PleinAir Artists New Mexico Juried Exhibiton - Millicent Rogers Museum in Taos

You are invited to enjoy the best of the Taos Fall season starting Tonight:
Friday, October 4th, 5- 7pm is the opening PARTY for the Annual Plein Air Painters New Mexico Juried Exhibition - at the Millicent Rogers Museum in Taos.
"Afternoon in the Tall Grass", 12 x 16", is my plein air painting juried into this year's show.
The Millicent is a venerable, and beautiful Taos venue and this show will highlight plein air work of painters from all over the country who come to New Mexico for inspiration.
So if you are on the lookout for great things to do this weekend in the Southwest- this is an ART must see.

If you are thinking about making a weekend of it: check out Peggy Immel's Show celebrating Wilder Nightingale's 22 years in Taos;  Saturday, Oct 5th 5-7pm at Wilder Nightingale Fine Art on Kit Carson in Taos.
And on Sunday, Oct 6th,  Nita Harper and Patricia Rose Ford will be featured at the the Purple Sage Galeria in Old Town Albuquerque
 1- 6pm.
Peggy and Nita are friends and fellow plein air painters; Peggy is from Taos and Nita from California.

Ghost Ranch Paintings

I finally got to posting all 5 paintings that I did at Ghost Ranch New Mexico. We were lucky enough to be there with a full moon. Those 2 moon pieces are only 6"x 8".
Our plein air season in Colorado is coming to an end. Now we wait for snow.

And another note on Ann Templeton; probably not the last.
There is so much to say that I don't even know where to start - but at this moment what I really feel is just gratitude: for her time, her generosity in art and friendship. What she gave me in inspiration and wisdom - is a resource that I will tap into for the rest of my life.
Thanks Ann.

Ann Templeton

I wrote the last post on Monday morning and have just now learned that Ann died on Monday evening.
We have lost a wonderful and generous - teacher, mentor, friend,
and a great light has gone out in our painting universe.

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.

Plein Air Painters of New Mexico Juried Exhibition in Taos

Need a good excuse to visit Taos?
Take in the party at the prestigious Millicent Rogers Museum for the PAPNM (Plein Air Painters of New Mexico) Annual Juried Exhibition, The Spirit of Place, which opens with a reception for the artists, Saturday evening, October 9, at 5 pm.
I was pleased and excited to have 2 paintings selected for this show, as did Sue McCullough, and David Montgomery - the three us us representing the Colorado San Luis Valley.
Jana Van Wyk, a fellow member of the High Desert Painters also had work juried into the exhibition.
This show will coincide with the peak of the Taos art season and highlight the best plein air work from its membership.
Saturday evening's reception will be punctuated by an awards ceremony and on Sunday, October 10, Bill Gallen, PAPNM Signature Member will do a painting demonstration from 2-4pm at the Museum and free with Museum admission.
Monday, October 11, at 11 am, Nancy Silvia, PAPNM VP and Signature Member will speak on the subject of Plein Air Painting at the Museum and free with Museum admission.

Ghost Ranch Get Away

There is really no place like Ghost Ranch.
Famed as Georgia O'Keefe country, it is a unique retreat settting between Abiquiu and Chama, NM.
Monday afternoon I left Taos and drove to Ghost Ranch to meet up with Ann Templeton and the High Desert Painters. Ann has a workshop there every Autumn and the High Desert Painters try to meet her there. My time was limited to just 24 hours but so worth it.



Above work shop students paint the bluffs in the morning and here Ann talks the finer points of her demo with a student.
If I ever recommend a workshop, this is it. Ann Templeton is one of the best workshop teachers - ever - and a wonderful and generous mentor. She travels all over the world but Ghost Ranch is a very special venue, not like any place else in the world.

Below is my 6"x 8" piece of the perdernal, a famous and recognizable New Mexico landmark.


To read more about the High Desert Painters, an international group, click on the name. Click on Ann Templeton to read more about this beloved painter and author.

High Desert Painters in Taos

We walked, we looked,
we painted, we ate, and five days in Taos was not enough.
Ann Templeton at the top, painting at San Geronimo Lodge, Janis Loverin of Ruidoso, New Mexico, Jana Van Wyk of Cary, North Carolina, Nelson Hubley from Novia Scotia (yes, that's Canada), Nita Harper from Southern California and Judy Howells, also from Southern California.
To read more about the group, see more work, links and info, go to the High Desert Painters Website with this link.
Click on each artist's name to see their website.

Springtime in New Mexico

At this time of year Taos is always a good idea. Spring comes very slowly to Southern Colorado and when the possibility of BIG snow in May is very strong, a little escape to Taos is often a much needed shot in the (painting) arm.
I will be in New Mexico all of next week with the High Desert Painters, a plein air group formed in 2004 to paint en plein air around the country and encourage each other as plein air artists. Click here on 'High Desert Painters' to see the HDP website, see the other painters and view their work.
I have spent several days in the studio doing the tedious work of making panels so I am armed and when I get back, hopefully, I will have a few pieces to share. At the end of the next week the Plein Air Painters of Colorado (PAAC) together with the Plein air Artist of New Mexico (PANM) will be gathering in Taos for a Spring Paint out. Sue Mc Cullough and I will join those groups for a few more days of painting in Taos.
May is like that - painters popping out of the woodwork- and into the landscape, a little frenetic and a little crazed. I chalk it up to cabin fever.

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.

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.

A new LINK- High Desert Painters

I am very excited to announce a new LINK to this blog; one I hope you will check out from time to time: High Desert Painters. This is an international plein air group that I helped form - together with Jana Van Wyk, of North Carolina and Janis Loverin of New Mexico. The group also includes: Nelson Hubley form Novia Scotia, Judy Howells and Nita Harper, both from California. We are all plein air painters who have enjoyed painting together for several years and are committed to encouraging one another as professionals. Our varied places of origin and distinctive painting styles create a breadth in the group from traditional to contemporary.
Scroll down on the right to LINKS and click on High Desert Painters.

Painting with the High Desert Painters

I painted this piece one afternoon last October during our annual gathering at Ghost Ranch; a magical place and so beautiful in the fall. The painter in the scene is Jana Van Wyk who was painting in the hot sun across the road from me.
I was very pleased when this piece was juried into the PAAC, Plein Air Artists Colorado, Show that opened in Denver July 11th at the Abend Gallery. The entire catalog of work can be viewed online at www.abendgallery.com. Check it out.