Sunup - Sundown, Up Close

This is a closer view of most of the work from the Sunup-Sundown Plein Air Event in Taos.
Susan McCullough's work is on the top row, Peggy Immel is in the  middle and my work is on the bottom row.
I actually started my first piece about 5:45am - in order to get in the little crescent moon that hung over Casa Benavides, at the top of Kit Carson Road, in Taos.
Click on  any of the photos to see them larger.

Paint Out and Plein air Show In Taos

Last week the Plein Air Painters of Colorado met for their annual Spring paint out in Taos. This event kicks off the non-snowy part of the plein air season. David Montgomery, Susan McCullough and I met up with Peg Immel and some of the best plein air painters from Colorado, New Mexico and beyond.  It is a time to stretch a few color muscles and paint with friends from all over. Taos is blooming like crazy, and wonderful in the Spring- if you don't have allergies.

We always have a good time but it is also serious business otherwise we would not be out at dawn and still at it long after sunset. By the end of the week everyone is a little crispy at the edges.

Sunburned and as wound up as we were tired, we capped off the week by attending the opening of the 16th Annual Colorado Plein Air Painters Exhibition on Saturday night at Wilder Nightingale Fine Art in Taos. Usually held in Denver it is one of the biggest events of my year and I was excited to have 3 pieces juried in.
That show will hang at Wilder Nightingale on Kit Carson Rd., until May 24th and very worth seeing if you can go in person. The show is viewable online as well; click this link 16th Annual PAAC Show.

Looking For Myself

Trees and flowers are blooming everywhere and while Taos can be magical, blooming trees, lilacs, and field poppies challenge my skills in the Spring.
Growing up in California, I associated Spring with the beach, and maybe a replacement pair of shorts for ones worn all winter. In CA where things bloom year around,  I took flowers very much for granted; not anymore, but I don't paint them if a broader view is available. This year, instead of avoiding what was everywhere I chose to paint a few blossoms.
At the top is a piece done here in Alamosa about a week before heading to Taos. The scene was a complex mix of 2 blooming trees, shadows and directional lighting. Obviously, I don't really strive for a realistic take on things but am looking for my own stylization of the subject matter.  The lower painting is my version of a side lit lilac bush in Taos - with a more of a realistic spin.
In general, I am looking, striving, trying to find an abstraction that will communicate the essence of the view- but in my "voice".  Every painter paints with a certain voice - some without even knowing, some intentional, some naive or untrained-  and others actively trying to "sound" just like someone else. Pleasing and personal abstractions of landscape elements can be very elusive- like notes of music traveling on a breeze.
I am always looking for a way to communicate that looks like "me" or "sounds" like me;
the "voice" I want to put out there.
These pieces will never see the light of day, but serve as exercises for that purpose; and I only see myself in one of them.
It may not be my final answer, but it's a few more notes in a tune I am always wanting to catch.

Spring In Taos 2011

It's that time of year when Colorado painters fly south,
-something like Spring Break without the bikinis.
Sue McCullough, David Montgomery and myself headed to New Mexico to meet up with the PAAC (Plein Air Artists Of Colorado) for a 4 day paint out in and around Taos,
New Mexico.
This year Sue and I hooked up with Peg Immel, Taos painter and friend, to explore strange new venues, seek out new vistas, to boldly go where no painters have gone....
sorry, I got a little carried away.
On Wednesday morning we found Peg on LeDoux, the little nook of a street, near the plaza, and home to the Harwood and Blumenschein Galleries. My crazy piece is a view into the courtyard looking directly at the studio/gallery of Sheila O'Malley.
That evening we met up at the San Geronimo Inn for dinner and all-artist gathering.
This event brings together artists from all over the country and it is a treat see again, painters that, over the years have become friends.



Thursday morning we took the river road to the village of Pilar. The photo shows the sketch and start of my painting looking down over the Pilar church. Peg painted near me by the water tower where we had a great view of the valley and the Rio Grand River.
In the afternoon we painted along the river. Here, Sue is holding on for dear life. I had already wrapped up because wind gusts nearly dumped my easel.
Dave Montgomery had been chasing blooms all week so on Friday morning we met in a Taos apple orchard along with Wes Hyde, and Taos artists Ken Daggett and Kemper Coley.
Here is my piece and a shot of Kemper with my painting in the foreground. Click on any of the images to see them larger.
Of course, great painting days are punctuated with evenings around a friendly table; Thank you Peg and Steve, for your wonderful hospitality - and for introducing us to the best beer - I think - ever.

The High Road '11

Saturday we went south out of Taos along the high road. It was an all-church day and we started at Ojo Sarco with beautiful views of the snow capped mountains. We found spots to paint that looked down on the church from across the road but this horse, though behind a flimsy fence was not too happy with our presence. He would run up and down the field occasionally leaning over to whinny at us. At one point the horse actually got his 2 front legs over the pipe gate almost knocking it over. I found it very hard to concentrate on my painting and Sue finally gave that horse a very stern warning. He listened and stopped bothering us. He went over to bother Peg.
Anxious to finish up before he escaped, we headed to Penasco to the Sugar Nymphs Cafe for some caffeinated inspiration, and a bathroom. It was good on both counts and we followed the road to LLano San Juan.
Sue and I have traveled these roads before but having Peg as navigator and 'cruise director' made all the difference.
In the afternoon we painted the church at Llano San Juan; very picturesque and with safe places to park and stand with easels.
After finishing there we turned north toward Taos and drove by the Placitas church but could not stop to do more than take photos.
Next time. . . . . .



It was a great day and in the evening we joined the PAAC group at the San Geronimo for food and painting stories.
Saturday night we drove back up to Colorado.
I am still sifting through my work, but paintings aside, I think this was our best Taos paint out yet.

Spring in Taos, NM with the PAAC

I just got back from 5 days in Taos painting with the Plein Air Artists Colorado (PAAC).
This time of year can be blustery or even snowy in Colorado - so Taos is like a tonic. Cottonwoods are bursting a brilliant green and crab apple trees are blooming pink; it is a treat to paint there in the Spring, and a challenge. It must be a type of snow blindness that we get during a long winter, because seeing all those New Mexico greens made me think the cones in my eyes would pop.
At the top is Sue McCullough and David Montgomery painting a street scene in Arroyo Hondo. We also spent a day painting in Arroyo Seco and this is the view from the back of the little church there.
The bottom photo is Ranch de Taos Church, a land mark in Taos and later I will post the painting I did of that same church from way down the road.

High Desert Painters in Taos, NM

The High Desert Painters were also in Taos this week.
We met about 5 years ago at Ghost Ranch through Ann Templeton and formed a wonderful professional association, coming together from New Mexico, California, North Carolina, Colorado and Novia Scotia to paint the West en plein air.
Janis Loverin, Nita Harper, Jana Van Wyk, Judy Howells, and myself.
Ann Templeton was painting down the road and didn't get in this group photo.
We also missed Nelson Hubley, who wasn't able to join us from Nova Scotia.

From a "Merry Meeting" in Taos- wishes for a Merry Christmas

To all of you friends, some that I know, and some that I don't -
I wish you a very Merry Christmas, and all the best in the new year.

A Merry Meeting - in Taos

Wednesday Sue and I drove to Taos to deliver miniature paintings to Wilder Nightingale Gallery for the Hearts & Stars Show in Taos. This is my third year supporting this event and it is always a pleasure, not to mention a great party for a good cause.
As it happened, we met Patrice Walker of Santa Fe, also dropping off work and Kemper Coley, so we all went out to paint together. Taos still boasted a little snow (just enough) at the Morada church where it was quiet and beautiful with Taos Mt. behind it. It felt like I was shaking cobwebs out of my head, not having painted out since October. What a great afternoon to paint but even better with friends.
That's "plein air"- being there.
The end result is almost superfluous.
See more of this afternoon of painting on Sue McCullough's blog- just click here on her name. She also has some good photos of the Hearts & Stars Party in Taos.

Back in Taos

Sue McCullough and I headed back to Taos on Monday morning to meet up with the Plein Air Artists of Colorado. What Taos paint out would be complete with out a morning at "the Gorge" - or some gorge, somewhere. We hit it twice; at Wild Rivers, where the Red River Gorge and the Rio Grande River Gorge meet (this young mountain goat strolled by me there) and south of Taos at a wonderful spot with gorge views in both directions; wonderful but very windy. Wednesday we went back to Arroyo Seco to paint the charming church there. I had painted it the previous week (see the vertical painting) but was happy to have another go. I have included my original sketch and the second painting, - more like what I had in mind in the first place.
It was a great couple of weeks; we could not have asked for better weather and even the locals were saying that it was most beautiful Spring in years. I agree.
Memorial Day weekend Sue and I will be at the Taste of Creede painting the town en plein air with Steven Quiller, David Montgomery, Charlie Ewing and artists from all over who make this charming town a holiday destination. Sunday at 1pm is the "Quick Draw", always a crowd pleaser, followed by an auction. Creede Colorado will be the place to be for Memorial Day.

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.