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.

High Desert Painters, On line SHOW

I am very excited to announce the first High Desert Painters, On line SHOW.
On view is the best of what this international plein air group produced at our annual Ghost Ranch paint out, this last October. The group includes: Ann Templeton of Texas, Jana Van Wyk, of North Carolina, Janis Loverin of New Mexico, Nelson Hubley from Novia Scotia, and Judy Howells and Nita Harper, both from California, and myself.
All plein air painters, we have painted together for several years. Our varied places of origin and distinctive painting styles create a breadth in the group from traditional to contemporary. Check it out by scrolling up to the right to the LINKS and click on the High Desert Painters Link to view the show.

Goodbye to the High Desert Painters

A storm is moving in and it is time to say "Goodbye" to Ghost Ranch for another year. The High Desert Painters are headed to Taos to have dinner with Walt Gonske and paint for a few days. From left to right are: Judy Howells and Nita Harper, both from California, myself, - and sitting down is Ann Templeton, who is now living in Texas, Janis Loverin from Ruidoso, New Mexico and Jana Van Wyk from North Carolina. We are missing Nelson Hubley who lives in Nova Scotia and could not be with us; actually he was in Paris. Imagine - passing on Ghost Ranch to go to Paris. Gee!
My Ghia is packed up and before the day is out will have navigated some serious 4 wheeling roads in a small caravan of cars through the Taos Gorge; scenic, scary but the Ghia is very sure footed. No worries. It was fun to spend time with Walt, who is so gracious and happy to show us his newest work; always amazing, always wonderful, always inspiring.
It is "goodbyes" all around, for me, as a torrential rain comes on. We will be seeing an early snow north in Colorado and I am anxious to get home before dark.
In a lot of ways this trip with the High Desert Painters marks the end of my official painting out season. Fall is fading along with warm weather and although I will continue to paint in the landscape all winter, the Plein Air Paint Outs are over. I am looking forward to starting some big studio work
- maybe tomorrow.

The Last One

Friday morning the High Desert Painters hiked (or drove) up to a high mesa to paint: the view of the Pedernal, the cliffs, the cottonwoods, - each other. Janis Loverin had positioned herself toward a valley view and I was fascinated by the shapes of the little casitas (little cabins) behind her. Ghost Ranch has a lot of these little casitas tucked into nooks in the landscape; some are pretty rustic, or charming, depending on if you are staying in one or not.
It was a very sunny morning and got quite warm, even hot. I tried to communicate that feeling of intense sun, in the painting.

Mid week road trip to Chimayo

In the middle of the week Jana Van Wyk, Janis Loverin and I took a trip to the little town of Chimayo, about and hour away from Ghost Ranch - east. The famous church there is a tourist hot spot and pilgrimage destination in New Mexico. I painted the sanctuario last May, just as the trees surrounding it were beginning to bud.
I painted this view from the road looking down on the church in the late afternoon. We later met the rest of our painting group for dinner at the Abiquiu Inn. The end of a really beautiful day. Kathleen Strukoff took this photo; check out her work on her website at www.kathleenstrukoff.com.

The Looming Mesa

This is my take on Kitchen Mesa - much closer and from a slightly different angle. It has always struck me how tiny the dining hall looks tucked in the trees under the mesa.

Ghost Ranch, New Mexico

It doesn't get more scenic than this. I am looking S/E across the lower conference grounds toward the dining hall and Kitchen Mesa which is the large mesa on the left. As soon as I get it photographed I will post my painting of said dining hall and mesa.

More Ghost Ranch, New Mexico

My view from in front of the Ghost Ranch Conference Center. The landscape is very warm and the day was perfect and cloudless. I think this is a keeper.

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.

Ghost Ranch Holiday with High Desert Painters

Ready or not- there I went and arrived at Ghost Ranch Sunday afternoon to meet up with Ann Templeton and the High Desert Painters. We are an international group of 7 painters from all over the country and Nova Scotia, who sometimes travel together, but meet every year at Ghost Ranch, New Mexico.