Eanger Irving Couse studio in Taos

While I was in Taos in July I had several serendipitous experiences that were magical. One of them happen during an afternoon when I was wandering around Kit Carson Rd, just soaking up the atmosphere. I walked up to a house to take photos and a man said "You are welcome to join the tour." What? Well it was a private tour of the Eanger Irving Couse studio and house! They can be arranged by appointment. For the next hour Couse's granddaughter and granddaughter's husband (above)entralled us with a tour of the house and studio, mixed with stories of his life.

Everything in the house and studio is intact, just as it was when he lived and worked there. All the items he used in his paintings, all the studies, his photographs and equipment. He even had a dark room and we got to see the very early equipment he used in it. He was great friends with Joseph Sharp but Sharp's studio and artifacts (props he used in the paintings) were all dispersed and sold.

A member of the family has always lived in this house and maintained it. There is now a foundation to preserve this historic resource.

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.

Looking Down - from photo taken at Yellowstone National Park

Cottonwood Afternoon

"Cottonwood Afternoon" 8x10 oil $350 framed

Painted on location at Ghost Ranch near Abiquiu, New Mexico during the Autumn season of golden cottonwoods.

"Autumn Cottonwoods", 11x14 oil, $750 framed

The sun was low -- near evening-- in northern New Mexico; the shadows were deepening and the glow of the sun was golden.  Painted on location at Ghost Ranch.

Local Color Paint Out and Show, Raleigh, NC

On April 18, 2009, Local Color Gallery in Raleigh, NC will hold their annual Local Color Paint Out competition with a show of the paintings created that day. The photo above is of a painting I did at the event last year on Boylan Avenue. And the photo below is of me while I was painting it.

I will be painting in this event again this year. The official paint out locations have changed this year to the southern area of the neighborhood, and I'm excited to paint these historic areas of Boylan Avenue in Raleigh, NC for the first time. Let's hope for great weather like we had in 2008!

"On the Mesa" oil 11x14

Usually I experience northern New Mexico during the autumn months; for example, the painting above was painted in October at Ghost Ranch. However, this year, for the first time, the High Desert Painters will visit Taos in May during the Spring season. It will be very exciting to see the difference in the landscape, colors, and light! The rivers will be swollen and the foliage will be new and bright pastels instead of golden autumnal. I expect the color change will be a challenge for me and I will need to remember to adjust my palette accordingly.

Crested Butte, Colorado

My family and I vacationed in Crested Butte, Colorado a few weeks ago - what a gorgeous town and area to visit. The vacation was primarily for skiing but I did manage to get into town late one afternoon, specifically to take reference photographs for future paintings. The town is a historic mining town and it is very "paintable"; everywhere you look there's compositions and character.

I visited Shaun Horne's gallery named Oh-Be-Joyful Gallery. I've been following his career and it's a class act. The gallery is wonderful and his large, plein air work is very well done.

Here's a photo of us on the Crested Butte Mountain!

Winter Light

"Winter Light" oil 11x14

The combination of a late afternoon warm sunshine on a cool wintry scene in northern New Mexico allows a delicious blend of rich colors.

Taos paint out in May 2009

Even though it's only February we're beginning to plan the next High Desert Painters' plein air paint out trip. Our next paint out will be Taos, New Mexico and its environs which we will visit during the week of May 3, 2009. We should enjoy some wonderful spring color in the high desert!