150 CHALLENGE 2011 Dee Sanchez

#1

2011-05-30T22:32:00.000-07:00

"SHE WALKS"

8"X8"

Wow, my last painting is done. Finally. I will write tomorrow.

#2

2011-05-30T22:29:00.001-07:00

"PLACITAS VISTA"

8"X8"

One of my favorite view in Placitas - a landscape along the Placitas Loop Road.

I embellished the mountains to make them a little more substantial.

#3

2011-05-30T22:25:00.000-07:00

"THE HIGH COUNTRY"

8"X8"

SOLD

Only two more to go. This scene is a pastoral landscape from the Taos high country. I wanted it full of color and vibrancy.

#4

2011-05-30T12:20:00.000-07:00

"SHE'S AN ANGEL"

10"X8"

I painted a version of thsi angel for mylast 150 show - I think she is beautiful, peaceful, and serene. I also thnk she is mysterious and divine. Only 3 left!

#5

2011-05-30T12:18:00.000-07:00

"EL SALTO WITH SUNFLOWERS"

8"X8"

One of my favroite places in the whole world - El Salto peak in Arroyo Seco. And beautiful sunflowers blooming in the meadow below. Along with chamisa, sage, and wild grasses. Love this one.

#6

2011-05-30T12:14:00.000-07:00

"BLANKET MEADOW"

8'X8"

I bought some of these guillardia ( I probably didn't spell that right) to plant in my yard. Yep, went to Lowe's and got these, along with some coreopsis, pinks, an oak tree, red climbing trumpet vine, two iris plants, Mexican evening primrose, a bunch of little pots of lavender, oregano, basil, morning glory, and four-o'clocks. Now I just have to plant them! I like the light on this painting, you can see it coming in from the top left.

#7

2011-05-30T12:11:00.000-07:00

"SPRING FOREST"

8"X8"

A loose and thickly painted version of a hidden glade in a New Mexico spring forest.

#8

2011-05-30T12:10:00.000-07:00

"SUMMER DANCE"

8"X10"

Another sweet little trip of dancers. I picture these girls as younger, maybe just learning, and eager to try out their folklorico skills on an attentive audience.

#9

2011-05-30T12:04:00.000-07:00

"DAY TRIP TO MOUNTAINAIR"

10"X8"

Wow, I am finally in the single digits. This was taken from a photo we took on a recent trip through the backroads to Mountainair. This is the old Shaffer Hotel. We had a fantastic meal in the restaurant and my mother-in-law knew everyone there, Mountainair being near her hometown of Willard, NM.

#10

2011-05-29T08:25:00.000-07:00

"SOFT HOLLYHOCKS WITH SCREEN DOOR"

10"X8"

#11

I guess I could've also added "with purple window" in there too! This is a nice juicy painting, I was just going for color and texture and I lathered the paint on with a palette knife at the end. I think it has a nice, soft, serene look.

#11

2011-05-29T08:22:00.001-07:00

"IT'S A GROOVE THANG"

8"X10"

#11

I picture these girls at a fair or outdoor festival of some kind and they're ready - they're fired up, to get out there and show people how ballet folklorico is done. Don't try to upstage these girls!

#12

2011-05-29T08:18:00.000-07:00

"THOSE CRAZY BEAUTIFUL STARS,

AFTER VAN GOGH"

8"X10"

#12

I've painted this once before, but not in a rectangular format. It's weird, you just have to kind of squint at the original to cut it down to the essence, because Van Gogh painstakingly put all of these little tiny tiny marks of paint - man, that guy had patience. I hop you like my version.

#13

2011-05-29T08:14:00.000-07:00

"TAOS RED"

11"X14"

#13

This painting is from a "Taos Fall" photo I took last year - it really doesn't do justice to the colors I was seeing through my camera lens. There was also a white horse in the original but he proved to be too distracting to the composition and the color scheme. This will also be $150 at the show.

#14

2011-05-29T08:06:00.000-07:00

"GARDEN BOUNTY"

16"X20"

#14

This is the largest painting that will be in the 150 Challenge Show. It is 16x20 and will also be $150. All of the paintings will be framed in this wooden floater antique crackle finish frame. This looks [rettier in person.

#15

2011-05-26T10:15:00.000-07:00

"BRUISER"

8"X8"

#15

Okay, my first try at a buffalo - I think he's pretty cute. He's not really a "bruiser," he's more like a big woolly teddy bear.

#16

2011-05-26T10:11:00.000-07:00

"LAST COLORS, ELENA GALLEGOS"

8"X10"

#16

I think this is my second sunset painting from Elena Gallegos. This photo was taken at the perfect point and with a little bit of zoon, so I got more of an intense view. I actually am digging the sky above the sunset.

#17

2011-05-26T09:52:00.000-07:00

"THE FLOWER MARKET

8"X10"

#17

Interestng story behind this one - I found three boxes of old slides at a thrift store a long time ago. I had no idea what was in them, but thought I'd take a chance. Well, they were from what looks like travels all over the world. Some of the slides were old and faded but a few looked pretty good. This looks like it was from maybe Spain or Guatemala. I'm still not sure about the face, I may play with it a little bit. But I like all of the colors.

#18

2011-05-26T09:48:00.000-07:00

"THE GIRLS"

8"X10"

#18

My first dancer of the group - I think they turned out well. I had to think a little more about placement for the stripes on the dresses, rather than just slapping paint around all over the place. There are a few more coming!

#19

2011-05-24T20:56:00.000-07:00

"SUNFLOWER HILLS"

8"X8"

#19

My last painting of the night - a side whimsical view of the Sandia Mountains and hills full of sunflowers, asters, coneflowers, and other meadow flowers.

#20

2011-05-24T20:53:00.000-07:00

"TAOS VISTA"

10"X8"

#20

This is the image I have in my mnd when my family does the annual hike in Taos every year and I always end up driving all over Taos, taking photos and visiting galleries. They always call us from tht top of the mountain and tell us how magnificent the view is, but I don't think you can really know unless you're up there at the top.

#21

2011-05-24T20:50:00.001-07:00

"LOS POBLANOS AT SUNSET"

8"X10"

#21

I shot this photo one evening, maybe on the way home from the Lavender Festival. The sun was setting and the sky had a really pretty glow that just looked golden - the way it touched the trees and the buildings. This is my simplified version.

#22

2011-05-24T20:47:00.000-07:00

"SANTA FE HILLS"

8"X10"

#22

Those of you who drive to Santa Fe all the time - you know these hills. They are on the right hand side of the road about halfway between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. They look mystical and mysterious. I always feel like I want to get closer to them, but can't.

#23

2011-05-24T20:43:00.000-07:00

"THE ARROYO"

10"X8"

#23

This painting came together nicely. You know, it's weird, but it's so important to get the composition right before you do anything else, even if you're just doing it very loosely with paint.

I like the composition and didn't feel like I was thinking about it while I was painting, I just did it. Okay, I stole that line from Nike.

#24

2011-05-24T20:39:00.000-07:00

"NIGHT POPPIES"

8"X8"

#24

THIS is what happens when you move your easel away to arm's length so you have to squint a little and use your whole arm, not just your hand. I love poppies and I love this.

#25

2011-05-24T08:27:00.000-07:00

"POPPY SPRING"

10"X8"

#25

This is a pretty painting in person. And framed, it's going to look just juicy and luscious. It's all about little spots of color with the sun shining through - I could paint these all day.

One thing I've noticed in the last week or so is thatI've let myself slowly get closer and closer to the canvas when I work. Not a good thing.

Today, I am going to set up my versa box in the studio again and paint the rest of my paintings from a distance. It's just such a better perspective to paint at arm's length.

#26

2011-05-24T08:19:00.000-07:00

"BIRD'S EYE VIEW, ABIQUIU"

8"X8"

#26

Wow, yesterday was a hard day. I went to Curves, went by the photographer's to pick up some paintings, went all over town to drop off postcards, and was heading home to paint when I ended up going to Lowe's to help buy plants, grass seed, sprinklers, fencing, a tree, etc. When I got home, all I wanted to do was take a nap. But I didn't.

I painted two paintings, but I worked until 11:30pm last night and work up tired this morning.

So, another Curves work out today, then in the studio to varnish about 28 paintings, put them in the garage to dry, and back to painting. This is the time when I always let everything go but the WORK I am living and breathing art right now. Help me! Just kidding.

#27 - ONLY 12 DAYS LEFT UNTIL THE SHOW!

2011-05-22T22:36:00.001-07:00

"AUTUMN SUNFLOWERS"

8"X10"

#27

It was about time for another sunflower painting.

On my blank canvas, I had attached an index card that read "suns with red" to remind me what I wanted to paint on it. So this is what I painted. "SUNS WITH RED." Simple.

#28

2011-05-22T22:32:00.000-07:00

"ROSES, GUADALUPE TRAIL"

8"X10"

#28

More roses! I was planning to go to Corrales yesterday to take some photos because everyone's roses are blooming like crazy, but there was no time. I'm going to try to get there on Tuesday. This is from a photo I took last year when they were bursting out all over the place.

#29

2011-05-22T22:28:00.000-07:00

"A LITTLE VINO"

10"X8"

#29

Yay, I am in the 20s, the home stretch! Good thing because I only have 10 days left to get all of my paintings completed and framed and ready to deliver. I am itching to get started on my dancers, but I still have some snow to paint and a buffalo.

This is from a photo I took at a hotel in Santa Fe. I painted it once before and it sits in my brother-in-law's house in Taos, over the fireplace. Makes me want to go and sit by that fire.

#30

2011-05-22T22:20:00.001-07:00

"THE CALLAS"

8"X8"

#30

I love calla lillies - they are one of the most beautiful, sensual flowers in the world. I am not happy with this, but it will do. It's really hard for me to make a calla look pretty and flowing while using a big brush. And I have no patience. Since these are "first impression" paintings, I am trying not to redo any of them, but this was an exception. The lillies started out being in a vase, but I didn't like it at all. The vase was clear and I didn't want to overwork it trying toget it right so I just scraped it and started over.

#31

2011-05-22T22:17:00.000-07:00

"SUMMER AT THE GORGE"

10"X8"

#31

You know I had to paint this view of the gorge - it looks like it goes on for miles. One of these days, I'd like to see it from the air. I love this one.

#32

2011-05-22T22:07:00.000-07:00

"SPRING WHIMSY"

8"X8"

#32

My idea of a whimsical Taos spring. Yes, those Are sheep!

In looking at my original, the sky is a bit more blue - I have to stop painting so late and photographing at night.

#33

2011-05-21T21:19:00.000-07:00

"VALDEZ FALL"

10"X8"

#33

Okay, most of you know about my great love for Taos, New Mexico. Especially Taos in the Fall. And Valdez fits right in there. The most beautiful little valley you pass as you go towards the ski valley. The colors last fall were incredible. My version.

#34

2011-05-21T21:16:00.000-07:00

"IN LAVENDER"

8"X8"

#34

My first hummingbird of the season. He's a beauty - very ethereal. I surehad fun putting the brushstrokes in this one.

#35

2011-05-21T21:11:00.000-07:00

"ANOTHER VIEW"

8"X8"

#35

This painting is from a photo I took at Santuario de Chimayo one evening as the moon was coming up. The sun was still out and shining on the mountains. I know, it's a weird angle, but I think it gives it a real mysterious quality. It's the only way I could get the church, the mountains, and the moon in the photo.

#36

2011-05-21T20:59:00.000-07:00

"LITTLE ADOBE AT PLACITAS"

8"X8"

#36

I am looking at this painting online and I just realized that I forgot to write the name of the church, "San Antonio" on the front of it. I knew something wasn't quite right. I will fix it tomorrow. I also need to take a short drive ti Placitas because I bet those roses are in full nloom right now.

#37

2011-05-21T20:57:00.001-07:00

"CANYON VIEW"

8"X8"

#37

This is a small version of a larger painting I sometimes paint for shows, called "Canyonlands." I've never painted it square before but I like the composition and the depth of field I see. And the colors!

#38

2011-05-21T20:54:00.001-07:00

"MOON OVER JEMEZ"

8"X8"

#38

It has been a LONG time since I've painted my Canyon Women. I don't think I even painted any for last year's Artfest. Welcome back, my sweet little ladies.

#39

2011-05-21T20:49:00.000-07:00

"THE IRIS BED, AFTER VAN GOGH"

8"X8"

#39

I've had a resource photo of this beautiful Van Gogh painting laying around forever and I just knew I had to try to paint it for the 150 Challenge. I think it turned out pretty well. The first thing I realized when I tried to paint my first impression of it is that Van Gogh spent a lot of time painstakingly mixing colors and applying them 'just so', even though it looks like he just haphazardly laid on brushstrokes. A genius.

#40

2011-05-17T18:37:00.000-07:00

"FOREST FLOOR"

10"X8"

#40

A sunny day with just a few clouds -taken a few years ago up in Taos. I just put the photo down after the initial block in and played with it the whole time.

#41

2011-05-17T18:33:00.001-07:00

"VALDEZ AUTUMN"

8"X10"

#41

This was from an image taken last fall during our family's annual hike.

I always end up spending the day driving all over Taos, taking photos and painting.

This is in the valley of Valdez, the little village you see as you descend down and then back up towards the ski valley. The colors were unbelievable and I can't do them justice, but I tried.

#42

2011-05-17T18:23:00.000-07:00

"RED CHILE, VELARDE"

8"X10"

#42

True story - last year we took a little trip up to Taos. We stopped by this wonderful fruit and veggie stand in Velarde and ended up talking to the couple who lived on the property behind and ran the stand. We bought homegrown dried apricots, pears, apples, fresh homemade honey, and probably a few other things I can't remember.

Anyway, we stayed a couple of days in Taos and came back by the fruit stand. As we pulled up, we couldn't even see the stand for all of the red chile ristras. They were everywhere. I snapped a bunch of photos and this is the painting from one of them. I can imagine being back there right and smelling all of that fresh chile. I think my son ended up buying a gift basket of pistachios roasted with red and green child. Yum.

#43

2011-05-17T08:21:00.000-07:00

"AUTUMN FLORAL"

8"X8"

#43

I think one of my new favorite things is painting vases of flowers. Especially with thick paint. Just a quick loose composition and lots of imaginative bushwork - cutting in between flowers, laying on thick highlights. Juicy!

#44

2011-05-17T08:18:00.000-07:00

"THE PATH"

8"X8"

#44

While I'm looking at thei typical New Mexico sunset, I realize that I need to paint the foreground just a little darker. I normally don't mess with any of the paintings and do them alla prima, or all in one sitting, but this just needs a tweak.

#45

2011-05-17T08:16:00.000-07:00

"LITTLE ADOBE"

8"X8"

#45

I have painted this scene once or twice before and my favorite part is getting the shadows of the mountains to look like I want them to. I'm still working on it!

#46

2011-05-17T08:12:00.000-07:00

"WINTER DAY IN TRUCHAS"

8"X8"

#46

I remember this day, it was a few months ago and we had planned to go to Chimayo for a paint out. It ended up being really cold, so we just decided to go exploring. We ran across this lovely little dirt road near Truchas, with all of these little old houses and a stream running right beside the road. This is one of those houses and that is the stream on the left.

#47

2011-05-17T08:08:00.001-07:00

"CLOUDS AND ASPENS"

8"X8"

#47

Now that I am seeing this painting on my blog, it looks like a big storm is rolling in over the mountains. The greys in the clouds were wonderful to mix; titanium white with three different blues ultramarine, prussian, and cerulean), cadmium orange, cadmium red light, even a little dioxazine purple.

#48

2011-05-17T08:04:00.000-07:00

"AUTUMN IN SECO"

8"X8"

#48

The lovely old adobe church in Arroyo Seco, NM. It always looks nice, but especially in the fall, when all of the colors are at their peak.

#49

2011-05-13T11:39:00.001-07:00

"HEAVEN'S MEADOW"

8"X10"

#49

Yay, I am in the 40s now! I am starting to get sad. I love this painting, the jumble of colors, the happiness of it.

I sat down this morning and chose every single image for every canvas I have left. There are over 50 and I only need 48, but 5 of them are larger; two 11x14s, one 12x16, and two 16x20s. Those will also be $150. A steal for sure.

I still have images I want to paint that I won't get to, but I will save those for the next show.

#50

2011-05-13T11:37:00.000-07:00

"TAOS TREELINE"

8"X8"

#50

There are so many colors in a Taos fall landscape that they just don't look real to me sometimes. This is one of those times.

#51

2011-05-13T11:35:00.000-07:00

"CHIMAYO FALL"

8"X10"

#51

Hmm, I like this okay, but I think I could've done better. I have another version to paint later and also one with just the spires and crosses with a blue blue sky and a moon.

#52

2011-05-13T11:32:00.000-07:00

"TRUCHAS TRIO"

8"X10"

#52

From a wonderful day trip to Chimayo that ended up in Truchas. These little old houses wereperched up on a hill.

#53

2011-05-13T11:31:00.000-07:00

"SPRING FLOWERS"

8"X8"

#53

#54

2011-05-13T11:30:00.000-07:00

"GATE AT CERRILLOS"

10"X8"

#54

#55

2011-05-13T11:29:00.000-07:00

"BLUE SKIES"

8"X10"

#55

#56

2011-05-13T11:28:00.001-07:00

"FALL AT THE ABIQUIU INN"

8"X10"

#56

#57

2011-05-11T08:55:00.000-07:00

"ALAMEDA AT DUSK"

8"X10"

#57

This is so close to my house, I could almost walk there. A lot of nice paths for walking biking, blading, etc. Some people ride horses there too. It gets the best of the afternoon sunsets, especially if you're standing on the old Alameda Bridge.

#58

2011-05-11T08:53:00.001-07:00

"THE GORGE WITH SUNFLOWERS1"

8"X10"

#58

My favorite viewing spot coming into Taos. Taken in late Autumn when the sunflowers are at their absolute peak. A lovely view.

#59

2011-05-10T18:18:00.000-07:00

"LAS LUNAS AUTUMN"

10"X8"

#59

Wow, I'm FINALLY in the 50's! I have almost every painting planned out that I have left, so I'm excited. Every day is exciting now for sure. I have two more that I haven't photographed yet.

This painting is taken from a photo at Nana's house in Los Lunas one Thanksgiving. I love all of the fall colors throughout the trees and fields.

#60

2011-05-10T18:15:00.000-07:00

"SUMMER IN SECO"

10"X8"

#60

My favorite photo of hollyhocks. I don't think I'll ever get tired of painting this scene. It always different but it always says, "NEW MEXICO!"

#61

2011-05-05T16:56:00.000-07:00

"PEACE AT ALGODONES PLATEAU"

8"X10"

#61

Okay, I have a new favorite. I really really like this one. It is soft and gentle, and sort of otherworldly. Hmm, can I hide this one at the show??

#62

2011-05-05T16:53:00.001-07:00

"EL SALTO FALL"

10"X8"

#62

This makes me think of the yearly family hike on October (which I never go one because of my knees and because everyone who does it swears they will NEVER do it again. Yet, they always do! The colors in Taos last fall were unbelievable. I haven't painted many of my photos from there because they just don't look real. Soon.

#63

2011-05-05T16:50:00.000-07:00

"LOS POBLANOS MORNING"

8"X10"

#63

Okay, I really don't even know if Los Poblanos has a rooster. I know theyhave peacicks, isn't thatjust about the same thing? Seriously, Los Poblanos is one of my favorite places and I like roosters but not enough to get close to them, so this is part reality, part fantasy.

#64

2011-05-05T16:46:00.000-07:00

"BLUE WINDOW"

10"X8"

#64

Don't you just love old blue windows? And I especially like turquoise and old weathered light green that looks whitewashed. I sometimes wish I was a realism painter and could make things look just like photographs. But then, I think Nah, takes all the fun out of it.

#65

2011-05-05T16:42:00.000-07:00

"THE ROSE GARDEN"

8"X10"

#65

I am into gardens. My neighbor has the most beautiful backyard garden every year. He has roses everywhere, pink, purple, and white larkspur everywhere, and it just looks like a huge wonderland. He also has vegetable gardens, and probably 20 different fruit trees. He just had hip replacement surgery, so this is a tribute to his garden.

#66

2011-05-02T21:46:00.000-07:00

"FIELD OF POPPIES"

8"X10"

#66

Wow, it's already 11am here, time to go to bed. Tomorrow I will be working on a commission all day, plus a large 30x40 canvas for the Art Has Heart Foundation's "LEGACY" fundraiser - one of my events of the year. It's this weekend, I guess I better get moving, huh? To read about the funraiser, click here: http://legacyartabq.org.

#67

2011-05-02T21:40:00.000-07:00

"JEMEZ DAY"

8"X10"

#67

My painting from my day trip to Jemez. I like it, but it really isn't what I wanted to paint. The trees were definitely a "spring green" color, this looks more autumn to me. I shot about 40 photos of this scene, so you will see it again. It's hard, this plein air painting thing. I had to lug all of my painting gear to the spot, set everything up, then while I was preparing my canvas, my glob of ultramarine blue slid off the palette and onto the ground. Plus I had to deal with the sun and a few bugs flying around. But we did have a wonderful picnic and I'm definitely going to do it again.

#68

2011-05-02T19:55:00.000-07:00

"OLD ROSES"

8"X10"

#68

Still playing with the theme of roses. I'm going to try a bouquet that looks like it's sitting against old patterned wallpaper. I like the way these turned out.

#69

2011-05-02T19:53:00.000-07:00

"BLANKETED HILL"

8"X10"

#69

Well, here I am into the 60's - pretty soon I will be at #1 and ready to head out to the show.

This is a replica of one of the very first paintings I ever did for Weems Gallery, back in 2002. Oil gives it a totally different feel.

#70

2011-05-02T19:50:00.000-07:00

"SPRING MEADOW"

8"X10"

#70

Wow, I'm about to get into the 60's. I can't believe the 150 Challenge show is this close. You should see the painting in person....much richer. I loved putting in all of those little notes of color.

#71

2011-05-02T19:48:00.000-07:00

"ONE PURPLE"

10"X8"

#71

This is one of my favorites. That one purple flower against the moutains really catches my eye. And the poppies make me feel like I'm on that hill.

#72

2011-05-02T19:45:00.000-07:00

"THE GATE, GUADALUPE TRAIL"

10"X8"

#72

Every day I drive down this street by my house. One of the neighbors has a beautiful weathered steel or metal gate. I don'tknow if it's old or just made to look that way. These are wild native sunflowers that grow in front of it every year. They probably reseed.

#73

2011-05-02T19:43:00.001-07:00

"LAVENDER FIELDS"

10"X8"

#73

I forgot how much I liked painting these unique fields of lavender. I want to buy some and grow a meadow of it myself. It was nice to just let the strokes flow to create a feel of grass or underbrush.

#74

2011-05-02T19:40:00.000-07:00

"SUNS IN THE CANYON"

10"X8"

#74

A smaller take on my poster for Weems Artfest. This painting is much more a "first impression" than a thought out work. I love the quickness of the brushstrokes and the painting without really thinking about it - just go!

#75

2011-05-02T19:37:00.000-07:00

"MESA CLOUDS"

10"X8"

#75

LOVE playing with the clouds, there's a never-ending concersation going on between the sky, the clouds and the ground. It's so fun to play with those brushstrokes.

#76

2011-05-02T19:34:00.000-07:00

"PURPLE IRIS"

10"X8"

#76

This was my first attempt at this photo and I can tell you right now, that I need to add some shadows to the left hand side and maybe some deeper magenta in there somewhere. If I play with it, I will post it again on my regular blog.

#77

2011-04-27T20:22:00.000-07:00

"EVENING LIGHT"

8"X8"

#77

Um, I think this is a nice way to end my day. I painted the sunset just how I like it, lots of drama up in the clouds, and sweet and simple at the horizon line. I would like to be laying under that tree right now!

#78

2011-04-27T20:19:00.000-07:00

"TAOS NEAR THE PUEBLO"

8"X8"

#78

A nice fall scene in one of my favorite places in the world, Taos, New Mexico. This is an autumn pasture with the Taos Mountains as a backdrop. It almost looks like the paint was laid on with a knife. Makes me want to take a day trip...

#79

2011-04-27T20:17:00.000-07:00

"POPPY FIELD"

8"X8"

#79

The last painting of this particular field was a long vertical, maybe 12"x24" - I'm happy with this one, I think I conveyed the depth of field I envisioned.

#80

2011-04-27T20:15:00.000-07:00

"SEPTEMBER RAIN"

8"X8"

#80

This painting was drawn from a photo capturing a rainstorm between Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

#81

2011-04-27T20:12:00.000-07:00

"VINTAGE ROSES"

8"X8"

#81

I have to say, this is my favorite so far this week. My camera doesn't go it justice - it's just peaceful and serene and very Victorian. Love it.

#82

2011-04-27T20:08:00.000-07:00

"SPRING MENAGERIE"

8"X8"

#82

A loveable jumble of spring flowers - I didn't even sketch, just threw the paint on without thinking about the subject matter and stopped when it looked like it was finished.

#83

2011-04-26T21:05:00.000-07:00

"GRASSLANDS"

8"X8"

#83

I played with this - it was fun. Especially the sky. Lots of pushing and pulling paint. I don't know if it looks like New Mexico, but it's a composite of two photos I took earlier this year.

#84

2011-04-26T21:01:00.000-07:00

"JEMEZ ASPENS"

8"X10"

#84

Okay, looking at this on the ocmputer, I can see there's something I need to fix. The red hills on the left side are too straight coming down. I need to mix up some more of the mountaintop color (the ochre) and cut it into the mountain to give it more depth. I won't post it again, you'll just have to come to the show to see the changes I made!

#85

2011-04-26T20:54:00.001-07:00

"THE HOUSE"

8"X8"

#85

I have painted this house twice. It is one of my favorite places and I can see it during all of the seasons. If you live here, when you pass over the Paseo bridge, right before you get to Coors, there's a very large field off to your left. This little house sits in the background, It is so nondescript that you can almost overlook it. But I never do. Right now all of the trees are glorious green, as are the fields. I'm dying for a photo, but I have to have someone drive me, otherwise I will stop traffic with my slowness. Hope you enjoy.

#86

2011-04-26T09:29:00.000-07:00

"VINTAGE"

10"X8"

#86

Wow, it's nice to be in the 80's now. I am choreographing the last leg of my paintings - I have so many I still want to paint: People (lavender fields, grower's market, State Fair), Animals (buffalo, chickens, horses, sheep, birds), more landscapes, and maybe a couple of Nudes.

This painting reminds me of my grandmother's flowers, even though these are against an adobe wall and hers were probably against clap board or wood. The feeling is the same for me.

#87

2011-04-26T09:27:00.001-07:00

"THE HILLSIDE"

8"X10"

#87

This wildflower meadow is down in a hidden canyon and all of the flowers are reaching for the sun. What kind of flowers? Hmm, poppies or cosmos, maybe?

#88

2011-04-26T09:24:00.000-07:00

"ANTIQUE STORE HOLLYHOCKS"

10"X8"

#88

Okay, in the original painting, the blackground was black. For me, it just didn't work. So I improvised and added the turquoise to complement the orange in the hollyhock on the right.

#89

2011-04-26T09:16:00.000-07:00

"BERNALILLO ACEQUIA"

8"X8"

#89

One of those beautiful irrigation ditches in Bernalillo that are so beautiful in the fall. The sky was what drew my attention to the scene, though. It was full of purples and a little more blue than what I put in. I didn't want the blue of the sky to compete with the blue of the irrigation water.

#90

2011-04-26T09:13:00.000-07:00

"SOFT"

10"X8"

#90

Hmm, I'm not sure if this one is finished or not. I keep wanting to do soemthing to the big flower; more shadows, more chiseled, more highlights, something. I'm going to leave it for a few days and take another look before I commit this one to its spot in the Challenge.

#91

2011-04-26T09:10:00.000-07:00

"AGAINST THE RED"

8"X10"

#91

I loved painting these - I blocked everything in and used a palette knife on the sunflowers. It will probably take them forever to dry. I like the way the orange-red background plays against the green of the sunflower stems.

#92

2011-04-26T09:06:00.000-07:00

"TRIO III"

8"X8"

#92

Three floating poppies on am aqua background. I have not been able to mix the color of aqua that I want, but I will keep trying!

#93

2011-04-23T22:08:00.000-07:00

"THE GOLDEN TREES"

8"X10"

#93

I am almost in the 80's - yay. I am always excited to get closer to the end, but sad too, that it will soon be over. But I do have 92 more to do, so I guess I can't be sad yet!

This is a set of autumn trees and looking at it now, I can see the color spot of sky in the dark green tree needs to also have a spot of purple showing the mountain. I also need a highlight on the greenery on the far left. Sometimes you can't see the forest for the trees. Hmm....

#94

2011-04-23T22:05:00.000-07:00

"NEAR JEMEZ"

10"X8"

#94

A day trip on a fantastic day with blue blue sky and clouds. I dislike going on paint outs when there are no clouds. Clouds make everything so much more interesting.

#95

2011-04-23T22:02:00.001-07:00

"THE HARVEST, CORRALES"

10"X8"

#95

One of my all time favorite photos. I took this when a storm was coming and it looked like one of those beautiful paintings from artists of yesteryear. I think I did a pretty good job. If no one buys this, it's mine! Just kidding...

#96

2011-04-23T21:59:00.001-07:00

"SOFT FOCUS"

8"X10"

#96

This is a very romantic looking painting. Like a beautiful Encligh country garden. I love the soct focus effect of blending the colors together on canvas.

#97

2011-04-23T21:55:00.000-07:00

"TOWARDS SANTA FE"

8"X10"

#97

This is a view from Elena Gallegos - a nice paint out evening a few months ago. This is the side of the Sandias looking north. I still am not crazy about the way the paintings are photographing for the blog. I haven't hit on the right place to take them to get the best effect and color saturation and I don't like to play with them too much in the computer. So, just know they look nicer in person.

#98

2011-04-22T20:39:00.000-07:00

"TAOS PUEBLO"

10"X8"

#98

One day when I was up in Taos by myself, I decided to check out the Taos Pueblo. I went up, paid my money to take photos and started walking. The pueblo was so beautiful. What I didn't know is that there is a north and a south side to the pueblo and both sides are separated by this river/stream running right through the middle. This is the source of all the water for the pueblo. I must've taken over a hundred photos but I'm intimidated to tackle the pueblo itself. It's just magnificent.

#99

2011-04-22T20:30:00.001-07:00

"SPLENDID"

8"X8"

#99

Yay, I'm out of the 100's!!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this painting. Just bold and free, you can feel the texture of the paint. This makes it all worthwhile for me.

#100

2011-04-22T20:28:00.000-07:00

"THE BLUE VASE"

8"X8"

#100

This was just fun. I had no photo or plan, just a blue vase holding a spring bouquet. I think it works.