CORDOVA AFTERNOON - WORK IN PROGRESS - THE GLAZES

15 July 2009 - "CORDOVA AFTERNOON" - 24"x30" Work in progress - Phase II - The Glazes - transparent and semi-transparent colors -- painted over the underpainting after it has dried using the painting medium (recipe for medium in column on the right of this page). The sky is completed -- Thalo Blue, Thalo Green, a dab of Ochre, some Prussian Blue and Paynes Grey for variety. Stay tuned.

CORDOVA AFTERNOON

15 July 2009 -- "CORDOVA AFTERNOON" - 24"x30" Original Oil on Fine Belgian Linen. Underpainting - Palette colors mixed with turpentine and MG Underpainting White. Sky: Thalo Blue, Thalo Green, touch of ochre to gray color a bit. Middle Ground - combinations of Yellow Ochre, Burnt Sienna, Cadmium Yellow. Foreground: Ochre and Diox. Purple. Back at work, but just barely -- summer has arrived -- setting up a new palette today. I like to block in several paintings at a time -- that way each morning I can work on one canvas while the other ones dry. DC

NEW PAINTS ARRIVED YESTERDAY!

11 July 2009 - Jerry's Artarama (online) had a fabulous 4th of July Day Sale -- I went the whole hog and spent all my money -- strange, this is something I would do in November right before the snows arrive.....hmmmm. Does this mean I am settling in again?

FROM MY TAOS STUDIO

7/8/09 -- Don't think I can stand more "rest" -- I miss my easel -- cleaned most of my cabinets, did the laundry, unpacked cartons -- settling back into my old routine -- and I NEED TO PAINT!

GONE FISHIN'

29 June 2009 -- Taking some much needed time to rest, relax and reorganize......Will resume posts to this blog 15 July. HAPPY SUMMERTIME TO ALL! DC - PS - To receive notice of new paintings and prints, send your e.mail address to me and I will add your name to my list of Art Friends.

"ROAD TO WILDERNESS GATE" - NEW Original Oil

"ROAD TO WILDERNESS GATE"
Completed 25 June 2009
24"x30" NEW Original Oil on Fine Belgian Linen
Framed in Gold with Linen Liner
For price and availability, please e.mail or call my Taos Studio at
(575)758-7454

"ROAD TO WILDERNESS GATE" - PHASE II - GLAZES

"ROAD TO WILDERNESS GATE" - 24"x30" Oil on Belgian Linen - Work in Progress - The Glazes. Glazes are transparent, semi-transparent color which I apply over the underpainting. I believe this phase of the painting is essential to add depth and vibrancy to the final painting. After the painting is completed (the next stage is the application of opaque colors) the light enters into the canvas and is refracted back through the layers of color. Somehow this method has evolved over the years and seems to work for me. DC

"ROAD TO WILDERNESS GATE" - WORK IN PROGRESS

"ROAD TO WILDERNESS GATE" - NEW WORK IN PROGRESS - My most favorite place in "suburban" Truchas, N.M. (UNDERPAINTING). Mixing all my colors (except for "cartoon" which is reinforced with Prussian Blue) with MG Underpainting White and turpentine. Sky: Thalo Blue - Thalo Blue Green with touch of Ochre to "gray" the colors. Clouds: White is mixed with just a small dab of Cad. Yellow - Grey is Payne's Grey mixed with the while. Middle Ground Greens: Prussian Blue, burnt Sienna, Chrome Oxide Green Opaque. Grasses: Yellow Ochre, Burnt Sienna. Foreground: Earth colors mixed with Dioxazine Purple.

GUATEMALAN JOURNEY

"ANTEPASADO" - This week I found a real treasure - a portfolio of photos and sketches from Guatemala -- planning to do some new prints and paintings from this material and have begun a new web log - http://donnaclairguatemalanjourney.blogspot.com Stay tuned!

"SCENE FROM A SUNSET WALK" - NEW ORIG. OIL PAINTING

"SCENE FROM A SUNSET WALK"

New Original 8"x28" Oil on Fine Belgian Linen
Completed 16 June 2009
For price and availability, please call my Taos Studio at
(575) 758-7454

NOCHECITA DE CHIMAYO - New Studio Edition Print

"NOCHECITA DE CHIMAYO" - Just published as a small-format Studio Edition print - 8"x10"; 9"x12" - On Ultra Premium Presentation paper with Ultra Chrome Inks -- hand-titled and hand-signed - $35.00, plus $5.00 S&H. To order, call my Taos Studio at (575)758-7454.

"SCENE FROM A SUNSET WALK" - UNDERPAINTING

9 June 2009 - WORK IN PROGRESS - "FROM A SUNSET WALK" - 8"x28" Original Oil on Fine Belgian Linen. This underpainting has been drying for a little over a week - My painting medium has turpentine in it, so the oil sketch must be dry, otherwise the color would be picked up. Now I can "lay in" the glazes -- the transparent dark colors, which is what I will do today. DC

"BEHIND ADOBE WALLS" - New Underpainting

1 June 2009 - "BEHIND ADOBE WALLS" - NEW 24x30" Underpainting. FYI -- While the large 48"x60" underpainting "Donde Nace la Vida" is drying, I am spending this week "blocking in" several more canvases. Sitting at an easel for long periods to complete a painting is not easy -- and there are days when I lack a certain enthusiasm. Usually five or six underpaintings (oil color sketches - MG Fast Drying White and pigment) sit all around me....and as long as they are "down" on the canvas -- I can paint them in my head anytime of the day or night. When I finally put them on the easel, the difficult work of planning the light and shadows, colors, etc. is mostly done -- the excitement has built to complete the canvas and my days at the easel go much more smoothly! DC

"WILDERNESS ROAD" - STUDY

"WILDERNESS ROAD" - STUDY

NEW 6"x8" Original Oil on Italian Wood Panel
For price and availability e.mail or call my Taos Studio at
(575) 758-7454

"YELLOW MUMS" - New 6"x8" SMALL GEM

"YELLOW MUMS"
(One of a new series 100 SMALL GEMS)

NEW 6"x8" Original Oil on Italian Wood Panel
For price and availability, please call my Taos Studio at
(575) 758-7454

DONDE NACE LA VIDA - 48"x60" UNDERPAINTING

"DONDE NACE LA VIDA" - New 48"x60" Original Oil (Underpainting) - Here is the palette for the underpainting - using MG White with turpentine and mixing the colors. Sky: Davy's Grey, Payne's Grey, Cadmium Yellow. Middle ground: Cadmium Red, Yellow Ochre and Burnt Sienna. Trees & Foreground: Same colors as middle ground, adding Chrome Oxide Green Opaque and Prussian Blue. This canvas now needs to be set aside for about ten days to "cure". In the meantime I will block in several new underpaintings, which I plan to post here. (To keep track of my studio work, you are invited to become a Facebook Friend!) Stay tuned!

"DONDE NACE LA VIDA" - New 48"x60" Oil Painting

"DONDE NACE LA VIDA" -- Here is the "cartoon" for a new 48"x60" Canvas -- this begins a series of 12 large format oils titled "AMBIENTES" (Environments).
I will attempt to journal every phase of this painting on this web log - would love to hear your feedback. DC

STARTING OVER -

ANOTHER NEW BEGINNING -- The reception for the exhibit of my new paintings was Friday - and today I go into the studio with many, many blank canvases talking to me - "Paint me, paint me!" Unlike years past, this time I have a new "starting place" in my head. Normally, I would rest on my laurels for a month or so -- somehow this time I feel a certain urgency to fill up those blank canvases. Am beginning two new projects, which I plan to work on simultaneously -- while parts of one painting is drying, I will work on another. These new projects are: "AMBIENTES" (Environments) - A series of 12 large-format landscapes. At the same time I will focus on "100 SMALL GEMS" - A series of small original oil paintings -- 11"x14" and under - primarily 6"x8". All of this new work will be previewed on this web log and they will also be available on my website or through my studio. To receive advance notice of this new work - "Works in Progress" -- you are invited to subscribe to receive my newsletters. My thanks to McLarry Gallery for a great show -- and, especially to all my Art Friends old and new! DC (PS - My new social media experiment -- a page on FACEBOOK - as they say on Sesame Street, "Let's be Friends".)

HELADOS! HELADOS! - Click here to Purchase

"HELADOS! HELADOS!"
Ice cream salesman watching the Cinco de Mayo
Parade, Juarez, Mexico
6"x8" Orig. Oil Painting unframed on Italian Gesso Panel

AGUA FRIA - SANTA FE EXHIBIT

"AGUA FRIA" - 30" x 24" Original Oil on Fine Belgian Linen, Framed in Gold with Linen Liner.....now on exhibit at McLarry Fine Art Gallery, 225 Canyon Road, Santa Fe, N.M. Gallery opening, Friday, May 22nd - 5 to 7PM -- to view complete exhibit -- http://www.mclarryfineart.com/donnaclair.html

Am in a really quiet place right now -- it's almost here -- Friday evening, Santa Fe, family, friends, collectors. Rather than expection, what I feel is a wonderful sense of accomplishment -- doing the field work, gathering the supplies, gessoing the canvases - preparing the painting medium -- photographing the work, sharing the process on my blog, varnishing and framing the paintings -- and, finally, delivering them to the gallery. Am looking forward to the experience -- and am so happy to share this with Art Friends today -- am so grateful for your lovely e.mails and calls -- and especially for your encouragement....thank you! Time for me to start some new work! DC

A PERSONAL INVITATION.......

YOU ARE INVITED TO AN EXHIBIT OF MY NEW PAINTINGS AT MCLARRY FINE ART GALLERY, 225 CANYON ROAD, SANTA FE, N.M. - May 22nd, 5 to 7PM

"GOOD OL' BOYS" - SOLD

"GOOD OL' BOYS"

NEW Original 6"x8" Oil on Italian Gesso Panel
SOLD

"LA NINA DE SOLOLA" - New Original Oil Painting

"LA NINA DE SOLOLA" (Guatemala)

NEW Original 6"x8" Original Oil on Italian Gesso Panel
For price and availability, please e.mail or call my Taos Studio at
(575) 758-7454

"DULCES, DULCES!" -NEW Original Oil Painting

"DULCES, DULCES!"
(Candy sellers taking a morning break - Juarez, Mexico)

NEW 6"x8" Original Oil on Italian Gessoed Panel
For more information, please call my Taos Studio at
(575) 758-7454

"LAST LIGHT" - SOLD

"LAST LIGHT" -- SOLD

"LAST LIGHT" - 6"X8" Original Oil Painting, Framed in Silver with Linen Liner. Oil study/View from my kitchen window after the last snowstorm in Taos Valley -- the last moment before sunset.

"WAITING" - NEW ORIGINAL OIL - SOLD

"WAITING" - SOLD

"WAITING" - 6"X8" Original Oil Painting, Framed in Gold with Linen Liner. Oil study/Saturday's groceries - waiting to go home to the pueblo and prepare for the Feast Day. For price and availability, please call my Taos Studio at (575) 758-7454.

"WINTER RIVER" - SOLD

"WINTER RIVER" - SOLD

6"x8" Original Oil on Italian Gesso Panel
Framed in Silver with Linen Liner

"TRUCHAS" - NEW Original Oil Painting

"TRUCHAS"
6"x8" Orig. Oil on Italian Gessoed Panel
Framed in Gold with Linen Liner
For price and availability, please call my Taos Studio at
(575) 758-7454

"LAS TRAMPAS" - NEW Original Oil Painting

"LAS TRAMPAS"

6"x8" Original Oil on Italian Gessoboard
Framed in Gold with Linen Liner
For price and availability, please call my Taos Studio at
(575)758-7454

"NOCHECITA" - Sold

"NOCHECITA" - SOLD

6"x8" Original Oil on Italian Gesso Panel
Framed in Gold with Linen Liner

"CAMPOSANTO" - New Original Oil

"CAMPOSANTO"

6"X8" Orig. Oil on Italian Gesso Panel
Framed in Gold with Linen Liner
For price and availability, please call my Taos Studio at
(575)758-7454

"YELLOW ROSES" - New Original Oil

"YELLOW ROSES"

8"x6" Original Oil on Italian Wood Panel
Framed in Gold
For price and availability, call my Taos Studio at
(575)758-7454

"THE READER"

"THE READER" - Not for Sale

6"x8" Original Oil on Italian Wood Panel
Framed in Gold with Linen Liner

TABORET - 15 APRIL 2009

15 April 2009 -- DANCING WITH THE EASEL! Getting back to work after taking some time off to regenerate and trying to create some order in my life (chuckle, chuckle!). Need to warm up again (the yoga of painting) -- have begun some small oil studies which I will post here and then put up for auction on eBay -- am going to challenge myself to finish one small painting a day for the next two weeks......hmmmm! DC

"BEARERS OF LIGHT" - Click here to visit my website

"THE BEARERS OF LIGHT"
Chichicastenango, Guatemala

This image is available as a Studio Edition print. You are invited to visit my website at the above link. To order, call (575)758-7454.

"COFRADIA" - Click here to visit my Website

"COFRADIA"

Easter Sunday -- The hermanos of the Cofradia - Antigua, Guatemala
This image is available as a Studio Edition Print
You are invited to visit my website at the above link
Or just call my Taos Studio to order
(575) 758-7454

BLANK IS THE BEGINNING

BLANK IS THE END, AND BLANK IS THE BEGINNING - After completing the paintings for my Santa Fe exhibit, a lot of catch up work on the house, including a spring cleaning for the studio. I looked at that blank canvas on the easel today and thought it would be wonderful if I could start out everyday with a symbolically blank canvas in my head -- no complaints, no judgments -- perhaps that would qualify me for sainthood! New underpaintings with color descriptions to be posted here in the next couple of days. DC

"GUADALUPITA" - Click here to visit The High Road Print Catalogue

"GUADALUPITA" -- #112 in THE HIGH ROAD PRINT CATALOGUE -- you are invited to browse -- just click the above link -- ENJOY!

"ANCIENT WALLS AT LA CUEVA" - Click here to visit The High Road Print Catalogue

"ANCIENT WALLS AT LA CUEVA" -- The old Salman Ranch. Every fall a visit to buy baskets and baskets of fresh raspberries to freeze for winter treats. A stop at the little restaurant for an incredible fresh raspberry sundae -- and then a leisurely drive home made for a perfect Sunday!
This image is available as a Studio Edition print -- you are invited to visit THE HIGH ROAD PRINT CATALOGUE, just click the above link. ENJOY!

"CAPILLA DE PLACITAS" Click here to visit The High Road Print Catalogue

"CAPILLA DE PLACITAS" -- One of my "touchstones" on the High Road to Truchas -- As I remember this day, I climbed a little way up the water tower across the street from this church in order to take this photograph -- ah, Youth! This image is now available as a Studio Edition Print in the High Road Catalogue -- click the above link for an armchair tour! DC