HOKUSAI........

Taos Art Supply posted this wonderful quote from Hokusai - the greatest Japanese printmaker. Gives me the impetus to continue and to hope I can have the experience that "every dot, every dash - will live"! What a great thought to prepare for a new year of painting.....

I have drawn things since I was six. All that I made before the age of sixty-five is not worth counting. At seventy-three I began to understand the true construction of animals, plants, trees, birds, fishes, and insects. At ninety I will enter into the secret of things. At a hundred and ten, everything--every dot, every dash--will live”
― Hokusai Katsushika

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM TAOS!

WINTER GIFTS......

To Art Friends Everywhere!  Those of you who have been with me a long time know I send out the same holiday greeting every year.  The original of this painting was "adopted" by some very special art collectors years ago and still resides in a lovely home here in Taos.  The street in this painting is the main street in Truchas -- I walked to the post office from my little adobe house every day and still keep the memories of that special time very close.  The woman is the memory I've kept of my little Polish grandmother -- she carried a shopping bag with her everywhere -- those were her "gifts" her "surprises".  The words of Fra Giovanni never fail to uplift - especially at this time of the year.  From my heart I wish you all the best of this holiday season -- Hug someone special today!  Sincere best wishes, Donna

"There  is nothing I can give you which you have not;
But there is much, very much that while I cannot give it,
 you can take.

No heaven can come to us unless our hearts
find rest in today.  TAKE HEAVEN.
No peace lies in the future which is not hidden
in this present moment.  TAKE PEACE.

The gloom of the world is but a shadow.
Behind it, yet within reach is joy.
There is a radiance and glory in the darkness, could we but see,
and to see we have only to look.  I BESEECH YOU TO LOOK.

Life is so generous a giver, but we, judging its gifts by
their covering, cast them away as ugly, or heavy or hard.
Remove the covering, and you will find beneath it
a living splendor, woven of love, by wisdom with power.

Welcome it, grasp it, and you touch the angel's hand that
brings it to you.  Everything we call a trial, a sorrow, or
a duty, believe me that angel's hand is there; the gift is there,
and the wonder of an overshadowing presence.
Our joys, too, be not content with them as joys.
They, too, conceal diviner gifts.

And so, at this time, I greet you.
Not quite as the world sends greetings, but with
profound esteem and with the prayer that for you now and
forever, the day breaks, and the shadows flee away."

Fra Giovanni, 1513 AD
 

GIVING THANKS!!

OUR DAILY BREAD - Taos Pueblo

"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us." Albert Schweitzer 

LLANO SAN JUAN IN AUTUMN - NEW 16"x20" Work in Progress (Underpainting)

LLANO SAN JUAN IN AUTUMN - 16"x20" Work in progress, the Underpainting.  Colors mixed with Grumbacher Underpainting White and turp. Color notes: Sky & Shadows-Indanthrone Purple, Cerulean Blue and Cobalt Blue.  Fields:  Yellow Ochre.  Trees: Outlined in Prussian Blue.  Chrome Oxide Green Opaque and Ochre.

TAKING THE SUN, 11"x14" Original Oil, Framed

TAKING THE SUN (LAS TRAMPAS, NEW MEXICO), 11"x14" Original Oil on Linen, Framed - Now available at my ONLINE GALLERY/STORE.

RODARTE (NEW MEXICO), Archival Giclee

RODARTE (NEW MEXICO) - Archival Giclee now available at my Online Gallery/Store. 

Went past this spot on a field trip last month and it has all changed! The original of this painting was completed quite some time ago -- what I know about the High Road after living and painting here for 45 years, sooner or later everything changes.

CAPILLA DE PLACITAS, Archival Giclee

CAPILLA DE PLACITAS, Large Archival Giclee Print (also available in smaller size) now available at my ONLINE GALLERY/STORE.

REMEMBRANCE......

Remembering: Many years ago my friend Susie Romero, daughter of Truchas Mayordomo Cosme Romero, took me to the loft of this old church (La Nuestra Senora del Rosario) to show me the lists of Truchas men who had served in war. It was an unforgettable homage. Today I would also like to remember my uncle Major Roy Knoll who served in Burma and Calcutta during WWII, uncle Alvin Hermesdorf who fought in the Battle of the Bulge....and all those who have served this country in uniform. Thank you.

WINTER FIELDS AT LAS TRAMPAS, Archival Giclee

WINTER FIELDS AT LAS TRAMPAS, Archival Giclee now available at my Online Gallery/Store.  From my kitchen window I can see it is snowing in the Pecos this afternoon - heavy winds and rain in Taos. This image is of the field on the left side of the highway just past the San Jose de Gracia Church as you are going toward Truchas. I've always loved this field at any time of the year, but especially in winter! Almost time to hibernate!

RIO CHIQUITO, Archival Giclee Print

RIO CHIQUITO, Archival Giclee Print now available at my Online Gallery/Store.  In the villages of northern New Mexico, after many trips to the mountains with chainsaw and pick-up truck, the fire wood is chopped and stacked -- the chilis are roasted and in the freezer....all's well with the World!

LILIAS DE TAOS, 10"x10" Original Oil, Framed

LILIAS DE TAOS, 10"x10" Original Oil on Linen, Framed in Gold with Linen Liner now available at my Online Gallery/Store.

RIO CHAMA AT ABIQUIU, 10"x10" Original Oil Painting

RIO CHAMA AT ABIQUIU, 10"x10" Original Oil Framed in Gold with Linen Liner, now available at my ONLINE GALLERY/STORE.

EARLY MOONRISE AT TRUCHAS, Archival Giclee

EARLY MOONRISE AT TRUCHAS, LARGE ARCHIVAL GICLEE now available at ONLINE GALLERY/STORE   Note: To view smaller version of this print or to view the entire gallery/store inventory, click on the small red door! ENJOY!

LAS NUBES DE TRUCHAS, Archival Giclee

LAS NUBES DE TRUCHAS, Archival Giclee Print now available at my Online Gallery/Store.

VADITO AFTERNOON, Archival Giclee

VADITO AFTERNOON, Archival Giclee now available at my Online Gallery/Store.

EARLY SNOW CLOUDS AT PICURIS PUEBLO, Archival Giclee Print (Available)

EARLY SNOW CLOUDS AT PICURIS PUEBLO, Archival Giclee Print now available at my Online Gallery/Store.

INTO THE LIGHT, Archival Giclee (Available)

INTO THE LIGHT, Archival Giclee Print now available at my Online Gallery/Store.

ESTACA IN BLOOM, 11"x14" Original Oil

ESTACA IN BLOOM, 11"X14" Original Oil, Framed in Gold with Linen Liner - Now available at my Online Gallery/Store.

AUTUMN CHAPEL, Small Archival Giclee

AUTUMN CHAPEL (ARROYO SECO, N.M.) - Archival Giclee now available at my Online Gallery/Store.

CASITAS DEL NORTE, Truchas, New Mexico - Archival Giclee

CASITAS DEL NORTE, Truchas, New Mexico  - View toward the main road from in front of the Old Church (La Nuestra Senora del Rosario) now available at my Online Gallery/Store.

EVENING PRAYER STICKS, Archival Giclee

EVENING PRAYER STICKS, Archival Giclee now available at my Online Gallery/Store!

WILD ASTERS AT PICURIS PUEBLO, Archival Giclee

WILD ASTERS AT PICURIS PUEBLO, Archival Giclee Print now available at my Online Gallery/Store.  Just coming to the end of autumn in all its glory - Aspens, Chamisa (big sneeze!), and Wild Asters! Filling up the pantry, unhooking the garden hose, putting some plastic up on some of the windows, gessoing new canvases for my winter painting -- Yep, it's that time of the year again! Call me crazy, but I am looking forward to the quiet of long winter days!

UNA SENDA DESCONOCIDO (A PATH UNKNOWN) - Large Archival Giclee

UNA SENDA DESCONOCIDO (A PATH UNKNOWN) - Large Archival Giclee now available at my Online Gallery/Store

DEEP RIVER DREAMING, Original Oil (SOLD)

DEEP RIVER DREAMING (RIO CHAMA) - Original Oil Painting, Framed in Gold with Linen Liner - SOLD

ESPIRITU BLANCO, Archival Giclee (Available)

ESPIRITU BLANCO, Archival Giclee now available at my Online Gallery/Store   The white horse, one of my frequent afternoon visitors, standing guard in front of the capilla Don Eusavio built for his wife. This original painting was completed after he died as an homage to his life.

DON GREGORIO'S MOST BEAUTIFUL FIELD - Archival Giclee (Available)

DON GREGORIO'S MOST BEAUTIFUL FIELD, Archival Giclee now available at my Online Gallery Store.  The view from the front door of my little adobe house when I lived in Truchas......A cup of coffee and this view became my daily meditation.

AFTERNOON VISITORS - Archival Giclee

AFTERNOON VISITORS (Truchas, New Mexico) - Archival Giclee   You are invited to visit my Online Gallery/Store!  HUG AN ARTIST TODAY!!

SATURDAY AFTERNOON STROLL - Archival Giclee Print

SATURDAY AFTERNOON STROLL, Archival Giclee Print (13"x19") Sheet Size - From my time in Truchas - view from in front of the Old Church, La Nuestra Senora del Rosario, toward the main road in town..... beginning to fill up my Online Gallery/store for the holidays -- You are invited to take a peek! 

A MAN IS AS RICH AS HIS WOODPILE - Archival Giclee Print

GETTING READY FOR WINTER HERE IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO!   A MAN IS AS RICH AS HIS WOODPILE - 13"x19" Archival Giclee - now available through my online gallery store - Click here to purchase.

LA NUESTRA SENORA DEL ROSARIO - Archival Giclee

Archival Giclee Print - LA NUESTRA SENORA DEL ROSARIO, Truchas New Mexico - Click here to visit my Online Gallery/Store

CAPILLA DE SANTA CRUZ, 10"x10" Original Oil

CAPILLA DE SANTA CRUZ - 10"x10" Original Oil Painting framed in Gold with Linen Liner.  Paintings and prints now available at (online gallery/store)

HIGH COUNTRY AFTERNOON-NEW 24"X30" Original Oil Painting

 

STUDIO NO. 1912 - HIGH COUNTRY AFTERNOON, 24"X30" Original Oil Painting on Belgian Linen, Framed in Gold with Linen Liner.  $2800, free shipping. Completed 9/28/12.  Available.

BLUE MOON RISING 8/31/12 - TAOS, N.M.

 

STUDIO NO. 1812 - BLUE MOON RISING 8/31/12 - 18"X18" Original Oil on linen (wrap around painting) - Available - call (575) 758-7454

SNOW IN AUGUST! - Sold

 

STUDIO NO. 1712 - WINTERMOON AT PICURIS - NEW 16"x16" (Study) Original Oil Painting on Canvas unframed (painting continues on side panels). Completed 8/21/12 -Sold

HIGH COUNTRY AFTERNOON - 24"X30" WORK IN PROGRESS

STUDIO NO. 1712 -HIGH COUNTRY AFTERNOON - NEW WORK IN PROGRESS (UNDERPAINTING) - 24"x30 Original Oil on Belgian Linen.  Color notes:  - Colors mixed with MG Fast Drying White and Turp.  Sky - Indanthrone Blue/Payne's Grey.  Yellows:  Naples Yellow, Yellow Ochre.  Trees:  Chrome Oxide Gr. Opaque, Burnt Sienna, Prussian Blue.  Road:  Yellow Ochre, Holbein Rose Grey and Burnt Sienna.  Just finished this morning.  Will let dry for about a week before going in with glazes and opaque colors.  Enjoy!

HOW I PAINT - TONED GROUND

HOW I PAINT - Primed, stretched Antwerp Belgian Linen - 36"x36", with braces.  TONED GROUND:  Gesso thinned slightly and mixed with Payne's Grey.  Two to three coats.  Wait until each coat is thoroughly dry before applying the next.  Let canvas sit for about a week before beginning.

STRETCHED CANVAS

STUDIO NEWZ:  A thing of true beauty is a perfectly stretched canvas from Artisan/Santa Fe.  Antwerp Belgian Linen on heavy-duty stretcher bars with the back braced for sturdiness.  Blank canvas - Wow!  ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE! 

RIO CHAMA AT ABIQUIU - NEW 10"x10" Original Oil Painting

STUDIO NO. 1612 - "RIO CHAMA AT ABIQUIU", NEW 10"x10" Original Oil on Belgian Linen, Framed in Gold with Linen Liner.... $750 free shipping.  Completed 8/8/12.  Available. Call (575)758-7454.

CELEBRATING 45 YEARS!  NEW 30"x60" OIL PAINTING....

STUDIO NO. 1412 - "BESIDE STILL WATERS" New 30"x60" Original Oil (wrap around painting) - Completed 7/25/12  (Available) Call (575)758-7454

Celebrating 45 years as a New Mexico artist!  Here is an excerpt from my book Taking the High Road to Taos...   My sincere thanks to each and every Art Friend for their encouragement and support throughout the years....

"My first sight after crossing the border into New Mexico in 1967 was that long, straight stretch of highway out of Tucumcari. Off in the distance and moving toward the car was a huge black storm cloud with a column of midnight blue rain pouring from it. Later I learned that the Native Americans call this phenomena "Walking Rain". I was a big city girl with three babies, six month twin girls and a two year old son, on a mattress in the back seat of the car and I was heading to the rest of my life on this alien planet called New Mexico.

Forty-four years later, I believe that the quality of my life and my work are inextricably bound to the  spirit of this place and its people. My visits to Mexico and Guatemala elicit the same excitement and curiosity.  It has always been my intention that the paintings exude the same wonderful mixture of the past and the present through color and texture.

Gratefully I have found that "unspecified area in life" where I feel safe and serene - peace. Those accidental twists and turns have brought significant changes in my life.  It is so easy to resist that "Senda Desconocido" (The Path Unknown); with just a little courage one can head the pick-up truck down another unfamiliar dirt road."  Donna Clair Taos, N.M. 9/3/11

ASPEN SHADOWS - 6"x8" Original Oil (Sold)

100 Small Paintings No. 51 - ASPEN SHADOWS -  New 6"x8" Original Oil on Italian Gessoed Panel,framed $250, Sold

 AGUA NEGRA IGLESIA CATOLICO - 6"x8" New Original Oil - Sold

100 Small Paintings No. 50 - AGUA NEGRA IGLESIA CATOLICO - New 6"x8" Original Oil on Italian Gessoed Panel, unframed.  Sold

BESIDE STILL WATERS - 30"x60" New Work in Progress, the Underpainting

COLOR NOTES:  SKY:  Thalo Blue,Thalo Green, Titanium White - touch of Ochre.  Trees:  Prussian Blue and Burnt Sienna, Chrome Oxide Green Opaque.  Water:  Sky colors and some Indanthrone Blue and Chrome Oxide Green Opaque.  Grasses:  Yellow Ochre, Aliz. Crimson, Burnt Sienna.  Stay Tuned!