Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Remembering how to paint!

I haven't painted since September, so as soon as I could keep my eyes open I laid out a painting and below is the finished result.    I have a couple of commissions to do before I return to the UK and really needed to get back into it quickly!

It felt so good to be painting again and I feel that I benefit hugely from taking a break.  I also find that painting something familiar is a good plan when starting out after a hiatus from painting and this scene is fondly remembered as Barry and I lived in Abiquiu for seven years.  We were lucky enough to live next door to Rick and Lori Bock, whose property goes down to the Rio Chama and I would spend many happy times wandering down to the river, lying on their benches and watching the bald eagles and ospreys as they flew higher and higher into the sky.  On the rare occasion that we had a rising mist in the bosque, I was out there with my camera, for as many of you know, I love to paint mist!
Autumn Mist, Abiquiu,  12 x 12,  Oil/linen

I hope you had a lovely Christmas and I wish you all a very wonderful 2012 with lots of sales for you painters!

I have added a different pdf link for the Goya article as it was such a huge file and was taking too long to download for some. 

Happy New Year!

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Back in Santa Fe

I have been back in Santa Fe now for just over a week.  It's good to be back of course and now jet lag has gone, I can enjoy being here.  I did manage to stay awake long enough to go etching last Thursday though.  I couldn't possibly miss that!  Thursdays with the etching group was one of the things I missed the most about not being in Santa Fe (besides my husband of course!).  Not only do we get to use the facilities and materials for $10 per session, we also get dinner cooked by Eric's fair hands!

Just a few of the Santa Fe etchers
The Santa Fe Etching Club first began meeting in 1980, in Eli Levin's studio.   Formed by Levin and artist Sarah McCarty, with the patronage of print collector Dr. Robert Bell, the club promotes traditional intaglio printmaking.   Eric Thomson, the Director of Argos Gallery which exhibits many of the prints created at the club, also organises the wonderful exhibitions of prints from the amazing personal collection of Dr. Bell.  This last month we have been lucky enough to be surrounded by some of Goya's incredible prints and if you are in Santa Fe it is well worth a visit.  There is something quite special about creating your own prints at a table with a Goya by your side.   Here is a pdf for you download of an article on the Goya exhibit.