in what we call high desert, but in the southern part of NM where we do not get the moisture the snow brings to northern New Mexico. The tailbone of the great Rocky Mountains comes all the way through our state and ends at our southern border. Fabulous to look at. I also lived in Denver and that was my second introduction to their magnificence.
      That was a horrible experience being stuck in an elevator. I felt for you.

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  16. Just great - and the touches of blue make it sing! You are one terrific artist, Julie!

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    1. I love your warm fuzzy comment. Thanks mucho, Susan.
      In love with your new painting. I was happy you let us see a close-up of your fabulous brush marks. Great dogs too.

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  17. Love the neutrals. You did a nice job of making the color pop by taking advantage of your warms next to cools.

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    1. You are a whiz at using warm and cool colors beautifully so I really appreciate your comment. Your fall scene shows off what I mean - perfectly!

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  18. Gorgeous neutrals really makes the blues in the distant mountain even more beautiful!

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    1. I have a winter scene and you have a beautiful "Daydreaming Summer" painting. I know yours makes me want summer to happen right NOW!

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  19. I so love the palette in this painting. Looks like you had a wonderful day. It is beautiful!

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    1. Thank you Sharon. Yes - a wonderful day indeed.
      I always enjoy your pearls of wisdom and this new post on taking a day of REST is very good. Like you I seem to go go go. It is the way I am wired. I do have the quiet time in the morning - every morning, which helps me a lot. Have a great week.

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  20. Beautiful. Wonderful contrast between thickly and thinly applied paint.

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    1. Nice you noticed that. I do like surface variation. I see that you get the texture feeling with different mark-making, too.

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  21. And enough sparkly blues to kick it into high gear! Lovely, Julie!

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    1. Thank YOU, Diane. I clicked on your name to go to your blog and up came Google plus and I clicked again and thought...oh, Diane has moved on to birds... left a message and only to find it was not your work at all. Fortunately I persisted and found your Hare. Fabulous! Love it and am amazed at your skill level, as always.

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  22. There is truly something very soothing and comfortable about this scene and the palette you chose. I really like it.

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    1. it appears we both enjoy working with a limited palette.
      This does not have the impact of your red and green landscape. You mix especially wonderful greens.

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    2. Thank you so much. Posting more now.

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  23. Ah so you do have snow in New Mexico.
    Wasn't sure. Are you far from the mountains? Love your muted colors friend. Even so you managed to give this a feel of sunshine. So wonderful how you make me feel as if I am standing in the middle of this landscape. Your art is always wonderful. Hugs!

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    1. Hi Debbie, this was about 100 miles north - on the way to Albuquerque. Yes, I have a glorious range of mountains close by called the Organ, at its tallest - 9,000 and, as the bird flies, only about 7 miles from my house. I have an unobstructed view of them. They had snow on top but didn't reach down to my level of 4,300ft. Rugged and steep - apparently they are one of the steepest ranges in the Northwest.
      Thanks for the lovely comment,my friend. Have a blessed week.

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  24. Bonjour chère amie,

    La neige, le froid est au goût du jour en ce moment aussi chez moi ! Cette année les températures sont extrêmement basses. C'est assez rare que cela arrive... Cela permet aussi de rester au chaud derrière le chevalet accompagnée d'une tasse de thé !
    Il n'est pas simple de peindre la neige. J'aime la luminosité que vous avez crée à la perfection. Les petites touches de bleu divertissent le calme de l'atmosphère et donnent vie à cette belle peinture.

    Gros bisous 🌸

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  25. Very nice landscape and so beautifully painted !!!

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I love that you are taking the time to comment and thank you for it. I am sure other readers will enjoy them too. If you cannot comment through this format then email me at juliefordoliver@gmail.com
Cheers,
Julie