Transitioning to Change and Reenergizing

I made a trip to El Paso, Texas with girlfriends the week before Memorial weekend and returning home Sunday heard a tornado was in the area of my mom in Oklahoma.  Luckily it took a turn a little bit north and she called to tell me she had gone to a storm cellar and safe though shaken. Monday the tornado that hit Moore, Oklahoma had me on pins and needles again having an aunt and cousin with family who live there and also family all over Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and other states affected by bad weather. Happy to hear that though some damage to vehicles from hail everyone in my family were safe with no other damage.

Blue Grosbeak

Oriole

Making changes to my schedule and routine have
helped me to take better care of myself. I'm getting up early with my hubby, enjoying our yard, our time in the morning to sit on our back patio with coffee and conversation and enjoy the birds and life going on in our backyard after a treadmill walk. This may seem trivial to some though after a traffic accident last year getting back into a regular exercise routine has been harder than I'd imagined it would be and adjusting my schedule throws off my creative schedule also.

"Jemez Cholla"
Acrylic with Silver Pen
on 11"x14" Wood Panel

Happily last night I found myself back in my art studio painting late into the night.  I am still in the midst of quite a few ongoing art projects but waiting for a shipment from Dick Blick to finish those. So ... here is my latest creative burst of energy I finished early this morning.  I call it "Jemez Cholla" and it is a bit different than my usual paintings in that I wanted to accentuate the cholla in the foreground and used some silver pen embellishment as well as highlighting colors to give some dimension.

Quick Drive to Jemez Mountains and Momentary Delay to Ongoing Projects

We made a short trip driving up to the Jemez
Mountains a few days ago, what a great break in routine and revitalizer for me ALWAYS. Here are some of the pictures taken during that trip.


Finished and delivered one birdhouse love gift for a friend and one friendship recipe plaque and ran out of my usual BLAIR retouch varnish for last finishing spray so went shopping locally. I couldn't find the BLAIR and got another brand of retouch varnish spray and so dissappointed after spraying it that all the Sharpie pen writing smeared. Had to repaint much of it and put all of my ongoing projects on hold until I could find what I always use.  Went on Twitter and sent tweets to a few art supply companies with only Dick Blick responding and quickly that they have the exact thing I need in stock.  I just LOVE Dick Blick art supplies and once again am amazed and grateful for their wonderful customer service, inventory and attention to detail.  I WILL be ordering from them and finish the ongoing projects in another couple of weeks.

This may give me the break from these ongoing projects to do some oil, acrylic and/or watercolor painting in the meantime. 

Happy Mother's Day - Catching Up

Finished one birdhouse for a friend and delivered it to her yesterday. So happy that she loved it and the fact it has her kids pics on the sides.  I am not the best at portrait work though I thought they came out pretty good. I will post some pics of that first.

Also happy I could deliver it before Mother's Day and though some parts didn't come out as well as I would've liked, it is what it is and a gift of love from my heart to a dear friend who has been through alot.

Next a picture of the pretty little bicycle plant holder with flower and plant my hubby sent me for Mother's Day, I just love it!

The last pictures are of various birds we enjoyed watching this morning in our backyard.  My favorites of the photos really is the robin bathing in our backyard fountain.  He seems to so enjoy splashing about and I'm so grateful I grabbed my camera to take the pictures.  The raven that comes arrived this morning with SOMETHING and we later saw a tail hanging out of the side of his mouth so apparently a lizard ... poor little guy though that is nature for you!  

Enjoying the Beauty of Nature and Ongoing Creative Projects

Green Tailed Towhee

After recuperating from our quick trip to Arizona meeting our daughter and spending some family time together I've been totally enjoying the beginning of spring in New Mexico and specifically some bird watching and flower planting in our backyard.

Finches on Thistle Feeder

Full of Hummers

Here are some pictures of some of the birds in our backyard that have been very entertaining this past week.

Oriole (female)

Oriole (male)

It's amazing to me how it seems I barely have placed the hummingbird feeders and look out to see swarms of hummingbirds appearing from
seemingly nowhere.

Almost Finished 

Mr. Hawk

I have nine projects ongoing currently and think from looking at the pictures above you will be able to see where my inspiration comes from for the items I place on the birdhouses that I individualize and give as love gifts to friends.  The one pictured here is almost complete and five other projects are about half way finished.  I love being busy and able to create and give some of those gifts that God has greatly blessed me with. Come back soon to see my progress and until then I hope you have enjoyed your visit.

Short Trip to Arizona for Rest & Relaxation with Our Daughter

In the midst of the painting projects that are still ongoing my husband and I made a drive over to Phoenix last week on Friday.

Saturday we met our daughter at the airport and drove to Sedona, had a late breakfast at the Coffee Pot Cafe and then on to the village of Tlaquepaque to see some of the beautiful artwork and natural beauty of the area.  It was a beautiful day with perfect weather and many tourists and a wonderful start to our special time we wanted to have with our daughter as well as the first time we've met her in another state to enjoy a mini vacation together.

Sunday after breakfast we went to see the N. Scott Momaday exhibit at The Heard Museum in Phoenix, sat and had ice tea in the courtyard enjoying native flute music followed by watching some folks dance to
the music of Ritmo Latino in Steele Auditorium there for a couple of songs.  That evening we went to the Comerica Theatre to a Joe Bonamassa concert together, another first as we've been to many concerts though not with our daughter before.

Monday after checking our daughter in at the airport in Phoenix we began our drive home to New Mexico finally arriving at 10pm after a wonderful planned time away from home with alot of love, laughter and sharing with our daughter. What great memories to share together.  Feeling inspired and motivated to continue on with some creative processes now though nice to have had a break.

A Few Ongoing Projects to Finish

Love Gifts

In the process of becoming aware of and accepting some difficulties a dear friend had and continues to go through I was reminded of the wonderful current friends and family members I mentioned doing art projects for.  So ... the first picture is of two birdhouses and four friendship recipe plaques that have the base color coats of paint down.  Now on to the detail work and making the birdhouses individualized for the people they will be going to.

"Santa Fe Contrasts"

The second photo to the left is from a pastel I had done a few weeks ago.  I realized this week I'd told a cousin I was going to paint something especially for her a very long time ago and she really liked the pastel so this morning soon after waking I painted this acrylic on 11 1/2 x 13 1/2" board for her.

"Easter's Scarlet Rose" Watercolor & Acrylic on 9x11" Watercolor Paper Finished this Morning

"Easter's Scarlet Rose"

I started this watercolor painting a few days ago and once I posted it to my Facebook page realized it needed something before actually finished.  Some highlights were used with acrylic paint and because I thought it was, once again, "finished" on Easter Sunday named it "Easter's Scarlet Rose".  To my surprise this morning I was back in my art studio and this IS the finished painting.

On to other paintings.  I still haven't done a painting for "Let's Paint New Mexico" challenge. I was asked to paint birdhouses for two friends, a friendship recipe painting, and two paintings.

As you can tell it seems I've been commissioned, even though I SAY I don't really like to do commissions (smile) as they seem too restrictive.  Actually I love doing these birdhouses for friends using my creativity and have license to paint whatever I think applies individually to them, they are gifts of love. The friendship recipe was a special request by a special friend and a love gift also.  A dear friend gave me creative license to paint whatever I want for her though she does want a large painting and I'm thrilled that she is my actual first paid commission.  On with my day ...

Paintings this Past Week - Two Finished and One in Process

Last week I began a rework of an oil painting done a few years ago and in that process decided to paint over it, what appeared is a floral which I'm still in the process of finishing.  I will post pictures when finished.

"Red Sky Dusky Blue"

Next I painted this original watercolor on 11 1/2x18' watercolor paper I named "Red Earth Dusky Blue".

"You Can't See the forest for the Trees"

I started the original 11x16" watercolor to the right "You Can't See the Forest for the Trees" and after letting it sit for a couple days added some pen and ink, sat for another day or two and this morning finished it with a bit of acrylic highlights.

Here is an enhanced photo I took of an aspen grove above Chama, New Mexico during our September 2012 Cumbres Toltec train ride.  The enhancement was what I saw in my mind's eye during that train ride.  I've uploaded some newer artwork to http://jo-gomez.fineartamerica.com/ where you can now purchase prints.

Translator and Links Change to My Art Blog

I've added a translator and couple new links to this art blog.  I am now using Fine Art America and have been using Twitter for awhile although just added them to the links on this page this morning.  

Busy Day Painting Yesterday (14 March 2013)

"Beauty of the Valles Caldera"

Yesterday proved to be quite busy all day and even into the evening, with breaks to enjoy some taped television shows with my husband.  First I finished off the clouds in my 9x12" original oil painting "Beauty of the Valles Caldera" shown here to the right.

"Hill Above Acoma Overlook"

Next I primed a 10x10" gallery wrapped canvas with black edges and a true blue background and painted an original acrylic "Hill Above Acoma Overlook" shown to the left.

I painted a small oil on engineered wood though not finished so I won't post a picture of it YET (smile).

"A Cup of Tea and a Good Book"

Lastly I finished an original acrylic painting "A Cup of Tea and a Good Book" on 17 inch and 1 inch thick wood round.  Not sure what this piece's future will be though it is very heavy so probably not a wall hanging, possibly a table top.  For now I will spray varnish it and put it aside.  The picture of it is to the right.

Busy Week - Helping Drive Out of State Folks to Acoma Pueblo and the tram in Albuquerque

Thursday this past week I helped drive some out of state friends to Acoma Pueblo (Sky City) about an hour and a half west of Albuquerque and went on the tour with them.  I ended up buying a beautiful piece of artwork painted by Norma Jean Ortiz "up top" and after the tour we all had lunch together at the restaurant below.  The food was wonderful, service excellent and whole day felt very special and spiritual.

Next on Friday I helped drive other out of state friends to the tram in Albuquerque though forgot my camera so a friend took a couple of pictures while we were at the top and I'll only post one.  After going up on the tram we enjoyed about 45 minutes on top walking around and then as the wind was picking up we took the tram back down and went to Old Town in Albuquerque and had lunch where it began a light rain.

Encouraged by my Artist Friends - My Entry for "Let's Paint New Mexico" Challenge 11

I've been pleasantly surprised and amazed at the connections and friends made the past few months on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and most recently "Let's Paint New Mexico" blog.

I get so busy with life in general that I used to wonder how I would "find the time" to do my artwork ... that is funny to me now as it has become more of a compulsion and necessity rather than a luxury.  Recently in the midst of doing various artwork a friend reminded me I hadn't done a submission for "Let's Paint New Mexico". I'm so glad for that reminder from another artist who understands, so here is my submission for Challenge 11, "Let's Paint New Mexico".  This is an oil painting on 9"x12" canvas panel called "Placitas Old Loop View".

Catching Up and Enjoying Life and Painting

"Santa Fe Aged"

Friday my husband and I took the Rail Runner (train) to Santa Fe and enjoyed lunch at Tomasita's, the Art of Devotion exhibit at Peyton Wright Gallery, stopped by the Wyeth Hurd Gallery, dessert at the Flying Star at the Railyard.  It must have motivated and inspired me as I found myself starting my morning out with this Conte and pastel on 9x12" black drawing paper I'm calling "Santa Fe Aged".

"Unnamed"

Also playing around and thinking about some of the modern art at Peyton Wright I painted this small 4x6.5" acrylic that is, as of now, unnamed.

After doing this artwork I realized I had done two smaller acrylic paintings on 4x5.5" cards a couple of weeks ago.  The first is "Golden Glow" and the second "Stormy Weather".

"Golden Glow"

"Stormy Weather"