Beginning of Summer in New Mexico with Beautiful Weather & Artist Inspiration

We had a wonderful, refreshing, long spring this year in New Mexico and the beginning of summer has been blessed with rains, pleasant, cooler weather and the greening up of everything.  All of these things are inspirational to me as an artist. Though I've been busy and scheduling carefully to keep good balance between all the facets of my life, I am finding networking with other artists and being represented by a local gallery are exactly what I need for motivation, inspiration and encouragement.

"Let's Paint New Mexico" sent me a second photo with Challenge 11 and left it up to the artists participating whether they would submit two paintings for this challenge or only one.  I opted to paint two and so to the left is the photo they sent and to the right my original oil painting submission "Overlook", it is on 10"x8" canvas and is available for purchase.

Here are some pictures of the nest built by what we
think is a Says Phoebe and the three babies she subsequently had as she flies back and forth providing food for them until they are ready to leave the nest. They are already getting so big they are sitting on top of each other so it probably won't be all that long until they are going on their experimental flights all over the front and backyard.  They do keep us entertained.

I happen to believe that I live in the most beautiful
state in the United States. New Mexico is full of places I have yet to explore though recently after a trip to Clovis, New Mexico on our way home we stopped at the Blue Hole in Santa Rosa. If you've never heard about it, google it, it is quite an interesting and beautiful place where divers practice deep sea diving and locals go to cool off in the heat of the summer.  Here are a couple of pictures.  While in Santa Rosa we also visited "Bless Me Ultima" Landscape honoring Rudolfo Anaya, known as one of the founders contemporary Chicano literature.

Here are two recent paintings.  The first was inspired
by the beauty of a sunset we had night before last as I was driving home from Corrales, after
a brief thunder shower.  This is an original oil painting "Stormy Sunset" on 10"x8" canvas. The second is a floral I have reworked a couple of times that is yet to be titled.  It is an original oil painting on 8"x8" canvas.  Both of these paintings are available for purchase. Please contact me directly if you are interested.

My artwork is on display at Essence Gallery and
Boutique in Old Town Albuquerque if you would like to view some pieces up close and personal.  It is a beautiful gallery with varied artists working in different mediums, some jewelry and clothing and just a very fun place to visit. Make sure you say hello to the owner, Jillian, and go upstairs before you leave. We visited last week and enjoyed watching people dancing, a band playing and lots of activity on the plaza.  Here's a picture or two and before leaving Old Town stop in at The Blue Portal on Church Street just up from the plaza where my husband has some of his metal creations (a lamp made of recycled plumbing parts and beautiful metal cross) displayed and available for sale.