Personal Art Blog

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

Sunday, April 29, 2018

Cerro Pedernal Storm



Cerro Pedernal Storm 
Near Ghost Ranch, NM

8x6" oil on canvas panel  $150.SOLD


Artist Note.

Georgia O'Keeffe's ashes are spread
at the top of this mountain.

I enjoyed an annual visit 
for five consecutive years at
  Ghost Ranch, NM.
A stunningly gorgeous area in 
northern New Mexico.

Sometimes with an artist friend 
and other times with my
hubby who would patiently
read while I painted.

The water you see is Lake Abiquiu
- an important reservoir 
for this high desert area.

The Plein Air Convention (2018)
which was held recently in Santa Fe,
enjoyed a painting trip out there
 and I confess to being totally envious.



26 comments:

  1. I'm still as fascinated by the technique as by the finished painting. Wonderful colours - love the blues among the greens which somehow link to the mountains. Another magical piece of art, Julie.

    Who's Georgia O'Keeffe's, excuse an ignorant Welshman.

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  2. One forgets there are people from other countries ( notice i cleverly did NOT say ig—-nt Welshman because there is no such thing as an ignorant one ) who do not know American art history. Google her, John, its worth the read. She was as independent as any Welshman!!
    Thanks for the comment. I am slowly getting back into the flow of my painting routine. Life is good.
    There is an indoor pool where i live now and i am enjoying getting into warmer water than our outdoor one was!
    Have a great week, John. I am going to pop over to see if i can get on your blog. Still having
    Problems.

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  3. Lovely Julie!!!! and as luck would have it - I was out there painting during Plein Air Convention!!! Did a couple watercolor sketches to use as reference for an oil painting back here at home. I am so happy I got to visit this place!! I can see why G. O'K. loved this area!

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    Replies
    1. I hear the wind was howling for some of the days of the convention.
      I was admiring your watercolor sketches, Roxanne. I also enjoyed your story about the weight loss. Carol Blackburn does the Keto diet and her blog is worth checking out. You can link from the comment she made in my last post.
      You oils are the star. They are fabulous and your new series of flowers will be a stunner.
      Ps
      I travel with my watercolor kit too

      Delete
  4. Julie this looks like a gorgeous place to paint. Your fracturing technique makes me feel the texture of the landscape and the colors are so beautiful. I hope you are having a wonderful start to the week. Hugs!

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    Replies
    1. You feel you are closer to God when you are there, Debbie. It is like nowhere you have ever seen.
      Ghost Ranch is a beautiful retreat and conference center run by the Presbyterian Church but open to the public.
      I enjoyed seeing the dandelions looking so beautiful on your new post but what you wrote was really entertaining.

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  5. Julie, you do atmospheric subjects so well, this is beautiful.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Blanche. Atmosphere is your strong point so i felt good reading your comment.
      Enjoy your week.

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  6. How stunning! The colors, the view, the clouds, every single bit keeps me captivated.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Sharon. You have those great videos showing how to paint clouds so i appreciate this.
      That is exciting you are doing the online teaching. So many are doing it. It is great for all the prople who do not have classes available. You are a very good teacher so i know it will grow and grow.

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  7. What a beautiful place to paint, Julie! So many amazing colors that you captured in this piece!!!! With the story behind this painting makes me want to visit!!!!

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    Replies
    1. So you never did get there in your travels, Hilda? It is truly a special place. The colors are even more vibrant than i painted them.
      They can look false somtimes. Lots of movies have been made there. City Slickers, Silverado, Wyatt Earp. 3:10 to Yuma, The Missing. And lots more. Elevation 6,400.
      You would love it.

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  8. My eyes want to move and take in every bit of this painting. Sure sign of a very good artist!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for such a good comment.
      I tried to go to your blog but it did not open. Maybe you were working on it. I will go back.

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    2. I went on this morning and really enjoyed the post. I particularly was attracted to your painting on the door. Really good!

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  9. I've never been to this part of New Mexico, Julie, and hope one day that we can get to see another part of your lovely state. That bright green/yellow glow on the land is striking and blends beautifully with the purples in the foreground. I love skies like this with action pending like the rainfall in the distance. Inspiration aplenty!

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    Replies
    1. If it is a 4- five hour drive for me then you know you would have to add another five on top for you guys.
      It is an amazing place - like no other.
      I think about you a lot more than you know, I wonder if you are painting at all. Hope life is good.

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  10. Hello Julie, one can almost feel that storm coming through and smell it in the air. Amazing! I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum when I visited Albuquerque a few years back with my Hubby when we went to visit his brother and wife. We do need to see more of the country there and maybe we will get to do so this coming winter. Our plans are to travel as much as we can in 2018 and see more of this great Country of ours. How wonderful to have a pool to enjoy. Perks of your new residence sound great. Have a beautiful week.

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    Replies
    1. It would be wonderful to have you visit in the winter. Ghost Ranch is closed after November. Really cold at over 6,000 ft.
      BUT we have several lovely areas down here. White Sands National Monument for starters! Can't go in summer - too hot!
      See Roxanne up at top. She has started the Keto diet.
      My daughter has an app that she recommended so I am thinking about that.
      Enjoy your week.

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  11. Lovely!!! I kove your texture in the foliage. That is such a pretty area of the country. I remember visiting her studio and thinking how lucky she was to live there. How could an artist not be inspired there?

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    1. Hi Joan, Thanks for the comment - all the way from Aussie land. I am really enjoying following your watercolor sketches from your trip to Australia.

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  12. Beautiful landscape , fabulous warm colors and so much to take in !

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  13. neat :) didnt know that about her ashes, makes sense though :)

    great job with all the colours :)

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  14. This is just beautiful Julie. And thank you for your kind comments on my blog. I just discovered them hidden in comments that needed review and it made my day!

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  15. Very wonderful landscape painting with so nice and beautiful colours !!!
    Have a nice spring weekend Julie !!!

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  16. As you can tell if you take a look at my blog birds are my passion. I have a good deal of original art from the wildlife artist Barry Kent MacKay and I cherish it. One of the really interesting aspects of buying Barry's work is that I can visit his gallery and he explains to me the entire creative process that resulted in the finished product. It is then no longer simply a wonderful painting but also a window into the creative mind of the artist. I am happy to have discovered your blog!

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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