"A Hint of New Mexico's Beauty" Original Oil Painting on 5"x7" Wooden Board Painted This Morning

Wow, I got on a roll today and painted most of the day.  Put some finishing touches on a large 30"x40" oil painting I thought I finished a couple days ago, painted this small 5"x7" oil painting and then put all the colors on another birdhouse I'm painting to mail to an out of state friend I promised a birdhouse to. It certainly feels good to have the motivation, positive energy and desire to just paint, paint, paint!

Photos Taken September 27th on Drive to see the Fall Colors

We decided to take a drive yesterday into the Jemez Mountains of New Mexico to see the fall colors.  Higher up almost to the Valle Caldera it did seem to be starting to change colors tho think we're a little early.  Here is a sampling of some of the beauty in these mountains I will post.  We took the road through Los Alamos into Pojaque and over to the Santa Fe Bypass and took some beautiful pics of the fall color of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains above Santa Fe.  We hit a few wonderful showers of rain tho it was brief and light.  The beauty of New Mexico is such an inspiration to me and reminds me of how much natural beauty lies within it's boundaries.  I hope you enjoy this brief visual visit.

Another Birdhouse Painted for a Friend - Front View

Finally got to give my friend the birdhouse I painted for her a few weeks ago yesterday.  Here's a picture of the front of it.  I love doing these for friends and try to make them individual and personal for them.

Finished another birdhouse for a friend and even though I haven't presented it to her yet, think it's okay to post a picture of it since she is not online.  The picture will be to the right.    

Inspiration and Motivation through Friends

Just a quick update to let all my friends, especially those that are also artists and new friends gained through Twitter and networking, how much your encouragement, creating and displaying your own artwork and wonderfully accepting and helpful comments and support help me.  I feel even more supported and encouraged since getting on Twitter. Funny how some folks think I'm trying to get a gazillion followers .... NOT! I love being so connected with other creatives. Someone in the entertainment industry recently asked me what my interest was and honestly it's not their notoriety or being well known as much as just loving to know what inspires, motivates and grows other creatives. I have always enjoyed biographies and autobiographies in discovering the real commonality and genuineness of others.

I woke up this morning early, went and got my one hour massage and chiropractic adjustment and am enjoying being alive, able to paint, visit with my friends, consider some new opportunities with my art and generally living to the full.  I have finished painting two birdhouses for friends and started on a very large one to send to an out of state friend. I am so honored with the friendships I have here in New Mexico.  Stand by for updates as I continue this growing process and thank you for taking the time to visit my art blog.

Quick Diversion from Large Oil Painting in Progress

Since our recent RV trip to Northern New Mexico and train ride on the Cumbres Toltec, a friend moving to another state gave me a larger 30"x40" canvas she had begun painting on.  As I began painting an oil on the canvas I realized that the painting underneath can still be seen and that I need to go back to the way I painted in the beginning with oils and paint thin to thick.  So in order to build up the painting to the texture I want and cover the painting beneath I now have painted twice and this process will be a little more time consuming than what I've recently been used to.  I will post when this larger painting is finished.

The photo to the right is of a watercolor and colored Sharpie markers with acrylic background I titled "Pink Peony", an original painting I did last night as a diversion and break away from the larger oil painting.

"Melancholy Floral" Original Oil Painting on 11"x14" Oval Canvas Finished Yesterday

The original floral painting to the right looked very different from this finished version.  It seems that in the midst of painting this I started looking at other floral paintings of friends and in that process of comparing myself and my artwork to others I got caught up in that grey space.  I know better than to do this tho sometimes it just seems to happen, a reminder that I am very much a human being and very much still in the process of evolving as an artist.  I could have scratched it all and started over but decided that no, even though I kept going back and forth with the thoughts of "oh, I really LIKE this to no, I DON'T like it" it is what it is and in the end, yes, I DO like it as it is uniquely me and it's okay that I am who I am and don't need to try to be any other version of myself..  

Funny that on typing these comments and being true to myself and honest about those feelings I have lifted myself out of that space and even tho a bit overcast today in New Mexico am going to fully enjoy this beautiful day that is before me. No painting today even tho I did start on something that had been sitting around for awhile barely started ... will leave that for ANOTHER day (smile).  Beauty awaits!

Beautiful Roses from my Husband -- A Painting in the Works ???

My husband and I were at the local supermarket last Friday when the lady at the flower counter let me know that their roses regularly $13 were on sale for $7 ... so, being the lover of nature that I am, I decided I would buy not one but two of the bouquets.  I did need to do the floral arranging myself tho they provided the roses, the preservative and the yellow/gold material.  I think I did a fairly good job at arranging and took a few pictures of my arrangement ... now comes the decision about a painting.  Stand by for upcoming pictures of another floral.  I'm having alot of fun these days painting and enjoying nature.  What a gift we are given by the creator of all the beauty to behold if we just open our eyes and make the time to SEE.

Original Acrylic "Fire on the Mountain" on 11"x14" Canvas Panel

While on a little mini RV vacation to Heron Lake in Northern New Mexico last week I painted this original acrylic on canvas panel I'm calling "Fire on the Mountain" and then embellished it with gold pen before calling it finished.  We had a wonderful time, there were no fires that I know of around us and while there from Sunday until Thursday we enjoyed a train ride from Chama, New Mexico to Antonito, Colorado on the Cumbres Toltec Railroad, had an excellent dinner at High Country Saloon and Restaurant in Chama and watched our neighbors set up their easels and start a couple of landscapes while I painted this painting inside our RV.  What a wonderful and relaxing time away.

"Happy Birthday Jessi" Original Acrylic on Wood Board Painted 25 August 2012

Although I only had an hour and a half before going to see friends I decided on Saturday morning that this wood board was calling me to paint something on it ... hence, my original floral "Happy Birthday Jessi" I painted on August 25th.  I still made it to see my friends and later on that day posted this to my Twitter page.  Considering it was painted in an hour and a half I think it turned out exceptionally well and I am very happy with the results.

"Nature's Gifts" an Original Oil Painting on 5"x7" wood panel

Last night as I walked through my house before going to bed I found myself in my art room painting the mini oil painting to the left on a prepared 5"x7" wood panel.  I love when that happens, kind of like I'm drawn to that room, think for a minute "oh it's late, I probably should go to bed" and next thing I know I'm totally into creating a piece of artwork and you know what? It's okay because hey, I'm retired and I should be able to do my art whenever I want, wherever I want and just enjoy! So I DID.  

"Magnolia New Mexico Style" - Original painting on 9x12" w/c paper

Yesterday a friend came over and as she painted a birdhouse for a friend of hers I finished the painting to the right. It started out with acrylic paint on 9"x12" watercolor paper then the blossom and leaves were done in watercolor and all finished up with various colored gel pins. 

Mini RV Vacation at Jemez Falls Campground, New Mexico Recently

What fun we had this past week RVing at Jemez Falls Campground in the Jemez Mountains only about 45 minutes from our house.  We did some dry camping with all the conveniences of home provided by our fifth wheel, enjoyed some beautiful weather with it thundering, lightning and cooling us off with rain showers in the late afternoon/evening before we left.  Tent campers on each side of us had just pitched their tents before it started raining.  My husband and I got in some games of Yahtzee which is always fun for us.  My creative juices seemed to be flowing.  I started out doing the Prismacolor pencil drawing "Squirrel with Shimmering Tail", then painted the acrylic painting "Jemez Falls New Mexico" and finished as it was storming and light was going away of "God's Light Shines on Us All".

Front of Birdhouse I Painted for a Friend - Keeping Creative

Didn't realize when I took the picture of this birdhouse I painted for a friend that the lighting wasn't as good as I would have liked, it is actually brighter and there are different flowers, sayings and embellishments on each side.  I enjoy thinking of the person I'm painting it for and trying to paint things I think they would enjoy.  I couldn't believe how very excited she got looking at it and jumping around telling me how much she loved it and "oh wow, you know me so well."  Very satisfying for me and painting these also keeps me being creative in a little different way.

I am enjoying a new sense of gratitude and joy in my life and hope to add more things to my page here as my urgency and motivation for painting and creating return.

Fun Revisiting a Few Oil Paintings Last Week & Here are Results

Spent a day last week revisiting three oil paintings I'd done and reworking them. One is shown below this post "He's a Handsome Boy", the first painting on the left here is "Garden Flowers" and the second one "Below the Snowline". I also finished preparing my original oil on canvas panel "Old San Ysidro" as a donation for a drawing for a local non profit event coming up in Albuquerque.

I am enjoying a return of enthusiasm and creativeness. Soon you can visit a new Facebook page devoted solely to my artwork.  Life is SO GOOD. Thank you for visiting my art blog. I hope you return soon (smile).  

"Old San Ysidro" Reworked Original Oil Painting on 11"x14" Canvas Panel

This past Friday seemed magical and wonderful as I painted most of the day. The painting on the right I reworked and like it much better now.  I had actually painted the "framing in gold" for another painting I was anticipating doing for a friend.  She had sent me an old postcard with some folk painting on it tho after researching I found that the artwork was copyrighted back in the early 1900's and didn't want to do copyright infringement.  The original painting of this church had a pretty consistent purple sky and the church and trees somewhat nondescript and color a bit dull.  I love all the bright colors I find in New Mexico and the artwork here.  I am enjoying all the beauty, once again, that I find myself surrounded by and hope to also be painting much more in the coming months.

"He's a Handsome Boy" Original Oil on 9x12" Canvas Panel

I started this oil painting about two months ago before I had to take a break from almost everything recuperating from a traffic accident where another person broadsided my car.  I am grateful today to all my friends and family that have understood I've had to curtail my regular routine and things I enjoy while healing. I hope that my renewed sense of appreciation of life, of the beauty in the world and especially the wonderful state of New Mexico that I live in somehow are inspiring or motivational for anyone else who has crisis sneaking around the corner and dealing with it in a positive and proactive way.  I hope that I can use the rest of this summer to paint, paint, paint and to also find that wonderfully serene and peaceful, purposeful balance of being an artist with all the other aspects of my life.

God has gifted me in so many ways and I only wish to share those gifts in showing my appreciation to God.

Beautiful Day in New Mexico Yesterday

It was a beautiful clear and exceptionally hot day in New Mexico yesterday.  I took this picture near Sandia Resort and Albuquerque. It has been over 100 degrees every day for the past week or more. Everyone hear is awaiting our seasonal monsoons that bring with them gorgeous sunsets, much needed rain and cools everything off.

Gourd Painting Late into the Night June 23rd, Early Early Morning June 24th

It seems my creative juices are flowing once again. I was up late into the night, early next morning painting  this gourd. It was one among many we bought in Casa Grande, Arizona at a gourd farm while visiting cousins nearby.  Happy to have a return of motivation and inspiration to create and soon back to daily painting!

Just for Fun - Painting in Little Increments

The little "mini" original painting to the left is acrylic and oil on a 3"x5" wooden board. I thought I would start out small and am calling this one "Sacred Place".  I find that if I work smaller it eases me back into doing my artwork on a more consistent basis.  I  have always been drawn to nature, animals and beautifully sacred/spiritual things.





The next painting I did strictly for FUN!!! It is an original acrylic on an 8"x10" board titled "Is He Smiling?"  I enjoy color and humor and the mixture of abstract with a more free flowing style with this makes me SMILE!!!

Moving through Grief and Diversity to New Beginnings

Recently lost my friend and sister-in-law, Rosa, from brain cancer right after a car accident (not my fault at all) and the loss of my car. Still not sure whether my car will be fixed or totaled in the end and my car is symbolic for me of a very sad and chaotic time in my life (purchased with cash from a lawsuit involving the death of my mother-in-law from a car accident) so many of those memories also recently resurrected.

For me today I don't deal with my feelings alone or without thorough expression which makes me very grateful for all the friends and family in my life who know this is just who I am and how I need to express myself.  I used to be one of those women that wouldn't show emotion or cry but through my life experiences have learned that I am not my complete self if I can't show and tell those I'm close to my true feelings and failings in life.

The good news is that though I am still grieving, I am still preparing for the worst tho hoping for the best with my car, my need for expression through my artwork has returned and the other night I finished a floral that I'd started just as this accident happened (honestly it is not my favorite as it seems dark and forboding (sp?) to me which is why I choose to not display it here on my blog). Another I won't display is an acrylic I painted of a woman, very abstract and not very flattering which on later looking at it I discovered seems to resemble the woman who broadsided me.

What I WILL display here because it is just the beginning and not yet finished is what I'm calling "Magnolia Blossom New Mexico Style" which is acrylic painting and gel pen & ink on watercolor paper.  This is the second of paintings I've started but not finished.  I hope to soon be back to my daily painting tho I begin physical therapy soon which may curtail some of that only temporarily.  The healing has begun ....