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.

Afternoon at Kevin's

Sounds like I know him - alas -
I don't, but on Friday the PAAC painters were invited to paint at Escondido, the home of Kevin Macpherson.
It was pretty cool. Although he was out of the country, Wanda, his wife gave us a tour of his studio and also his home and art collection;
- Way cool.
At the top is his palette and easel and below Peg gives it a good once over.
I know one thing - I have to stop being so tidy in my studio - it is soo much more 'artsy' to leave paint and tubes lying all over.














In the afternoon we painted in and around "the Pond" that Kevin made famous in his book. It really is a beautiful spot. Below, Sue and Peg paint close to the water.

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.

SUM of the Parts - but not ALL

You are familiar with the saying " the whole is greater than the sum of its parts".
Not this time....
Last year I did this 30"x 22" painting of the Great Sand Dunes to replace another oversize piece that sold from the Dunes Show up at Denver International Airport. The first one was fresh and little wacky, but colorful and I thought I could improve on it. Instead, I painted a snoozer - that's artspeak for - boring -.
It has been hanging in my studio for a few months and I could hardly stand to look at it -
so, with nothing to loose, I started cutting it up.
I don't do this often, because it so seldom works compositionaly; your signature ends up right in the middle or some other dumb thing.
Sometimes tho', trimming or resizing a piece can change the focus or bring different elements to life.
In this case - there were areas that I liked but the whole piece was weighed down by a huge chunk of drab middle ground.
I cut the vertical piece, to the right, first to a 2 x 1 format. This is one of my favorites formats and I like verticals. The new piece is 20"x 10". This makes the trees more important, still showed the dunes, and accentuated the distance.
In the smaller 10"x 8", the dunes become the focus, playing up the diagonal shapes.

ART Supplies at Sell Out Prices - in South Fork

If you live anywhere within 50 miles of the San Luis Valley, South Fork, or Wolf Creek Pass - this could apply to YOU. The Art Emporium in South Fork has closed but there are still great deals on art supplies until the end of May.
If you are interested in picking up Canvas, brushes, paint and frames, in all sizes - and are willing to drive to South Fork, Colorado to get them at absolute rock bottom prices: call Jan Bock, at 719 - 849-9996.
Jan lives on Sioux Trail, off of Hwy 160. It is past Del Norte, but before you get to South Fork. Call first so Jan can meet you; she is very anxious to get rid of as much inventory as possible.

Paint Out Wednesday

Sue McCullough, David Montgomery and myself are the official Southern Colorado arm of the PAAC (Plein Air Artists of Colorado). We even have a painting schedule on the site - click the PAAC link to find out where we will be on any given Wednesday.
So yesterday we had planned a visit to the Old Dairy north of Alamosa. Great views in every direction and it looked like the wind would not be a problem. I checked the thermometer before leaving the house and thought : "40 degrees, Yay! Spring is really here."
Spoken a little too soon.
If you look in the photo here, right above the tree line you can see the Great Sand Dunes National Park and the snow on the dunes is very clear. Brrrrr. Snow on the dunes is rarely seen in the dead of winter let alone April; I knew we were in for it. The slight breeze blowing down the valley from the north was bone chilling..
In the Winter we stand in snow and paint in serious cold, but once Spring baits us with a couple of warm days - there is no going back. Of course, we were suckered into thinking it would be nice so didn't go out with all the cold weather gear. This is the Spring dilemma - you have to prepare for freezing weather and hope to get hot while you paint.

Last week we painted on a ranch by the Rio Grande, looking east toward Mount Blanca on an overcast morning. This is not a colorful time of year but we found a bit of green near the river
- and I mean a bit.

Class Notes: David Montgomery's Class Demo FINISHED

A few weeks back David Montgomery did a painting demo for my class. As he painted, he explained his process and technique, color mixing and painting philosophy. The time was entertaining and informative, and though saw we much of the process - as shown below - we never saw the piece actually completed.
Here it is - the finished
and framed 8" x 10",
and of course, for sale; a perfect Mother's Day gift.

SQUARE Show Sales

The SLV Painting Group Square show is coming down this week. Congratulations to everyone who participated and "Hoorah" for all the sales. I received more comments about this show than anything I have yet seen hung in Milagros, so we were favorably received and sales proved that.
Thanks everyone.

Shown here are the paintings that I sold and all are were painted as class demos.

ARTwalk Saturday

ARTwalk Saturday in Alamosa dawned sunny and NO WIND, a mercy for sure.
Sue McCullough and I were out on the street early painting in downtown Alamosa where I found a sunny spot with a view down the alley behind the Brewery. That is my piece at the top of this post. Click on Sue's name to see her painting of the Courthouse. Credit to all the folks who were on the street early and came by to say "Hi'.
We finished up around 11, took in some lunch at the pub and headed out to visit other artists stationed in studios and stores. David Montgomery's studio is right downtown so we visited him first, then spent some time yakking it up with Dave Roepke who had work in Edward Jones Investments. Last year Dave's work was featured as the promotion art for all the ARTwalk advertising.
Musicians Allison Kitchen and Don Richmond livened up things in the Brew Pub and I finished up the day with friends, artist Regis Scott and photographer Brian Perkins.

SQUARE Show Sale

"Ladies in Painting"- my 7"x 7" homage to PAPNM (Plein Air Painters of New Mexico) was part of the SQUARE Show, currently hanging at the Milagros Coffee House Gallery in Alamosa. This piece sold last week, which I am happy about, but the good folks at Milagros could not tell WHO bought it. If by chance, it was purchased by a blog reader,
I would so like to know who you are.
Thanks so much.
The Square Show is a representation of work from the SLV Painting group and so far we have sold almost 10 pieces, possibly more since the ARTwalk. I am very happy to have sold 2 myself.