WINTER DREAMS - Click to Visit the High Road Print Catalogue

21 October 2009 -- Cloudy, raining - just looked out of my kitchen window to the hills in the distance -- SNOW! My first thought was "I'm not ready for winter"! Going to visit with son, John, today -- fix him a nice lunch. Clean up the studio -- set up a new palette -- pull out some good music to inspire me - and settle in to do some serious painting. I actually love the quiet of winter -- it's time to stop striving, relax and just put a blank canvas on the easel and lose myself in some new work! DC

48"x60" Original Oil Painting "FIRST LIGHT"

"FIRST LIGHT"
48"x60" Original Oil on Fine Belgian Linen
Call Taos Studio (575)758-7454

Earth, give me back your pristine gifts,
towers of silence which rose from
the solemnity of their roots.
I want to go back to being what I haven't been,
to learn to return from such depths
that among all natural things
I may live or not live. I don't mind
being one stone more, the dark stone,
the pure stone that the river bears away.

ABSENCE AND PRESENCE, Pablo Neruda

FIRST LIGHT - 48"X60" WORK IN PROGRESS - OPAQUE COLORS

23 September 2009 - Making progress! Have concentrated on the top one-third of the painting. The sky and distant landscape are completed and, I believe, inform the light for the rest of the canvas. The middle ground - I have found some long forgotten tubes of Transparent Oxide Yellow and Transparent Oxide Red -- Am also mixing Indian Red, Mars Orange, Ochre and Chrome Oxide Green Opaque. This painting is taking on a life of it's own -- it's like the movie "The Red Shoes" -- Moira Shearer couldn't stop dancing and I can't stop painting! DC

FIRST LIGHT - 48"x60" Oil Painting (Work in Progress)

21 September 2009, Taos, N.M. -- "PENTIMENTI is an alteration in a painting....that the artist has changed his mind as to the composition during the process of painting - the word derives from the Italian pentirsi, meaning to repent".

First of all I changed the name from "Donde Nace la Vida" to "FIRST LIGHT" - (48"x60 Original Oil on Fine Belgian Linen) -- and then I began "deconstructing" the composition - am trying to simplify as much as I can so that the light is the subject of the painting. Sky: Combinations of Permalba White, Cadmium Yellow, Payne's Grey and Davy's Grey. Middle Ground: Yellow Ochre, White, and Mars Orange. Foreground: Grasses - Burnt Sienna, Prussian Blue and Chrome Oxide Green Opaque. River: Prussian Blue and Burnt Sienna. I will be working on this canvas for the next three or four weeks and will try to blog my progress as I go along. DC

DONDE NACE LA VIDA - 48"x60" UNDERPAINTING

(PLEASE CHECK OCTOBER 13, 2009 POST  TO VIEW COMPLETED CANVAS NOW TITLED
"FIRST LIGHT" --"DONDE NACE LA VIDA" (UNDERPAINTING) -- NEW 48"X60" Original Oil on Fine Belgian Linen -- Started the drawing for this canvas in late May. Tomorrow I will post the photo of this underpainting with the first layer of glazes. Have passed the canvas 15/25 times a day as it stands on the wall directly across from my easel -- realize that I want to change things -- I want the mood to change - a dreamier feeling, perhaps. At this stage in a painting, I have a picture in my head of what I want it to be -- once the painting takes over, it's out of my control -- the canvas evolves and it just "becomes". In the next couple of weeks I will post the "pentimenti" -- the changes. You are invited to follow this Work in Progress to it's finish.......DC

ARROYO SECO AFTERNOON - Click here for the HIGH ROAD PRINT CATALOGUE

"ARROYO SECO AFTERNOON" - Now available as an archival giclee print from THE HIGH ROAD PRINT CATALOGUE. (BUY TWO, GET ONE FREE).

9/9/09 -- Have had good intentions all week, but unable to get into the studio. Making green chile chicken soup for daughter Mary and her husband's visit tomorrow. On Friday a visit from my favorite "little people". Am going to relax and enjoy them all, knowing that there will be many winter days when I will wish they were here. In the meantime I will post images from my print catalogue.

Birthday Roses in the Morning Sun

5 September 2009 -- Another year! Friend John sent these roses from LA -- they are brightening my kitchen bookcase this morning -- making me smile. This was one of those BIG birthdays that brought up a lot of strange feelings of getting older -- one remedy for that is for me to get back to painting this coming week. Have replenished my paint supplies -- gessoed my boards and canvases -- have new material for new work. I want to continue with my 100 SMALL PAINTINGS and have several larger paintings in progress. Will begin new posts Tuesday - stay tuned.

SOMBREROS DE SOLOLA (Guatemalan Journey) Orig. Oil

"SOMBREROS DE SOLOLA"

NEW! 14"x11" Orig. Oil on Belgian Linen
Framed in Gold with Linen Liner
For price and availability, e.mail or call my Taos Studio at
(575)758-7454

#15 - HIGH ROAD AFTERNOON - SOLD

"HIGH ROAD AFTERNOON" SOLD
NEW! 6"x8" Orig. Oil unframed on Italian Gessoed Panel
This painting was sold within an hour of studio newsletter - in it's place
see "Vecinos de Truchas" below)

#14-FAMILIA SANTA DE CHIMAYO - SOLD

"FAMILIA SANTA DE CHIMAYO" - SOLD
New! 100 SMALL PAINTINGS
6"x8" Orig. Oil unframed on Italian Gessoed Panel

#13 - SUMMER FIELDS AT RANCHITOS - SOLD

#13 - SUMMER FIELDS AT RANCHITOS - SOLD
New! 6"x8" Original Oil unframed on Italian Gessoed Panel

#11-TAOS AFTERNOON - SOLD

"TAOS AFTERNOON" - SOLD
6"x8" Original Oil unframed on Ital. Gessoed Panel

ADOBE WALLS - NEW WORK IN PROGRESS

8/10/09 - Here are the glazes on a new canvas "ADOBE WALLS" - 24"x30" Original Oil on Fine Belgian Linen. I posted the underpainting June lst -- you can scroll down to see the color combinations. Will let this dry for several days before working into it again. Am all set to begin new work - including my 100 SMALL PAINTINGS and GUATEMALAN JOURNEY. DC

"CASA VIEJA DE CHIMAYO" - Visit THE HIGH ROAD PRINT CATALOGUE

5 AUGUST 2009 - "Casa Vieja de Chimayo" - Available as a Studio Edition Print -- You are invited to visit THE HIGH ROAD PRINT CATALOGUE on my website -- just click the above link. Deciding to spend most of August prepping for new work -- gessoing canvas, blocking in new paintings -- am anxious to start my new canvases, but know this "down time" of doing the work that no one sees is one of the most important steps. Saw the documentary of Mark Rothko's "Rooms" again yesterday for about the 20th time....I never fail to be inspired by his bravery! DC

CORDOVA AFTERNOON -Click to View All New Original Paintings at my online Collector's Gallery

"CORDOVA AFTERNOON"

NEW 24"x30" Original Oil on Fine Belgian Linen
Framed in Gold with Linen Liner
Email or call Taos Studio (575)758-7454

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