Ann Templeton and Ghost Ranch

Last week I drove down to New Mexico for my annual Fall pilgrimage to Ghost Ranch. For almost 10 years I have been privileged to study with Ann Templeton, be mentored by her and know her as friend. The High Desert Painters, international plein air group, to which Ann and myself belong, was formed at Ghost Ranch. People associate this area with Georgia O'Keefe but for me, every view is owned by Ann.
This year I met with 2 of the High Desert Painters, Judy Howells from California and Nelson Hubley from Novia Scotia. Ann could not join us however, or come to teach the workshop there, for which she has become so well known. Ann is in Texas battling lung cancer.
It was a sad and somewhat meditative paint out.
Ann, our love and prayers go out to you and for you.

The small piece below was the first piece I painted on Monday morning. I have seen Ann paint this view, so many times in demonstration situations. The one painting that I own of hers, was painted from the same spot. It's Ann's View.

The Pedernal or Georgia's Mountain

A landmark in this part of the country, the Pedernal was immortalized by Georgia O'Keefe who is said to have claimed ownership of it - but I doubt the natives would concur. Everyone paints it and I have see Ann Templeton do at least 5 demos of it. Cliche it may be, but you have to paint it at least once, and I don't know how many times I've done it.
The cottonwoods are usually brilliant at this time of year and almost glow from within.
The top photo is an 8x10 I did about 4 years ago on an overcast day; the bottom version is a 6x8 I painted on Monday of last week and it was a sunny afternoon.