High on Taos - Plein Air Painters of New Mexico annual Paint Out and Show

"St. Francis of Assis Passion" 14x11 oil $585

painted on location the morning of July 29, 2009

$100 from the sale of this painting will be donated to the St Francis of Assis parish.

Karen Halbert hard at work

St Francis of Assis Church, Rancho de Taos, NM

This week Karen Halbert and I are participating in the "High on Taos" Plein Air Painters of New Mexico Paint out and Show. Yesterday morning we got up and out very early and painted on site at the St Francis of Assis Church in Rancho de Taos, NM. We both chose to paint close to the church and had a wonderful spot to set up in the courtyard under the trees with benches to sit on.

Four and a half hours later I had one painting completed and Karen had completed two.

This morning I chose two of the four paintings I completed between Monday morning and Wednesday morning, slipped them in the frames I had shipped from NC, and delivered them to the gallery. Tomorrow night Rob, the owner of the gallery, will hang the paintings for the opening on Saturday, August 1.

This show will be judged by Ray Vinella and features works from 50 artists painted on site in and aroundTaos between July 24 and July 30. See you at the show at Wilder-Nightingale Gallery!

The Mountain

"Taos Mountain, Summer Evening", 11x14, oil on linen $585
Painted on location north of Taos, NM during the evening of July 28, 2009

Day 2 - The Rio Grande gorge

"Before the Storm" 11x14 oil $585

On the morning of my second day at the PAPNM paint out I painted the Rio Grande Gorge overlook. Painting the distance was a challenge, and the early morning shadows in the gorge were a gorgeous pink and violet.

A few hours after I left this scene and headed into Taos a huge storm moved through this area with hail and significant lightning. I was happy to enjoy the storm from the comfort of my covered courtyard.

Day 1 - Plein Air Painters of NM Paint Out

"Racing the Sun" 14x11 oil $585

Day one (for me) of the Plein Air Painters of NM Paint Out in Taos began with a very early rising and on the road to Arroyo Hondo by 7am. And the early rising was so worth it! The rolling countryside was enchanting.

Eventually, the road revealed the Rio Grande gorge.

And by 8am we were throwing up our easels to paint this scene! We painted quickly since the sun would be over the west side of the gorge wall in less than 90 minutes. By 10:30am we were back at the El Monte Sagrado resort to enjoy a late breakfast/early lunch - with a painting to show for our early adventure!

Pilar Yacht Club

There was not a yacht in sight but the idea of a yacht club in the middle of the high desert did cool us off on a warm day in May! The High Desert Painters posed for this photo after a day painting along the Rio Grande Gorge in northern New Mexico.

The High Desert Painters in Pilar, NM - l to r: Jana Van Wyk, Judy Howells, Nelson Hubley, Coni Grant, Nita Harper, Ron, and Janis Loverin.