Christmas Greetings from Santa Fe

My sister and I spent a wonderful day in Santa Fe shopping, eating and wandering through the art galleries this week.  There was a bit of snow on the ground still and everything was decorated for the Holiday season.  The light was beautiful, from the afternoon warm sun and shadows thrown about on the ruddy adobe walls to the evening Christmas lights shining in the trees on the plaza.  We picked special gifts at our favorite shops, saw wonderful art and discovered some great new eateries (The Teahouse and Vinaigrette, wonderful cozy places to stop in between shopping and walking!).  I love the holiday season and spending time with my sister, it was a perfect day.

Art below from Nuart Gallery on Canyon Road:

 Painting below found at McLarry Fine Art:

 Paintings below found at Meyer East gallery:

Wren

"Wren"  12"x9"  oil/panel

Busy November Days

I've been neglecting my blog lately, so I thought I'd share what I've been up to this month.  I've been very busy in the studio and doing lots of creating.  I'm in high gear painting and very excited about my current work.  I don't want to post much until it's done and now that we are getting into the holiday season I am nervous that it will take longer than I anticipated to complete the series.  So I have locked myself away and have become very caught up in the art spirit, much to the annoyance of my family.  Laundry?  do we really need clean clothes every week?  Dinner?  Groceries?  do we really need regular schedules and bills paid?  Luckily my husband has been a dream and often picks up where I drift off, literally!  I don't often ask for help--I'd rather run from sun-up to sun-down meeting the needs of others before my own, and I know how lucky I am to have such a great and understanding family.

Above you can see an example of my new studies, in between painting I've been trying to spend a little time every day getting back into my drawing practice.  Lately that's been in the evenings before bed.  Since I am a self-taught artist I have to be very disciplined to move forward with my skills and there are constant issues I feel I need to improve.   Portrait study is something I've always wanted to master and I am starting to copy Bargue plates and really enjoying it!  I love slowing down and being very methodical about my lines and angles.  I tend to move so fast in life that I become impatient when it comes to drawing, this is teaching me to slow way down. 

 

What else is new you ask?  Well, my husband spent some time making a drying box for my oil paintings this month.  I've had directions for the box for quite a while, which uses black lights.  Apparently black lights give off a different type of UV ray, it is to imitate natural sunlight which greatly increases the rate of drying.  Artists have been using the power of the sun to aid in drying for centuries, but I find these lights very gentle and they do not generate much heat.  My paintings dry to the touch overnight.  I predict this box will see much use over the winter.

One last note, I received an early Christmas present-- a great new drafting table where I will be working late many nights on drawing.  I love it!

 

 best studio company ever

Autumn in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, NM

 

A Day Trip through New Mexio, from dusty desert to cool pines

Nedra Metteucci Gallery in Santa Fe

Recently my husband and I decided to take a day trip out of town to decompress and have some fun.  I did have business in Taos to attend to, so we decided a scenic drive was in order.  We left early in the morning and headed up towards Santa Fe and beyond, one of our goals was to eat lunch at Rancho de Chimayo before arriving at our destination.  After a yummy New Mexican meal we headed back towards Espanola and on northward along the Rio Grande.  Taos was beautiful, as usual, and deserves a whole other post of its own someday.  We walked around Taos for a while, ate ice cream on the plaza and it was already time to go!  We returned through Los Alamos and had a beautiful drive through the Jemez mountains as the sun was getting low and casting it's magic golden spell on everything it touched.  It had just rained and the forest was light filled and misty, with rain drop sparkles catching the eye.  It was a fabulous day that renewed our spirits and made us glad in our hearts. 

 Driving through Nambe Pueblo    

Sacred Heart Church

 

lonely desert on the way to Chimayo

 Santuario de Chimayo

 

 San Francisco de Asis Mission Church in upon arriving in Taos

 ~Returning Home~

 Black Mesa

 Santa Clara Pueblo

 Overlook on the road to Los Alamos

 Jemez Mountains

 Los Conchas after the fire

One week before the fire that started in June, 2011,

the largest NM wildfire in state history at that time.

We were camping/hiking in the area before it started.

 (hazey at the time from forest fires in Arizona blowing smoke/ash over NM)

 End of Day