Paint out with Plain air Painters of New Mexico (PAPNM) and more

Well it has been such a long time since I posted anything, I am not sure where to start.  I have had a wonderful month traveling the southwest, visiting family, and painting in beautiful locations, so I will try to summarize the highlights.


My first travel adventure started the second week in May, when I headed up to Northern California, via Morro Bay, where I dropped off two paintings, at the Art Center Morro Bay , for the upcoming "Pastels USA" 26th Annual International Juried Exhibition  

   "Aproaching Storm" one of my two paintings in the Pastel show, in Morro Bay Art Center. This show will be up until June 23, 2012.


Next stop, Berkeley,CA via Granet Bay, to attend my nephew Matthew's graduation from Univ. of Cal. at Berkeley, school of Engineering.  I am so proud of Matt, he graduated with top honors from the school of Mechanical Engeering.  It was a great time with my brother Dan's family, and all were so happy for Matt, as he moves on to his future goals, of becoming Dr. Matt Ford,Phd , from Northwestern University.

Here I am with my smart and handsome nephew, Matt Ford, now officially a Mechanical Engineer.

After I returned from Matt's graduation I drove home, and had three days to get ready for my next travel adventure, which was driving to Ruidoso, NM with my artist friend, Nita Harper.  We were traveling there to participate in the week long paint out, with the Plein Air Painters of New Mexico (5/20 to 5/27).

Because it was a 13 hour drive, we decided to stop over night in Tucson, which was half way there.  We got there in the early evening, so we took a little drive to the Seguara National Park.  It was so beautiful, and if it were not so hot we would have done a quick painting, but we were both to hot and tired for a painting.  But some day, we do want to come back here to paint.

This would have been a lovely painting, but some other time when it is not so hot.  

PAPNM Paint out

The paint out started with a kickoff Party at a local lodge, on Sat. evening.  We had left Tucson early enough that we had time to check into out time share were we would be staying for the week, and make it to the party on time.  So the week of painting started the next day on Sunday 5/20. 

 "Hurd Ranch vista"  9x12 plein air pastel.

 "Riverstone Ranch vista" 6x12 plein air pastel.

The first day of painting was over, and we were excited about all the new locations we would be painting at, for the next 5 days.  Stay posted for more blog postings of the other paintings done during this paint out..