Thursday, October 17, 2013

Painting New Mexico and Arizona Gems (9-28 to 10-12-13)

Earlier this month I had the a great painting and Art Opening trip to New Mexico and Arizona.  I was accompanied by my good friend and artist, Nita Harper, who also was participating in the same events I was attending.  As you can see, the car was quite full, with 40 paintings, (for our show at Purple Sage Galeria), our plein air painting gear, and of course our suit cases, with cloths for two weeks of weather from hot to cold.  There was not much room left for anything else in the car, but after about 3000+ miles and painting in so many great locations, I am back home, with great memories and paintings to frame and sell.      


My little For Escape with everything we need for the next two weeks.

After dropping off our paintings at the Millicent Rogers Museum in Taos,  for the PAPNM Members Juried show, we headed to Ghost Ranch.  What a treat greeted me upon our arrival.  Nita had been there many times, but this was my first time in this area of New Mexico.  The landscape everywhere was a painting waiting to be painted.  The weather was crisp and clear, and fall colors were just starting.  We had a wonderful four days of painting, and it was not enough.  

My first painting, "Piedras Luminada" 11x14 Plein Air Pastel.

"Ghost Ranch Afternoon" - 7x19 Plein Air Pastel

"The Pedermal" - 6x12 Plein air Pastel
This is a very interesting shaped mountain that can be seen all over New Mexico, and particularly here from Ghost Ranch.  This was a late evening painting, done as the sun was going down.

"Guardians over Ghost Ranch" 6x12 plein air pastel.

"Ghost Ranch Afternoon Vista"  12x16 Plein Air Pastel.

"Last Vista at the Ranch" 6x18 Plein air Pastel.

It was time to leave Ghost Ranch, so sad, I truly loved painting at this magical location, but I know I will be back.  The next thing we had on our schedule, was the opening of the Plein Air Painters of New Mexico (PAPNM) Members Juried show, at the Millicent Rogers Museum, in Taos, NM.  It was a beautiful show, and we meet old and new friends, artists and collectors.  The show will be up until 11/3/2013.

"Asters and Fall Cottonwood" 11x14 Plein Air Pastel

While here in Taos, the fall colors turned beautiful overnight, also all around the area in Taos, the Asters were in full bloom.  I had never seen these little purple flowers, but this field had it all, the fall colors of the cottonwood, and the asters in the fields. 
After the opening in Taos, we left for Albuquerque, where our friend, Terry d Chacon flew in and attended the opening at Purple Sage Galeria, where Nita and I both were the featured artist for the month of October.  Check out their site, and see Nita and my paintings, on display, there at the Gallery in beautiful Old Town, Albuquerque, NM.


My paintings at Purple Sage Galeria, Old Town, Albuquerque, NM.

Our last painting adventure, was Canyon de Chelly, AZ.  Terry, Nita and I meet up with two other artists, Carol Benally and Teresa Onoda, to paint for three days in this beautiful canyon.  In order to go into the canyon, you must be taken by a Navajo guide.  Carol, who lives near the canyon had made arrangements for a guide to take us into the canyon to paint for a day.  We had a great guide, Harris Hardy, who was very patient with five artists who wanted to stop at every turn in the canyon. Here is a photo of Harris talking to us at one of the stops.  
We had a great day of painting inside Canyon de Chelly, where we stopped three times for us to all do a paintings.   Here are a few paintings done while at Canyon de Chelly.
First Overlook Evening vista" 9x12 plein air Pastel

"What the Anasazi Left " , 11x14 Plein Air Pastel

'Spider Rock Morning" 11x14 plein Air Pastel.

On the last day of painting, it became very windy and cloudy.  So after painting at Spider Rock, holding onto our painting for dear life, we decided to take a drive after lunch to Monument Valley, which was only an hour away from Canyon de Chelly.  It was a great trip, but the wind and rain continued even on our way home.  
Monument Valley 
A wonderful end to a great painting adventure.  Until the next one, thanks for following my blog. 

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