WELCOME TO MY LIFE IN TECHNICOLOR!!

Crazy colors for a crazy life!

Thursday, October 30, 2014

"Moose, Courthouse Dog" 8x8 oil
This is my latest dog portrait--"Moose, CASA Courthouse Dog."  Moose is known for his mohawk (!) and his sunny disposition while helping kids be calm  in courtroom situations.  I loved trying to capture his mohawk and his expression.

Monday, October 6, 2014

"What I Did Last Summer"

Happy Autumn!  The aspens and red maples are just starting to turn their glorious colors.  After an eventful summer, I am trying to get back to posting regularly!

First a bit of news:  The Pastel Society of New Mexico Signature Members' Show is being shown at the Matrix Gallery in Albuquerque, NM, during the month of October.  You can view pictures of the opening and the paintings in the show (including mine) at this Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/PSNMSignatureMembers?ref=stream  You don't have to be a member or sign in, so have a look!

My summer included participating in David Barranti's Master Drawing Class, where we were all challenged to expand beyond our usual subjects and treatments and even learn to use a new support for watercolor!  And expand we did!

Next, I traveled with another artist friend for two weeks.  Santa Fe galleries were first on the agenda.  Taking in the broad and amazing array of artwork  in Santa Fe never gets dull.  We were especially blessed to meet and to hear landscape artist Chris Morel explain some of his insights about his solo exhibit at the Nedra Matteucci (formerly Fenn) Gallery.  A most enjoyable and informing opportunity!

Our next stop was four glorious days at Ghost Ranch, near Abiquiu, where O'Keeffe spent much of her later life.  We painted in the colorful and amazing landscape both day and night and in between enjoyed discussing and sharing art with each other and a few other artists.
"Dreaming of Ghost Ranch" 12"x 9"wc

Leaving Ghost Ranch was tough, but we drove on to Oklahoma City to see and draw in the Prix de West Art Exhibit at the National Cowboy and Western Museum Hall of Fame.  Outstanding!!  The museum itself is gorgeous.  The breadth and depth of the artwork in the show and the permanent collection are without equal in my own museum experiences.  Not only does the show display the absolute best in realistic "Western" artwork, but their collection of such artists as Charles M. Russell, Walter Ufer, Nicolai Fechin and other Taos artists is superior.  And the sculpture!

After nearly three days absorbing and drawing from the paintings and sculpture, we dragged our weary but exhilarated bodies home to recoup before beginning to process the wonderful experiences we had.

Tomorrow--some of what I know after the summer.