Part of the painting process involves looking for the values, the lights and darks of each hue and how they play upon each other.  Is there a balance?  One way to do this easily is to take a photo and turn it into a black and white.  This brings out the values in tones of gray.  It helps the artist figure out where there may need to be more contrast or less so that adjustments can be made.

Another value of the paintings is the price.  These periodically need to be adjusted according to a number of criteria which may include cost of materials, time spent, and popularity of the paintings.  Prices have increased for materials in the past three years more than ever.  Shipping has increased faster than almost any other category.  The gallery that represents me, La Posada, has informed me that all of my paintings there are increasing to meet new demands.  I have adjusted my prices accordingly both there and in my studio.  

Sometimes I am overwhelmed with the abundance of this world and so grateful for the many gifts it has to offer.  This past year has been a slow reopening of social life for us.  It is still not as relaxed as it was pre COVID.  We limit our contacts and try to meet outdoors.  We choose to wear masks at most indoor events, particularly if there is a crowd.  The interaction with others is so important for our mental health.  I notice the abundance of kindness and caring.

The opening of social gatherings has helped me be more inspired to create.  Although, I go to the studio almost every day, I have been taking my time getting paintings done.  Time spent on each painting varies.  Feeling that I have more time to paint can be good or bad.  Good in that I do not feel pressured.  Bad in that I tend to overdo or redo unnecessarily.  Meeting with old friends and meeting new ones helps me get to business.

This year I am choosing not to be on the studio tour, even though the last one was tremendously successful.  The timing of it comes shortly after some major trips that we have been postponing.  One is to see our family in Oregon, the other to visit friends in California.  Getting ready for a tour would be difficult to do before or while away.  Not enough time.  Of course, if anyone is interested in seeing my work, I welcome you to contact me through this website.  I can open my studio for you at an arranged time.

Thank you to all that came to my open studio this month.  It was a steady stream of people despite that I am a little separated from the bulk of studios that were open for the Santa Fe Studio Tour this year, 2021.  Since it was the first attempt for me to be on this tour, I really did not know what to expect.  Past experiences of this kind have only been in Pacific Grove on the Monterey Peninsula, CA with a group of other artists.  It was a pleasant surprise here.  Overall a great success!

Now I am gearing up for creating more paintings and hoping to have a more steady business in this field.  Honestly, the most humbling aspect of this is figuring out how to pay quarterly estimated income taxes.  That is so varied that I fall behind.  My goal is to gain a better understanding of how this works here.  While in Pacific Grove, my husband and I had our own business that included my gallery.  Quarterly estimates were based on the whole business, rather than just my art.  It was easier.  Our accountant took care of it.

It is the countdown for the Studio Tour.  Here is a link to the virtual tour.  Would love to see you in person, if possible.  It's wonderful to have another way to participate.

Go to the Santa Fe Studio Tour in your App Store.  Download free.  

Browse SFST Artists.  Studio 39 is mine.

Or, visit the SFST Schedule.

Click on SFST VIRTUAL Preview Gallery. 

When you find a painting you like, click on the name plate underneath it.

It's a fun way to see the artists and listen to their videos.

Although it is not technically the end of summer, school has started for many.  We are getting down to more serious endeavors.  For me it is the upcoming Santa Fe Studio Tour.  

There always seems to be one more thing to be done before I am ready.  Honestly, anytime someone wants to visit my studio arrangements can be made by texting me or calling 1-831-915-6640 and leaving a message.  I will get back to you in a timely manner.  

The Tour is a wonderful time to visit many of our local artists in their galleries and studios.  An opening reception will be held October 8th from 5-8pm at the Women's Club Santa Fe, 1616 Old Pecos Trail 87505.  There is also a virtual tour this year.  I am Artist #39.

The main paintings I am featuring are 3'x4' landscapes in oils.  There are many other paintings in my studio in various sizes from 4"x4" to the larger sizes in oils, watercolors, and acrylics.  

Please come by and visit me whether or not you are interested in purchasing.  Would love to meet you.  

Don't forget your mask.  

This will be my first year joining the Santa Fe Studio Tours, October 8, 9, 10 and 16, 17.  In between painting, I am busy putting backings onto my larger works and rearranging my studio so that my oils are more prominent.  Watercolors and acrylics have come down off the walls.  I have to decide if I should set up access to them in another way. 

Though it may seem a bit early for setting up the presentation of my work, the time will go by so quickly with the easing of COVID restrictions that we have endured during the past eighteen months or so.  Our social life has been quickly expanded trying to catch up with our friends.  Gatherings are mostly outside still.  Those that are inside have a limited number of people attending.

We are crossing our fingers that a surge in COVID cases in the fall does not cause undo stress on our abilities to show our work within our studios, but we will accommodate the needs accordingly.  It's too early to know.

Rearranging my studio is a wonderful way to go through my present inventory and clean out unnecessary items.  Otherwise, I would devote my time to creating paintings.  Hope you will be able to visit during that time.  If not in person, then virtually.

It seems that I am never at a loss for subjects to paint, yet I have several canvases/boards ready to go.  I like to work in series.  So, the dilemma is which one.  I want to do a water series, for instance, because "el agua es vida" (water is life).  More precious now than ever.  And, I have in mind a series of certain areas of our environment, which is also dear to my heart.  Perhaps I will incorporate the two.  

I almost always start with a red underpainting.  This helps in several ways.  First, there isn't a blank canvas to start the composition.  Second, it provides a middle value that keeps the lights and darks in check.  Third, there is a lot of pink in the light of the morning and evening and red in the soil.  Even if there are other predominant colors, the underneath color peeks through.

This morning is lighter and slightly warmer than it has been for a couple of months.  Early still for buds to appear on the trees and shrubs.  It won't be long before springs appears.  Here in the mountains it can still freeze until early May.  Sometimes this kills off the eager beginnings of fruits and flowers.  It pays to be patient.

Meantime, we continue our pursuits that keep us occupied in the winter months.  We walk mid-afternoon when it is a bit warmer, when the sun might be out around the clouds and the wind may have quieted a bit.  The chill can still bite.  We dress with scarves, hats, double or triple layers.  Invigorating.  Robert will sometimes accompany me with his guitar and singing while I paint in the studio.  We read and try to stay in touch on the phone or online with our friends and family.  We look forward to days when the air is warm enough to visit with others outside.

To be sure I have been caught up in all the recent headlines of COVID-19 and the presidential election process.  My escape is painting and the creative process.  Moving forward hoping for the best for all of us is my recourse, as it is probably with you.

Right now I am in the process of resizing some of my paintings for this website.  So, keep posted for both older watercolors that have not been shown and my newer oils.  

Happy New Year!

This year has been hard on all of us.  We, as many of you, have been isolated in our homes except for trips to the store for groceries or other essential items.  Yet, many of us have branched out to a wider circle of connections through online media platforms.  Vaccines are here with a waiting period depending on one's need in public service.  We will still have to wear masks until all is deemed safe.  There are many predictions of when that might be.  The less anxious we are, the sooner it will be for all of us physically and psychologically.

Meantime, I am navigating my way through the online world of selling art.  It was so much easier and straightforward having my own gallery and control.  That has been awhile.  Aside from a few shows here and there since 2013, I have stepped back from the public scene for my art.  Now, with the inability to step out with my art as readily as we could before COVID-19, it is more imperative to me to bring my art to you in this manner.  Whether or not you are interested in buying, I enjoy being able to share a bit of myself.

Here's hoping for a new year full of light!  Take care and be safe.