Mothers Day

I'm trying to get ready to go to the PAAC paint out in Taos and I need to pack, etc. Actually I really need to make a good list so I don't forget anything especially that umbrella of mine- it's a love/hate relationship... Yet, I look outside and although the trees aren't budded out yet, the grass is green, the birds are singing and I have to paint- this is a small painting- 6x8 and good practice for what lies ahead-

As for today, we will be celebrating mothers day following our age old tradition- KFC at the ranch. I will be posting during the paint out so stay tuned and Happy Mothers Day.

Snow Day

9x12

Yesterday it started to snow lightly and although it is nice to see the snow fall-it has been so dry here- I wanted to see Sharon McCoy's art show at Adams State College. Well, I took off and

started to slide around the County Line Rd a little and just decided to not go... What a wimp!

Woke up this morning and there was about 12 inches of the white stuff on the ground. This painting is not entirely a plein air because I painted it from my window. So what really decides on whether a painting is a plein air or not? I'm just curious because Coni and I have had this discussion numerous times and have not come to any conclusion on the matter.

The painting above was an exercise in painting bare branch trees- so much negative space...

Before the Snow

It has been snowing quite a bit lately- the days are interesting- one day it will be below freezing and the next day it will be close to 60. I have been trying to get prepared for my show- invitations out, hanging MORE track lighting- just tying up loose ends and I really haven't been that efficient. I walk into my studio and I just start to walk around in circles , not getting much of anything done. The painting above was painted at the ranch right before the first snow- the day after I painted this it was cold and windy and started to snow that morning- I have lost a brush which I believe is over there but still have yet to retrieve it. I hope that I can get a little more excited to paint in the snow- I love the beautiful whites - I just don't like the cold- and inthe San Luis Valley- it does get COLD!

A Short Fall

12x16

This was painted on one of the two days that the leaves were on the trees and colorful. I was glad that I took the time to paint this tree in my front yard a couple of weeks ago because sadly the freeze and winds shortened the color display tremendously. The mountains in the background are the Sangres - I painted them with as few strokes as possible- the light changed pretty quickly so I was moving fast.


I was planning on painting the Crestone paintout today but am feeling under the weather and as my son is home with the flu, I know better than to push it. Hopefully I will be able to get into the studio soon as I plan to have an open house around the 3rd week in November and need to get some paintings hung and would like to get some small pieces painted.

Plein Air Painting from Santa Maria Reservoir

Coni and I were overwhelmed by (too many things to paint syndrome) We finally settled down to painting- I painted into the light which I tend to do often.- Coni painted some of the Beautiful cliffs to the north. The mountain to the right is Bristol Head Peak.