Happy New Year

I have been learning about my new Mac and and this is my first post. I think I am doing something wrong with trying to resize my photos - it took forever for the above photo to upload. Well, the above painting is not a plein air as it is 30x40 but I thought I would post it anyway- Happy New Year everyone!!

The Best and the Brightest

My painting "The Last of the Leaves" was chosen for the juried art show - "The Best and Brightest" at Scottsdale Artists School and will also hang in the "Celebration of Fine Art" show in Scottsdale as the school will be hanging the paintings from the show in a rotating exhibit there as well. The Celebration of Fine Art reception will be on January 15 and the reception for the Best and Brightest show will be on February 18.

Meanwhile, I have been just vegging out around the house doing absolutely nothing!! I have eaten way too much and feel miserable- it's time to go painting and burn off some calories- I do believe that one could burn off quite a few calories by just trying to stay warm while painting although it has been rather mild this Christmas- thank goodness. I hope it stays that way.

The Hearts and Stars Reception at Wilder Nightingale

The Reception at wilder nightingale was crowded!!! This picture of Coni Grant, Alan Heuer, and Kemper Coley was taken later in the evening- when the crowds had kind of cleared.

Here is a picture of Richard Luckemeierm- he caught a ride with Coni and I to the show- we picked him up from Charlie Ewing's studio in Antonito - great art show by the way- and took him with us to Wilder Nightingale. He looks like I just asked him to eat his spinach - I guess I caught him off guard- sweet guy and fun to talk to.

Some of the miniatures hanging on the wall and silent auction items in front of the tree.

A lively crowd at the gallery -- Rob talking to Alan and Coni in the background.

Well the food was wonderful and of course it was a packed house. It was definitely worth the drive and we always enjoy seeing our Taos friends. The show's purpose is to end homelessness in Taos- a great cause.

A trip to Taos

Coni and I decided to deliver our miniature paintings to Wilder Nightingale for the Hearts and Stars show and drove over on a beautiful but chilly day. We met up with Patrice at the gallery
and considering the fact that everyone had brought their painting gear, decided to paint for the day. We were supposed to meet Kemper at the gallery at around 11:00 and I was planning on waiting for him but Rob decided to call Kemper to see if he was coming- good thing since he was at the top of the chairlift ready to ski down the slope. He said he would meet us in about 45 minutes so we went to Cafe Loca to eat-- great place- thanks Rob! We kind of settled in and I was thinking how maybe we really didn't have to paint after all- it was sooo comfortable in Cafe Loca.

But then Kemper called and of course I said let's paint! We ended up painting a small church off of Kit Carson - right down from Wilder Nightingale- cool church with the mountains as a backdrop.

Here Coni and Patrice are discussing Coni's painting--

Kemper is concentrating- very seriously working- we were a rather quiet bunch during painting time- I was because I haven't been out in awhile and didn't feel exactly in sync.

The final result- by the time I finished the sun was out in full force and shining on my canvas, The support was underpainted in orange which gave it a warm feeling- and it was a pretty nice day- just wore my Carhartt vest so it was a great way to get started with a new season. We will be attending the show on Saturday- should be fun!

The Heart and the Eagle

I have been trying to figure out how I will approach a commission in the works- a commission to paint the Heart and the Eagle that is a landmark in the san Luis Valley located on the Sangres. Last night I drove to the east range so that I could get some pics of the Heart and Eagle at sunset--

You can see the landmark on the very right side of the mountain--

Here is a closeup- you can see the eagle in the dark blue- trees and the heart is white

A view from far away- I guess I will have to find out exactly how much of the mountain to portray in this painting. As the sun starting to set the coyotes started howling all around- it always gives me a slight chill- why do the coyotes howl at sunset- does anyone know the answer?

Red Chevy

I will be entering this small 6x8 painting in the Hearts and Stars art show at Wilder Nightingale in Taos. I did this painting from a picture I took while at Creede Colorado- it was sitting rather forlorn at the road towards the mining areas.

Hearts and Stars

As I have been in Denver for a large amount of the week and will be taking Erin back on Thursday, I haven't been plein air painting as much as I would like. I decided to try to get a small painting done for the Hearts and Stars benefit to end homelessness in Taos. The largest size of painting that they will take is an 8x10 so I painted this- it is a small copy of an 18x24 that I have hanging in my studio and I would have like to have made it a 9x12 but I still like it- now I will have to get another one finished within a week or so...