Waiting - watercolor on Yupo

Hoping
(Window from Chimayo, New Mexico)

8x10in watercolor on Yupo  SOLD

Chimayo is famous for
El Santuario de Chimayo
and the documented healings
from the "sacred earth"
The link is worth the visit.

Artist Note.

Watercolor on Yupo
is pretty remarkable,
 allowing for stress-free
painting due to the
clean lifting ability

Different techniques
are fun to try...
like in the one below

Threesome

9x7  watercolor on Yupo  SOLD

Squirrel, Mountains and Thoughts on Critiques

Still relaxing over the holidays.
Hope you are all doing the same.

We have a ground squirrel who loves
to relax and view the grandeur from
our deck. Below you can see him
stretched out in the sun.

These are the Organ Mountains in
Las Cruces, New Mexico. They are
different every day. Here are some
of the many different moods I see
from my window every day.

cold front
moving in

stormy

sunrise

clouds cast
shadows

the start of
a sunset

early snow










I love to paint my view and I remember being
crushed when a more Avant-garde type artist
said in a group critique - he would puke if he 
saw one more mountain painting. Cruel and
arrogant. If painting is from the heart then
who has the right to condemn it?

Unfortunately, his comment in front of a group
of my peers set me back on my heels and my
confidence suffered.
A year later I visited a gallery
where I saw this soulless exhibition of cartoon,
straight-edged, non representational hangings
which did not feed my art soul one bit, and
discovered the work was by the same man
who condemned my vision.  I realized I had just
silently done the same thing about his work
as he vocally had done with mine.
The perfect example of taste being subjective.

I feel blessed to belong to a group of supportive
bloggers who need not say anything if they do not
like a piece, but speak up with praise and
encouragement when they do.
I am grateful to you all.

New Mexico Storm

New Mexico Storm

watercolor

Day 8

Our afternoon stormy weather will soon be gone and the clear
blue skies of fall will be with us.

A fresh week starts with the
Leslie Saeta 30 in 30 Challenge
I have enjoyed seeing some amazing artist's work and I would
not have known about them if it wasn't for this challenge.
Our thanks to Leslie...again. Hope you take the time to check
it out .

The Pink Adobe

Pink Adobe, Santa Fe.

8x6in   oil on canvas board   100.

We are back home from out little trip and we both agree
life doesn't get any better than visiting good friends and
catching up.

Artist Note.

This has a strong horizontal format so placing the tall trees
was needed to break it up.
This may sound elementary, but I was careful
not to place them above, or too near the peak
of the roof...even though that is where they were. 
As an artist, I have permission to do
some landscaping chores!

Valley Path

Valley Path

6x8in  oil on canvas board   100.

The Mesilla Valley, New Mexico, is a beautiful area.
It is a  farming valley producing chili, onions, pima cotton and has large pecan orchards. Having enough water is getting to be a problem because we have been in a drought. Because of this, more and more of the farmers are selling their land to developers. This has slowed down since the down-turn in the economy, but no doubt will be back as strong as ever when housing picks up again.
This is a path running near the Rio Grande River. The tree is past the beautiful golden stage and is turning towards a rust . We have started with heavy winds and a change of weather so tomorrow all the leaves will be gone.  December is here.