SOLD - Ghost Ranch Adobe (painted on location)

Ghost Ranch Adobe, 11x14, oil on panel, 

This painting is in the collection of Coni Grant.  Congratulations, Coni, enjoy!  jana
janavanwyk.blogspot.com

Sold - Taos Adobe, oil on canvas

Toas Adobe, oil on canvas, plein air, Taos New Mexico

This painting is now in the Collection of Nelson Hubley.  Thanks for buying original art!   jana van wyk

janavanwyk.blogspot.com

On location in Taos, NM

Taos Morada in Spring 12x16   oil

I painted this scene on location in May of 2011 on a beautiful Spring morning.

Mariposa Ranch   12x16   oil

This is the Mariposa Ranch north of Taos, a beautiful vista of ranch land.  Painted in the Fall of 2010.

Pink Barn    12x16     oil

This pink barn is also on the Mariposa Ranch; this painting was done on location in the Spring of 2011.

Painting on location in Pilar, New Mexico

Painting on location in Pilar, New Mexico

View from above Pilar, New Mexico 11x14 oil plein air

Hondo Valley, NM

This painting was created on location in the Hondo valley in New Mexico. It is one of the 28 paintings on exhibit in the Cary Senior Center, Cary, NC until January 30, 2011. The exhibit named "A Passion for the Western Landscape" consists of paintings based on locations in New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Arizona.

From Study to Large Painting

My goal this Autumn is to take 4 of my on-location studies and use them as inspiration for large paintings. I really enjoy this process, since by re-visiting the study itself I am swept away by memories of the day when I created the study. This church in Arroyo Seco, NM was painted on site during a warm, wonderful May morning when I and several of my good friends set up and spent 2 glorious hours immersed in our creative bliss. The sun was warm on our shoulders, the only sounds were the call of birds and the rustle of bright green foilage in the breeze.

October in Taos, NM

l to r: Judy Howells, Nelson Hubley, Coni Grant, Jana Van Wyk (me!)

A few weeks ago I snuck off for a few days to bask in the glorious Autumn weather in northern New Mexico.  I attended the opening of a show at the Millicent Rogers Museum where I had two paintings exhibited.  I also spent special time with friends from California, Nova Scotia, and Colorado (see above).

Jana Van Wyk (me) standing beside my two paintings in the Millicent Rogers Museum, Taos, NM in the show "A Spirit of Place", Plein Air Painters of New Mexico

Judy Howells painting just outside our rental house, north of Taos near Arroyo Seco, NM

Bill Gallen doing a demonstration just outside the Millicent Rogers Museum, Taos, NM

On the Mesa

12" x 16", oil, On the Mesa

The painting above was done on location in Ghost Ranch, NM in October 2009. We had a marvelous view from the mesa above the main Ghost Ranch valley. There was almost a 360 degree view and painters spread out and set up looking in every available direction. The painting panel was cracked when it was shipped home so I was glad to be able to use it as a study.

16" x 20", oil, On the Mesa II

This is the larger work I created yesterday based on the study done en plein air in October 09. I love to work on large sized canvases so creating a larger work is very satisfying. As I re-interpreted the original study I was able to again experience the view, mood, emotion, and even the smells associated with that fine October day in northern New Mexico.

Along the Chama River

In Oct 2009 the High Desert Painters spent a week in northern New Mexico painting on location. Several of us set up along the banks of the river. The sun was beginning to set and the light and long shadows created a peaceful and colorful scene.

Earlier on that day, Janis Loverin and I had set up our easels (above) with a view of the cliffs and the Chama river.

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 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!

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.

Along Boylan Avenue

Along Boyland Avenue 16x20 oil

This painting is from an April 2008 plein air event and Gallery Show that I participated in called Local Color Paint Out. This coming Saturday Sept 27 '08 there is another paint out event here in Cary, NC called Cary Gallery of Artists Paint Out. I'll be out there painting somewhere in our Cary downtown area! Look for me!

Along Lake Michigan Shore, the paintings

This is the view to the south along Lake Michigan; I was about 3/4th of a mile from the Holland State Park beach and Big Red lighthouse. And this is the painting I did, using a palette knife and limited palette (warm/cool of each primary plus white).

"Big Red" 8x10 oil

The sunsets along Lake Michigan are magical and here's one I managed to paint. First the photo, looking north:

and here's the painting:

"August Sunset on Lake Michigan" 8x10 oil

And I did another quick painting looking south - I love how this one turned out:

"Lake Michigan Shore" 8x10 oil

Along Lake Michigan Shore

I spent a week along the Lake Michigan shore the second week of August 2008. We were blessed with wonderful weather and exciting variations in wind, waves, and sunsets. One evening I was able to time my arrival at the beach about 25 minutes before sunset, and I hurried down the stairs and set up my easel. Racing against the clock I spent a thrilling 40 minutes or so capturing all I saw, felt and touched with my eyes and barefeet. The final painting ended up capturing the light about 10 minutes before the actual setting of the sun. What a joy it was to have that experience and finish a satisfying painting!

I'll post the photo of the painting itself in a few days. Stay tuned.