"AFTERNOON SUN" - UNDERPAINTING

Studio No. 4307 - "AFTERNOON SUN" (Underpainting)
14"x11" Original Oil on Cold-pressed Italian Gessoboard
To be framed in Gold with Linen Liner

Here is a quick oil sketch -- MG White mixed with basic oil colors - Cadmium Yellows, Thalo Blue, Prussian Blue and a little Mars Black in the dish at the base of the flowers.

DIAS DE ORO -- GLAZES II

WORK IN PROGRESS - LOS DIAS DE ORO
(GLAZES II) - 36"x48" Original Oil on Fine Belgian Linen

In my last post to this web log, I demonstrated the difference between the underpainting and the beginning of the glazing process -- laying in the dark, transparent colors. This week I covered the entire canvas with glazes -- even thinning opaque paints to a semi-transparent consistency.

The two autumn trees: I thinned Yellow Ochre, Cadmium Yellow and Cadmium Red and brushed those colors over the shape of the trees to "tone" the ground. Then I began laying in the darker colors (Alizarin Crimson, Diox. Purple, C. Ox. Green Opaque) to create volume and shadows. I used Prussian Blue, Burnt Sienna and Chrome Oxide Green Opaque in the pinon trees at the top of the painting. The pastureland in the foreground and middle ground is a combination of all these colors to varying degrees of light and dark. I will let these colors set up for a few days before working into them again, otherwise the turpentine in my painting medium will mix with the heavier, opaque paints and create "mud".

If you have any questions regarding this new painting, just give me a call at (505) 758-7454.

WORK IN PROGRESS - DIAS DE ORO (GLAZES)

WORK IN PROGRESS - DIAS DE ORO - THE GLAZES

Today I worked some glazes into the right side of the painting -- these transparent colors - Burnt sienna, alizarin crimson, and yellow ochre (thinned to a transparency with the painting medium) in the autumn trees. The pinons at the top of the canvas: Prussian Blue and Burnt Sienna for the darkest values, with some chrome Oxide Green Opaque in the lighter areas.

I am adding this post today to focus on the contrast between the glazes on the right and the underpainting on the left side of the painting -- these dark colors not only help to emphasize the light of the final opaque colors, but they add a richness to all the colors. If you really look at Renaissance paintings -- those dark colors are glazes -- observe how they make the lights appear lighter!

If you have any questions or comments regarding this painting, please call me at (505)758-7454.

WORK IN PROGRESS - "LOS DIAS DE ORO" (DAYS OF GOLD)

WORK IN PROGRESS - "LOS DIAS DE ORO"

36"X48" - Original Oil on Fine Belgian Linen
To be framed in Gold with Linen Liner

My colors in this underpainting are laid in loosely and mixed with MG Underpainting White and Turpentine using a variety of bristle brushes. Colors in the trees: Cadmium Yellow, Cadmium Orange, Cadmium Red, Yellow Ochre, Burnt Sienna, Chrome Oxide Green Opaque. Shadows: Combination of Prussian Blue, Burnt Sienna, Diox. Purple and Chrome Oxide Green Opaque. This underpainting will need to dry completely (about a week) before I can work into the colors again with the glazes (darks). In the meantime I will complete "POPPY LOVE" and "MORNING POEM".

If you have any questions, please e.mail or call my Taos Studio at (505) 758-7454.

WORK IN PROGRESS - MORNING POEM

WORK IN PROGRESS "MORNING POEM" - PHASE II
©DonnaClair2007 - All rights of reproduction reserved.

18x18"Original Oil on Fine Artist's Canvas

Here is my second sitting with this painting - a combination of glazes and opaque colors (See Palette Set-Up). First I put in a thin wash of Payne's Grey over the top half of the painting. Sky and Snow Colors: Paynes Grey, Cerulean Blue - a little ochre -- and the best kept secret color - Holbein's Rose Grey. This color will be dominant throughout the painting. Also mixed some of these colors with Permalba White for the lightest areas. The Trees: Mars Black, Burnt Sienna, Indian Red -- Chrome Oxide Green Opaque for the smaller pinon trees.

I want this canvas to have a dreamy, just-waking-up-morning effect -- So once all the colors were all laid down, I took a large, soft watercolor brush and "blended" the whole canvas lightly.

This phase of the painting is now complete and I will let it dry for three or four days. Stay tuned to see this completed canvas.

If you have any questions regarding price and availability, please call my Taos Studio at (505)758-7454.

WORK IN PROGRESS - MORNING POEM

WORK IN PROGRESS "MORNING POEM"
(Phase One: The Underpainting)
©DonnaClair2007 - All rights reserved under Federal Copyright Law.

18"x18" Original Oil on Fine Artist's Canvas
To be framed in silver with Linen Liner

A late spring snowstorm as seen from my backyard a few weeks ago.

Turpentine washes using MG White mixed with regular paletted colors. Sky: Payne's Grey, small amounts of Cerulean Blue, some litttle Thalo Red Rose and Diox. Purple.
Same combinations for the snow colors in the bottom half of the canvas. Trees and dried grasses: Ultramarine Blue and Burnt Umber for the darkest colors. Burnt Sienna and Alizarin Crimson for the lighter grasses -- also a little ochre.

For more price and availability, please call my Taos studio at (505)758-7454.

"HIGH COUNTRY MONDAY MORNING" SOLD!

"HIGH COUNTRY MONDAY MORNING"
SOLD!
11"X14"Original Oil on Fine Artist's Canvas.
Framed in Gold with Linen Liner.
©DonnaClair2007 - All rights reserved under Federal Copyright Law.

"VADITO" - Original Oil Painting

"VADITO"

8"x10" Original Oil Painting on Belgian Linen.
Framed in gold with linen liner.
For price and availability, please call my studio at (505)758-7454.
©DonnaClair2007 -- All rights reserved under Federal Copyright Law.

"NUESTRA SENORA DE LA ASCUNCION" - SOLD!

"NUESTRA SENORA DE LA ASUNCION"

Completed this painting late last week and this morning pulled some proofs for a new Studio Edition Print.......it's a beauty!

"NUESTRA SENORA DE LA ASCUNCION" (The capilla in the small village of Placita along the High Road to Truchas") -- $100.00 -- Hand-titled, hand-signed and printed to order on fine art paper 22"x17" sheet size, enclosed in PolyFoldlock transparent sleeve and mailed flat. Free shipping and handling within Cont. U.S. Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express now available for your convenience. All sales are guaranteed.

The original painting is also available (18"x18" on fine artist's canvas, custom-framed in gold with linen liner) -- for more information, please call my Taos studio at (505) 758-7454. SOLD!

©DonnaClair2007 - All rights reserved under Federal Copyright Law.

"EVENING THUNDERSPIRITS" -SOLD!

"EVENING THUNDERSPIRITS"- SOLD!

6"x12" Original Oil Painting on Gessoboard
Custom-Framed in Gold with Linen Liner.
©DonnaClairArt2007 - All rights reserved under Federal Copyright Law.

"SANTISTEVAN LANE" - Original Oil Painting

#2607 - "SANTISTEVAN LANE"

10"x8" Original Oil Painting on Belgian Linen
Framed in Gold with Linen Liner - $1200.00
For more information, call (505)758-7454
©DonnaClair2007 - All rights reserved under Federal Copyright Law.

PUESTA DEL SOL - ORIG. OIL - SOLD

NEW! "PUESTA DEL SOL" - Completed 5/19/07
SOLD!-5/20/07

30"x60" Original Oil on Fine Belgian Linen.
Custom framed in gold with Linen Liner.
©DonnaClair2007 -- All rights reserved under Federal Copyright Law.

PUESTA DEL SOL - GLAZES

WORK IN PROGRESS "PUESTA DEL SOL" - GLAZES

30"x60" Original Oil on Fine Belgian Linen -- To be framed in gold with linen liner.

The glazes are the second phase of the painting and, in this work, they are concentrated in the bottom half of the piece. The sky has been "semi-completed" -- that light will inform the light in the rest of the painting. Sky: combination of Permalba White, Prussian Blue, Cadmium Red, Cadmium Yellow, Payne's Grey, and Thalo Rose Red in various combinations.

The lower half of the painting -- Glazes are dark transparent colors, mixed with my painting medium (see recipe on the front web log page) --- burnt sienna and prussian blue for a deep, rich green; burnt sienna, olive green and alizarin crimson for the warmer shades. The river is Prussian Blue, with some thin Chrome Oxide Green and the sky colors as the beginnings of the highlights.

This painting will be completed in about ten days. STAY TUNED!

For price and availability, please call my Taos studio at (505)758-7454.

©DonnaClair2007 - All rights reserved under Federal Copyright Law.

PUESTA DEL SOL - UNDERPAINTING

#3407 - PUESTA DEL SOL - "SUNSET" - UNDERPAINTING
30"x60" Original Oil Painting on Fine Belgian Linen

The Rio Pueblo at sunset as seen from the little bridge on Ranchitos Road.
My colors are mixed with MG Underpainting White and turpentine. At this stage of the painting I try to work fast and loose -- to put it simply, a color "cartoon" - to be redrawn and tightened up with dark, transparent colors. The darkest blues are a combination of Prussian Blue and Burnt Sienna, the lighter blue sky colors are Cobalt Blue, Paynes Grey and some Diox. Purple. The lower pink color is a combination of these colors as well as Thalo Rose Red. The foliage colors: Ochre, Chrome Oxide Green Opaque, Mars Orange, Cadmium Red, and other similar earth tones. Stay tuned to see the next phase of this work -- the glazes.

To receive e.mail photo of this completed painting, send e.mail to me at dclair@donnaclairart.com. For price and availability, please call (505)758-7454.

DOS ARBOLES DE TAOS - ORIGINAL OIL PAINTING

"DOS ARBOLES DE TAOS"
(Completed 4/18/07)
48"x36" Original Oil Painting on Fine Belgian Linen
Framed in Gold with Linen Liner
For price and availability, please call my studio at (505)758-7454.
©DonnaClair2007 - All rights reserved.

EL RITO DEL NORTE -- SOLD!

"EL RITO DEL NORTE" -Completed 3/26/07
SOLD 3/27/07

MANY DAYS AND HOURS LATER - I "scumbled" in the final colors, which means "pushing" the opaque colors into the glazes. For the greens: Mixtures of glazes and opaques - burnt sienna and Prussian blue for the darks, and mixtures of ochres and chrome oxide greens with a little white for the highlights. The highlights on the trees are a combination of cadmium yellow light and white, cadmium yellow and white and other combinations of transitional colors include yellow ochre, chrome oxide green opaque, mars orange and cadmium red. The water: burnt sienna and Prussian blue for the darks, other combinations: thalo blue, thalo green, chrome oxide green opaque and some Permalba White for the highest lights.

If you have any questions, please call (505)758-7454.

WORK IN PROGRESS - EL RITO DEL NORTE (GLAZES)

"EL RITO DEL NORTE" (PHASE II - GLAZES)

Here is the second phase of this painting-- the dark, transparent colors over the underpainting (see the previous post).....the glazes. If there is any one point in a painting where I want to quit, this is it.....from experience, however, I know that it is these dark colors that add the richness and vibrance to the final opaques that go on top of the canvas after this part of the painting is completed. Light is refracted through to the toned ground and then out again -- giving greater luminesence to the final painting.

My mixtures include Prussian Blue and Burnt Sienna for the water. Transparent gold ochre for the trees and shrubs -- I have even used some green and ochres (opaque colors) and thinned them down with my medium to a semi-transparency.

Stay tuned to see the finished canvas!! For price and availability, just call my Taos studio at (505) 758-7454.

WORK IN PROGRESS - "EL RITO DEL NORTE"

WORK IN PROGRESS - "EL RITO DEL NORTE"
(Underpainting)

30"x40" Original Oil Painting on Portrait Quality Belgian Linen. The underpainting is essentially a color sketch over a "toned ground" (gesso mixed with Payne's Grey). This phase of the painting gives me a guide to the light an color of the final piece -- it also gives me the information I need regarding composition -- if a painting doesn't "click" at this point, usually it won't work at all. I've mixed all the basic colors (ochre, chrome oxide green opaque, cadmium yellow) with MGWhite and applied them to the canvas with turpentine. Now I will let the canvas dry for several days before applying the glazes (dark transparent colors) To follow the progress of "El Rito del Norte", stay tuned to this web log!

Be first in line to receive a photo of this completed painting -- just send an e.mail to dclair@donnaclairart.com and join my list of Art Friends. For price and availability, please call my studio at (505) 758-7454.

LLANO SAN JUAN DE NEPOMUSENO" 0RIG. OIL

"LLANO SAN JUAN DE NEPOMUSENO"

30"x40" Original Oil on fine Belgian Linen.
Framed in Gold with Linen Liner.
For price and availability, please call my studio at (505)758-7454.
©DonnaClair2006 -- All rights reserved under Federal Copyright Law.

"LLANO LARGO" - Original Oil Painting

"LLANO LARGO"

24"x30" Original Oil Painting on Fine Belgian Linen.
Custom-framed in Gold with Linen Liner.
For price and availability, please call my studio at (505)758-7454.
©DonnaClair2005 -- All rights reserved under Federal Copyright Law.

"LOS CAMPOS DE TRUCHAS" - SOLD

"LOS CAMPOS DE TRUCHAS" - SOLD!

30"x30" Original Oil on Fine Belgian Linen
Framed in Gold with Linen Liner
©DonnaClair2005 - All rights reserved under Federal Copyright Law.

"THE WAY WE WERE" - ORIGINAL OIL

"THE WAY WE WERE"

Studio #2207 - 11"x14" Orig. Oil/Fine Artist's Canvas

Framed in Gold with Linen Liner.

NEW STUDIO LARGER SIZE 2007 EDITION PRINT OF THIS IMAGE
Printed on brilliant white archival stock - 17"x22" sheet size
$75.00 - includes shipping and handling.
To order please call my Taos Studio at
(505) 758-7454.
©DonnaClair2007 - All rights reserved under Federal Copyright Law.

"VILLANUEVA AFTERNOON" - SOLD

"VILLANUEVA AFTERNOON" - SOLD!

11"X14" Original Oil Painting on Fine Artist's Canvas.
Custom-framed in Gold with Linen Liner.

NEW LARGER SIZE 2007 STUDIO EDITION PRINT -- available on brilliant white
heavy paper stock - 17"x22"Sheet size - $75.00 - includes shipping and handling
Call my studio to order. (505)758-7454)

To receive photography of all new paintings, join my list of ART FRIENDS.
Send e.mail to me at dclair@donnaclairart.com
©DonnaClair2007 -- All rights reserved under Federal Copyright Law.

"CIELO AZUL" - PECOS, N.M. - SOLD

"CIELO AZUL" - PECOS, N.M. - SOLD!

11"x14" Original Oil Painting on Fine Artist's Canvas.
Completed 2/7/07 - Framed in Gold with Linen Liner.

NEW STUDIO LARGER 2007 STUDIO EDITION PRINT OF THIS IMAGE!
On brilliant white archival stock (17"x22" sheet size)
$75.00 includes shipping and handling
To order, please call (505)758-7454.
To receive e.mails of all new paintings, join my list of Art Friends.
Send e.mail to me at dclair@donnaclairart.com
©DonnaClair2007 -- All rights reserved under Federal Copyright Law.

"HIGH ROAD AFTERNOON" - SOLD

HIGH ROAD AFTERNOON - SOLD

Studio #1807 - 20"x20" Original Oil Painting on Fine Artist's Canvas
Framed in Gold with Linen Liner

For more information regarding price and availability of this painting, please contact my studio at (505) 758-7454

"MY TAOS WILDFLOWERS" - Click for Studio Print

"MY TAOS WILDFLOWERS"

"If winter comes can spring be far behind?" - Shakespeare

"TAOS EVENING LIGHT" - STUDIO EDITION PRINT

"TAOS EVENING LIGHT"

High drama on the high desert -- Late afternoon summer rainstorm moving off into the Pecos Wilderness; thunder can still be heard in the distance -- late sunlight moving in low to illuminate the landscape -- Taos, New Mexico ENJOY!

NEW LARGER SIZE! 2007 STUDIO EDITION ARCHIVAL PRINT -- On brilliant white somerset heavy watercolor paper (17"x22" sheet size) - hand-titled and hand-signed....$75.00 (includes shipping and handling). Purchase any combination of three ($75.00) prints and get a fourth one free. To order, please call (505) 758-7454.

The original of this painting (20"x40" canvas size) is available for purchase -- for price and availability call (505) 758-7454.

"NOCHECITA DE TRUCHAS" - STUDIO EDITION PRINT

"NOCHECITA DE TRUCHAS"

NEW LARGER SIZE! Now available as 2007 STUDIO EDITION ARCHIVAL GICLEE PRINT.
Printed on heavy Somerset watercolor paper (17"x22" sheet size) - brilliant white.
Hand-signed and hand-titled - $75.00 includes shipping and handling. To order, please call my Taos studio at (505)758-7454.

©DonnaClair2007 - All rights reserved under Federal Copyright Law.

"SANTUARIO DE CHIMAYO" - STUDIO EDITION PRINT

"SANTUARIO DE CHIMAYO"

NEW LARGER SIZE! 2007 STUDIO EDITION ARCHIVAL GICLEE PRINT!
On 17"x22" (sheet size) Somerset heavy watercolor paper
Hand-titled and hand-signed by the artist...$100.00
Price includes shipping and handling.
To order, please call my studio at (505) 758-7454.
©DonnaClair2007 - All rights reserved under Federal Copyright Law.

"TOMATES DE SOLOLA" - SOLD!

"TOMATES DE SOLOLA, GUATEMALA"
SOLD!
20"x16" Original Oil on Fine Belgian Linen.
Framed in Gold with Linen Liner.
©DonnaClair2007 - All rights reserved under Federal Copyright Law.

"WINTER DREAMS" - Click Here to Visit My Website

"WINTER DREAMS"

The road to the horse ranch, "Puesta del Sol", where I once lived in Truchas, New Mexico.

This image and many others now available as archival giclee print on Somerset heavy paper stock and fine artist's canvas -- visit the HIGH ROAD CATALOGUE on my website. All images in the catalogue are also available in new STUDIO EDITION format - 13"x19" sheet size archival print - $65.00 - buy three and get one free. For more information, just call my Taos studio at (505) 758-7454.

COMING SOON: New original oil paintings! Stay tuned.

MADRECITA DE SOLOLA - CLICK TO VISIT MY WEBSITE

"MADRECITA DE SOLOLA"

You are invited to visit my website -- the above image and many others, including New Mexico landscapes, are available in a wonderful selection of sizes on both archival printing paper and fine artist's canvas.

New STUDIO EDITION PRINTS, printed on 13"x19" sheet size - $65.00 per hand-signed image - order three studio editions and get one free! All major credit cards accepted. Free shipping and handling within Cont. U.S. if ordered through my studio. Colorful, affordable, collectible!

To order call my Taos studio at (505) 758-7454.

"TAOS EVENING LIGHT" - ORIGINAL OIL PAINTING

"TAOS EVENING LIGHT" - Original Oil Painting

20"x40" Original Oil on Fine Belgian Linen
(Measures 28"x48" Framed)
Framed in Gold with Linen Liner
For price and availability, please call my studio at (505)758-7454.
©DonnaClair2007 - All rights reserved under Federal Copyright Law.

"ODE TO A WINTER MORNING"

FELICIDADES!

AM JUST SETTLING DOWN FOR A LONG WINTER'S NAP.....
WILL RESUME POSTS TO THIS BLOG JANUARY 2, 2007

Wishing everyone a joy-filled holiday season....
Donna Clair

EL VALLE SIN NOMBRE - Click to visit EBAY STORE

"EL VALLE SIN NOMBRE"
(VALLEY WITHOUT A NAME)

NEW STUDIO EDITION ARCHIVAL GICLEE - $65.00
Printed on Somerset Fine Art Paper - 19"x13" Sheet Size
BUY THREE (any combination) AND GET ONE FREE!
To see more images you are welcome to visit my new EBAY STORE!
©DonnaClair2006 - All rights reserved under Federal Copyright Law.

WORK IN PROGRESS - "TAOS EVENING LIGHT"

"TAOS EVENING LIGHT"
(©DonnaClair2006 - All rights reserved under Fed. Copyright Law.)
20"x40" Original Oil on Fine Belgian Linen.
To be custom framed in Gold with Linen Liner.

This is the second phase of this painting -- to view the Underpainting, go to my blog entry of November 30th. Here I have combined both opaque and transparent colors -- as bright and as brilliant (and also as dark) as I possibly could. The dark mountains are a combination of Prussian Blue and Mars Black. The foreground darks are Prussian Blue, Dioxazine Purple - Chrome Oxide Green Opaque. The cloudy sky Prussian Blue, Mars Black and Permalba White.

Oh yes, I "threw" in some Cadmium Red in the trees (Cadmium Yellow and Yellow Ochre) just for the heck of it!

If you have any questions regarding price and availability, just call my studio at (505) 758-7454. Stay tuned to see the finished painting.

(©DonnaClair2006 - All rights reserved under Fed. Copyright Law.)

"NOCHECITA DE TRUCHAS" - SOLD

"NOCHECITA DE TRUCHAS" (LITTLE NIGHT) - SOLD!

20"x30" Original Oil Painting on Fine Artist's Canvas.
Framed in Gold with Linen Liner.
For more information call my studio at (505) 758-7454.
©DonnaClair2006 - All rights reserved under Federal Copyright Law.

"RANCHITOS AFTERNOON" - SOLD!

"RANCHITOS AFTERNOON" - SOLD!

6"x8" Original Oil on Fine Artist's Canvas.
Framed in Gold with Linen Liner.
©DonnaClair2006 - All rights reserved under Federal Copyright Law.

"THE WEDDING SHAWL" - ORIGINAL OIL

"THE WEDDING SHAWL"

14"X11" Original Oil on Belgian Linen
Framed in Gold with Linen Liner.
For more information call my studio at (505)758-7454.
©DonnaClair2006 -- All rights reserved under Federal Copyright Law.

"LA NOCHEBUENA" - LIMITED EDITION GICLEE

"LA NOCHEBUENA"

A hand-painted archival limited edition (35) giclee
Image Size 24"x24" - hand-signed and numbered
$650.00 - Free shipping and handling within Cont. U.S.
Call my studio to order - (505) 758-7454
Please allow fourteen days for delivery.
©DonnaClair2006 - All rights reserved under Federal Copyright Law.

"CAMINITO DE CHIMAYO" - Original Oil Painting

"CAMINITO DE CHIMAYO"

8"x10" Original Oil Painting on Fine Artist's Canvas.
Framed in Gold with Linen Liner.
For more information, call my studio at (505) 758-7454.
©DonnaClair2006 - All rights reserved under Federal Copyright Law.