Little Blue Jug

The Little Blue Jug.

6x6 oil on canvas 75.

I really enjoyed painting this sweet little jug partly because the shape is so neat.
As I was working on it I saw several different shades of blue in the glaze which were not apparent to me before.
A little bit of lavender, some cerulean, working gradually into a cobalt. All very subtle variations The potter who made it must have come up with his own recipe.

Cloud Study

Cloud Study

6x8in oil on canvas 100. SOLD

This is a fast cloud study. I say fast because as soon as I started it, it had already changed.

In this case, after I had sketched in the position I then used the colors I saw even though the positions had changed. The large white cloud stayed pretty much the same because it was further away but the patterns of the overhead ones changed very quickly. I love New Mexico clouds at this time of year.

High Desert, NM

High Desert, Chama, NM

8x10 oil on canvas 150.

I love the desert because the absence of grass allows the formation of the land to be clearly seen.

Here, the sloping hillside shows how the rains create culverts which in turn provide wonderful shadow patterns.

Natures colors are pretty amazing. The cool blues of the distant hills, ochres and reds of the earth, the cool, light turquoise of the rabbit grass, rich greens of the pinon bushes, topped off with the purples of the shadows. No wonder artists love it here.

Folk Art Cats

Stage Kats!

8x6in oil on canvas $100.

The annual Folk Art Market was on in Santa Fe while I was there. I am constantly amazed at the wonderful craftsmanship and intricate designs...truly first class works of art.

But, to me, even the most simple objects can bring pleasure. I cannot help but smile when I look at these two cats. Not amazing works of art that is for sure, but someone whittles them into shape and then someone else paints the colours...and along comes another artist who makes a painting of them!

I find the same comparison in painting. It isn't always the most professional, well done painting that I find appealing. There are beginning artists in the guild who can make my heart burst with delight when I look at what they have done.

Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder

Bosque del Apache Refuge

Sunset at the Bosque, NM.

8x6in oil on canvas 100

New Mexico unfortunately has some fires burning in several places and the sunsets have been outstanding because of the smoke.

The Bosque del Apache Refuge is a wondrous place where tens of thousands of birds gather for the winter. It is between Las Cruces, where I live, and Albuquerque/Santa Fe. Artists come from all over the country to paint the area. Unfortunately, because of the extreme fire hazard, most of the Bosque was closed but I was able to find a new spot just in time to capture a fast sunset.

Santa Fe Hollyhock Study

Hollyhock Study

8x6in oil on canvas 100. SOLD

The hollyhocks are blooming all over Santa Fe. They are so colorful and tall that they appear to be nature's perfect counterpoint to the earth colors and structures of the adobe walls and buildings.
Yesterday I posted the painting I did of the hollyhocks before I did this study. There is a huge difference between painting something close up like this and the more distant landscape. Close-up observation makes for a more confident, and swifter brushstroke.
I am gaining a lot of respect for the ability of the artists who specialize in painting miniatures. I can already tell this painting-a-day commitment is going to be a valuable experience for me and should help my painting skills in different ways.

Santa Fe Hollyhocks

Santa Fe Hollyhocks

6x8in oil on canvas 100.

This is the time of year when the hollyhocks are blooming all over Santa Fe. They are beautiful and are painted by most 'realist' artists at sometime or other. It is hard to do anything this small but I decided to put the wall they were growing up against in the painting and later I did a study of only the flowers. Two completely different types of paintings. I will show you the other one tomorrow.

Santa Fe Sink

Santa Fe Sink

6x8in oil on canvas 100.

I fell in love with this sink. It was a pleasure to look at and with it having the slight imperfections of an artists hand it helped me realize that everything does not have to be perfect. So this painting is offered in the same spirit.

Santa Fe has many pieces of folk art because the adobe architecture lends itself to using it so well

My trip is coming to an end and I have many images and color studies to take back from which to produce studio work. My artist friends have been a wonderful inspiration and help. I will miss them.

After the Storm, Santa Fe.

After the Storm

6x8in oil on canvas 100.

The heavy rain had me running for cover. After it had finished, the arroyo filled so full it looked like a regular stream. As I knew the water would sink into the ground pretty quickly, I took yesterday's painting and wiped out the adobe house and fence and painted the new view.

The hills were actually behind the adobe from my painting yesterday, so I did not need to change the mountains. I used the palette knife for speed and working so fast, this small, does not allow for careful strokes. Even so, I still like the end result.

The Pink Adobe

Santa Fe Hills

6x8in oil on canvas. Changed to next painting

This adobe was a brighter pink than shown but I could not replicate the same hue.

The foothills are full of adobe colors peeping out between the pinons and chamisas.

We went to Galisteo and Cerrillos, two small villages outside Santa Fe. Wonderful!

The fences are made of sturdy branches and are called coyote fences.