December Update

We had a wonderful time at the Albuquerque Balloon Museum Arts and Crafts Fair last month and were amazed at what a well organized, beautiful event it was with many different crafts people, visitors to New Mexico and great sales for both my husband and myself. Here are some pictures of the event. It was so successful that we are planning on being there next year, so hope to see many new faces then.

November was a very busy month and December busy too, although it has also been a somewhat winding down and relaxing time. I love this holiday season and Christmas has always been my favorite time of the year. I got the house all decorated and a tradition we've had since we moved to New Mexico ten years ago is to pick out our favorite old movies and during the month we watch them snuggled up and enjoying popcorn and hot chocolate. We've already watched "Lonesome Dove", "My Big Fat Greek Wedding", "Jerry McGuire", and various music videos featuring Eric Clapton, Motown, actually so many I can't remember them all. I have done some painting, here is a sample of something I just started but am taking my time on finishing.

As I type this we are expecting a storm to arrive after having a couple of unusually warm days in the 60's bringing the temperatures way down into the frigid temperatures over the weekend. This time last year we had snow on the ground and much colder temperatures so we are looking forward to some normal December weather here in New Mexico.

I will be taking some more paintings into The Range Cafe in Bernalillo in the next few weeks along with delivering and hanging some in my dentist's office where they kindly asked me if I would like to display them for sale. If you are local and looking for a dentist I highly recommend Dr. Brian Dennis of Albuquerque, NM. He has been voted the Best Dentist in Albuquerque Magazine quite a number of years. I will be posting more along with some pictures coming up probably in January. Please stop back by to visit and thanks so much for checking out my art blog.

Busy Fall in New Mexico and November Update and Happenings

Wow, I got so busy this fall here in New Mexico it has been almost
three months since my last update.

I have still been transitioning after the closing of Essence Gallery and Boutique in Old Town Albuquerque where my paintings were on display and available for purchase. I've been taking my time, painting, relaxing, getting out and enjoying New Mexico and getting quite a few of my paintings framed in preparation for taking some to be displayed and available for purchase at The Range Cafe in Bernalillo in the next few weeks as well as Dr. Brian Dennis DDS' office off Osuna and Wyoming in Albuquerque. To the left is my original oil painting "Famous Church Street Cafe I painted and to the right is how it looks after having it framed. I also painted "Off Highway 4" shown to the left which is an original oil painting of the Jemez Mountains on 4"x4" gallery wrapped canvas.


Fall has been beautiful and unusually warm. To the right are my sunflowers found in Santa Fe blooming in mid October. We have still not had our first usual freeze as I type this November 12th, so the flowers are still blooming and though the leaves have started to fall and colors changing, some of the green plants and trees still look as if it's early October.
One of my dear friends moved back to California and I decided to paint her a little mini seascape to go in their home in Laguna Woods. Here to the left is a photo of it she sent me, it's an original oil on 4"x4" gallery wrapped canvas.

Before posting about our upcoming event tomorrow I wanted to
post some photos of some of those paintings I've had framed in anticipation of having them displayed at various places and available for purchase online. I had decided just before Essence Gallery and Boutique closed to get some of my gallery wrapped canvas paintings framed as well as many of the other paintings I had finished but not completed the framing process. I was very pleasantly surprised after getting them back from framing at how stunning some were with the addition of framing. I know I, myself, love buying a "complete package" and if I can get it at a wonderful price that's even better.

A dear friend sent me this picture of my painting hanging in her
home, as well as this painting she now also has these other two paintings hanging in her home. I love knowing that they have found an honored and treasured place in someone's home who appreciates all of the love and effort put into creating them.

Here are some pictures taken as
we drove around New Mexico the past several months. I am always very grateful that we moved to this beautiful state ten years ago and that New Mexico has become my home state in more ways than one. I love the cultural diversity, the historic and sacred places, the beauty of it's skies, clouds, sunrises, sunsets and landscape. I
never lack inspiration or feelings of being spiritually connected here. I encourage you to come visit if you have never been and come back again if you have. I love the laid back, no rush and relaxing, years ago feeling you have here if you are open and willing to look for the natural, the positive, the expansiveness and colorful character of our state.

Tomorrow is the 3rd Annual Balloon Museum Holiday Arts & Craft Fair. We hope you'll join us if you are in the area. I will have cards, prints, small paintings, a couple of larger ones, of which one will be donated to their raffle, so if you buy a ticket you may be the proud owner of one of my framed art pieces for a very reasonable price! There will be 60 vendors and get to enjoy being in their beautiful two story museum for free as well as shopping.

Wonderful New Mexico made items to kickstart your holiday shopping!

Santa Paws will be there to listen to all of your wishes!

Free admission & lots of easy-access free parking!

Bring the whole family, tour the truly unique Balloon Museum and shop until you drop!
                                                  
Date: Sunday, November 13, 2016 - Sunday, November 13, 2016
Time: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Location: Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum

August Transition

"Hovering Beauty" oil on 10x8" canvas

"Gorgeous Gorge" oil on 10x8" canvas

The month of August was one of transition for me with the closing of Essence Gallery and Boutique in Old Town. Rather than frantically busy myself trying to decide whether or not I needed to try and find another gallery right away to show my art I decided that maybe this would be a good time to take a pause and relax and enjoy the summer along with regrouping and reevaluating what my priorities are.

Right before finding out the gallery was closing I decided that rather than have my paintings on gallery wrapped canvas hanging I wanted to frame some of them as I feel like when I, myself am buying art, I love to feel like I'm getting a really quality piece of artwork and the "complete package". For me that means I like framed art to hang on my walls. My first art instructor helped train us in picking out just the right frame to showcase a particular painting. Through New Mexico Art League I heard that "the frame guy" was coming to town and went and bought quite a few frames.  Here are some pictures of paintings I framed. I think they look so much better framed and now have them available for purchase.

 

"My Acoma" oil on 10x8" gallery wrapped canvas

"Folklorico Fun" oil on 8x10" canvas

"From Sandia Pueblo" oil on 8x10" canvas

"New Mexico Beauty" oil on 10x8" canvas

"Grazing Deep in the Caldera" oil on 10x10" gwc

These are only part of the paintings I had framed. I didn't want to overwhelm you so I will continue to update tomorrow in another post updating on some exciting coming events as well as newer paintings.

June and July 2016 Update

Wow, seems like a lot has happened since my last blog post on May 30th. Essence Gallery and
Boutique in Old Town Albuquerque owner Jillian Maresco has decided to close her gallery and not renew her lease as of August. It is a beautiful gallery just off the plaza in Old Town and I have been exceedingly happy with the representation and work Jillian has done in representing me and my art for the past year. The last opening and featured artist was Robyn Wellman for this month of July and I loved gathering with other artists and friends of the gallery the beginning of the month and even bought one of Robyn's beautiful paintings (shown here to the right).


Paintings I've been working on I will post photos of, some finished
and some still in the process. First I'll post those that are finished. We have had some of the most awesome sunsets and storms in these past couple of months which have helped me to have quite a bit of resource material and photos to choose from along with creative ideas coming straight out of my head onto my canvas. I reevaluated some recent paintings and reworked a couple shown here to the right of a sunrise and to the left of the Valles Caldera. Lastly I finished a very small gallery wrapped canvas of a landscape scene that came from my head, photo posted to the right.

I have been painting more original paintings and am a little behind on my "Let's Paint New Mexico" paintings for this year's challenges although here is one to the right I did finish. Unlike most of my more realistic paintings, I had some fun with this challenge painting going from abstract to what my husband commented looked a little outer spacey (smile).


I mentioned in my previous post that I am painting a small study in preparation for painting a larger triptych for my cousin and his wife in Arizona of a Cancun sunset they experienced while there. Even this smaller study oil painting is still a work in progress though I'll post the latest photo of it here to the left. I have not painted on the larger triptych which I primed earlier in the month though plan to start on that toward the end of July beginning of August.

The painting I am currently working on is also a work in progress. It is a larger oil painting with the initial painting photo to the left and the current oil on my easel still in progress photo is to the right.


I am so grateful to live in such a beautiful place and have so many reference photos of the amazing sunsets, storms, landscape and most recently because of Essence Gallery and Boutique closing I took quite a few photos of Old Town Albuquerque that I'm certain will become some paintings in the future.

I will be picking up my paintings from Essence next week and wish Jillian all the best with any new venture coming her way. It has been an honor and privilege to have her represent me and my art and I have been continually amazed at her energy and work ethic. To the left is my "Bosque Cranes" oil painting on 10"x8" canvas that was sold most recently from Essence. Lastly I'll post a photo collage of the paintings still at Essence this week, if interested in any you only have a week to buy them in Old Town as if they are not sold I will be bringing them home for now until I decide when and where I might be showing my work in another gallery.

Catching Up May 30, 2016

Since my last update the #Twitterartexhibit at the Trygve Lie Gallery in NYC took place and it was announced that next year's exhibit will be held in the UK (Stratford upon Abon, Warwickshire) in support/to benefit Olly's. I was honored to be a participant and also honored to be asked to serve on their board, however, had to decline and am happy that the open position was filled.

Just after my April posting I somehow caught an upper respiratory cold which pretty much sidelined me through April and half of May. The "Let's Paint New Mexico" group had some challenges and one (Challenge 7) I did the beginning of May is shown here to the left. It is on 10"x8" canvas an oil painting I named "Prayerful Pilgrimage to Chimayo". Honestly I didn't even want to paint this scene, however, I did make a commitment to do every single challenge painting. Soon after I painted and submitted this to them for their webpage I painted over it.

Next as I felt a little better I decided to paint the beginnings of a 10"x8"
oil study to use for a large tryptich oil painting of a beautiful sunset in Cancun my cousin and his wife had recently experienced. This continues to be a work in progress though to the right is my initial beginnings of the small study oil painting.

To the left was Challenge 6 for LPNM, an acrylic and oil painting on 10"x10" gallery wrapped canvas "Classic 58".  I really enjoyed painting this one and though it was basically leaves and green bushes in the background of the photo I was sent, I opted to do an original landscape in the background. I was also very happy to be feeling much better by this time and almost fully recovered from my cold/sinus illness.

I made plans months earlier to go with friends to the Sacramento
Mountains the weekend of May 20th which just happened to coincide with a paint out day at Essence Gallery and Boutique in Old Town Saturday, May 21st which I had to miss. To the right is a photo of the beautiful sunset from the patio outside my room that Saturday evening. It was a wonderfully restful, peaceful and relaxing weekend and very much needed. The paint out I heard was a wonderful success and I do intend to take my easel and paint in the courtyard near Essence one day coming up.

This past weekend my husband and I were invited to the Jemez Red Rocks Arts and Crafts Show being held Saturday, Sunday, and Monday (today) across from the Walatowa Visitor Center past Jemez Pueblo. We opted to go on Saturday, which turned out to be a gorgeous day. We enjoyed going from booth to booth seeing all the arts and crafts, indian tacos from their food booth, traditional dances and just before leaving finally met up with a dear friend who helped organize the event. Here are some picture we took while there so you can see the beauty of the area, we even photographed Smokey the Bear visiting. We were happy to see, as we left, the parking lot was full and food booth with lines because of the large amount of people.

Yesterday (Sunday) I was invited by artist Linda Storm to her and

fellow artist, Pablo Perea to their open studio and celebration of Pablo's U.S. citizenship at their Santa Fe Art Studio in Santa Fe.

Before getting ready to go I decided to do a little more work on my work in progress (#WIP) study, a small 10"x8" seascape in oils I blogged about above. The photo to the right is this continuing WIP progress, still a ways to go before finished and I can then move on to the larger tryptich oil painting for my cousin.

The open studio and citizenship celebration at Linda Storm and Pablo Perea's studio in Santa Fe was wonderful and the art displayed there, both their individual art and their collaborative art are quite striking and thought provoking. They had many people in attendance, provided music along with food, drink and wonderful conversation. If you have the chance and are in the area check out their work and studio, it really is quite striking! I believe Pablo mentioned to call ahead to schedule a viewing. I was quite honored to be invited by Linda and pleasantly surprised by her down to earth and genuine beauty.

While there I was able to present an acrylic painting I had done two years ago of Wes and Maura Studi to Maura who was a guest and friend of Linda. I wasn't sure if it would be appropriate and thank Linda for graciously insisting I give it to her with the explanation for my inspiration. My inspiration for the painting was seeing a photo online of this couple at a ball at Buffalo Thunder Resort (my husband and I met Wes there several years ago at their grand opening). Something in their eyes and embrace and beauty and gentleness of Maura prompted me to paint them. I am not a portrait painter by any stretch though I have the utmost respect for their contributions to both the native and local communities. I looked online for other photos and decided to paint an eagle symbolic of Wes' release of one over the Taos Gorge when it became a national historical treasure (?) and from possible meaningful and colorful items I viewed in other photos.  To the left is the painting although I was a bit disappointed that once matted and framed it seems the facial color had drastically faded. 

Reworking Some Challenges for "Let's Paint New Mexico" From 2015

To the left is one of the challenges I painted last year for "Let's Paint New Mexico" which I reworked this past week. I kept thinking it didn't seem complete and while busy with many other things I decided to add just a few touches and am now calling this done. It is an oil on 8"x10" canvas and available for purchase. If interested please contact me.

To the right is another reworked challenge painting from LPNM 2015.
This one is an oil painting "Distant Glow" which is presented and ready to hang on 10"x10" gallery wrapped canvas. It is also available for purchase directly from me, please contact me if you are interested.

Tomorrow is a special day in Old Town Albuquerque as they celebrate Albuquerque's birthday. I was asked to participate with a few other artists who have paintings at Essence Gallery and Boutique. I already had a prior commitment though said I would try to make it happen. As I type this there is an approaching storm so let's hope that weather doesn't dampen the mood and festivities for the big birthday celebration. We do still need the rain and it already has started out to be a beautiful spring.

Here is a picture of our first oriole arriving to feed at our hummingbird feeders in our backyard.

Thank you for visiting my art blog and your interest in my artwork.

April 2016 Spring Paintings and Challenges

This first week of April I've been working on my as yet untitled original oil painting on 8"x10" canvas shown to the left. April started out being quite windy but has now settled into warmer weather which also got me into the gardening mood. I usually wait until May to spread my flower seeds but just couldn't seem to wait so last week threw my wildflower and butterfly and hummingbird flower seeds into my backyard garden. This week I've been trimming bushes and flowers preparing for new growth springing forth. It has warmed up to near 80 and with that warmth and the return of greenery the excitement and renewed motivation to paint those beautiful flowers and nature have also returned.


I wasn't thrilled with the photo sent for Challenge 4 of "Let's Paint New Mexico" and thought of skipping that challenge although I remembered making a commitment to myself to do each challenge presented to me for 2016. To the right is the photo sent me on the left and to the right in the same photo my oil painting rendition I decided to name "Modern Abstract Floral" on 8"x10" canvas (7/8" profile).


The #twitterartexhibit which opened March 31st at Trygve Lie Galleryat 317 E. 52nd Street in New York City was a huge success raising $6700 in two hours that night. This show runs through April 21st and if you are looking for affordable art that benefits a deserving charity please stop in and support Foster Pride NYC. Each postcard size piece of art sells for $35 with 100% of the profit going to Foster Pride NYC. I believe my piece of art contributed is still available for purchase (to the left is a photo of that piece of art "Welcome to New Mexico").


The opening of a new show at Essence Gallery and Boutique at 323 Romero St. NW, Suite 1 in Old Town Albuquerque is presenting the artwork of Fermin Hernandez and that show runs through April 30th. Along with Fermin's beautiful artwork I put together a photo including three other Let's Paint New Mexico participating artists whose artwork is now available also at Essence. That photo is shown to the right.


The participating artists doing the challenge paintings for "Let's Paint New Mexico" were sent five new photos for the next five challenges and although the deadlines have been removed, and in my sticking with my commitment to do each and every challenge, the photo to the left is the last photo I'll post for this update. The photo for Challenge 5 that was sent is to the left in the posted photo, to the right top is my first sketchbook painting study and below it is the second sketchbook study. These studies were done in preparing for the final painting, probably an oil painting I will use as my final submission for that challenge.