16 December 2009 -- Worked all day yesterday on the foreground, after putting dark glazes (burnt sienna, ultramarine blue and burnt umber) on the walls. There is a heavy impasto in the foreground - added cadmium red and cadmium yellow to Permalba White for the snow. This is the stage of a painting where I could happily quit -- my mind races ahead to the completed canvas -- what I want it to look like - and the painting really has a mind of it's own -- in a way it tells me what needs to be done. It's a very strange collaboration! DC - Taos
MY PROCESS--DOCUMENTING "WORKS IN PROGRESS"- NEW PAINTINGS AND PRINTS. -- INCLUDES PALETTE AND COLOR NOTES.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
"ADOBE WALLS-SANTA FE" - WORK IN PROGRESS
"ADOBE WALLS-SANTA FE" - A Work in Progress -- This photo is of the painting after it has been glazed; now I will work on the opaque paints and hope to finish it sometime this next week..... DC, Taos, N.M.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
"LAST LIGHT" - 9"X12" ARCHIVAL GICLEE (Click here to purchase)
"LAST LIGHT" (TAOS)
A late afternoon view from my kitchen window
NEW SIZE! 9"X12 STUDION EDITION PRINT
Thursday, December 03, 2009
TAOS SNOW DAY!!
3 December - View through my kitchen window - First significant snow of the season. Am ready! The "extra" snow day groceries are in the pantry, all my painting supplies are in -- going to varnish and frame some small paintings today - and prepare my palette to start some new underpaintings tomorrow! I love it! DC
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
GESSOING CANVAS -- PREPARING TO PAINT
PREPARING TO SPEND THE WINTER PAINTING! GESSOING CANVAS. For large and medium paintings I usually use a double-primed linen canvas. I mix up gesso with Payne's Grey. This creates a "grisaille", or a grey ground, much favored by the Renaissance painters. Letting each coat dry thoroughly between applications, I apply two or three coats, depending on the coarseness of the canvas. Personally I like to smooth out the brush strokes on the gesso. Because I work with glazing, I find that this is the best preparation for my paints. Let these canvases "cure" for a week or so -- don't stack them together until they have dried thoroughly. This is the first step to good painting -- once I start, I don't have to worry about "white spaces" and this "toned ground" mellows out my colors. Stay tuned! DC
Monday, November 30, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
"VALDEZ AFTERNOON" - SOLD
"VALDEZ AFTERNOON"-Sold
NEW! 8"X10" Original Oil/Fr. in Gold
7-Day Auction beginning Wed. November 11th
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
WINTER ROAD - Special Print Offer - Visit the HIGH ROAD PRINT CATALOGUE
"WINTER ROAD"
Winter on the road to the ranch at Llano Quemado (suburban Truchas). My first winter there was an unknown -- I bought a little freezer from Sears and filled it to the brim with groceries. Foresight was rewarded when it snowed for days over the Christmas holidays -- the snowplow didn't come through for a week -- the wood was stacked on the porch (in the morning, bear prints in the snow), the fireplace kept the little adobe house warm and cozy, and many pots of green chile stew made for quite a comfortable existence. I might add a lot of good books and great music added another measure of enjoyment -- solitude is so underrated!
Purchase any two prints from THE HIGH ROAD PRINT CATALOGUE and get one FREE! Offer good until 30 November 2009. Call (575)758-7454 to order. Visa, Mastercard available.
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
DOS ARBOLES DE TAOS - Click here to visit THE PRINT STORE
3 November -FYI -- Have begun a new web log entitled "THE PRINT STORE". This blog will be a venue for new print images, both small and large, available through my Taos studio. It is my intention to post to this blog on a regular basis. You are invited to bookmark that page and visit often. If you have any questions or would like to make an order, just give me a call at (575) 758-7454. - DC
Monday, November 02, 2009
"EVENING PRAYER STICKS" - Click here for the High Road Print Catalogue
"EVENING PRAYER STICKS"
ARCHIVAL GICLEE - FOR MORE INFO VISIT
THE HIGH ROAD PRINT CATALOGUE
(SPECIAL OFFER ENDING 30 NOVEMBER - BUY TWO, GET ONE FREE)
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
"ACEQUIA DEL LLANO" - Archival Giclee (Click here for THE HIGH ROAD PRINT CATALOGUE"
22 October 2009 - Still cloudy today -- much to do -- some shopping for extras in anticipation of large snowstorm like the one that hit us last year. Shipping a painting off to a collector in Maine. Focus for the next four or five months....new paintings (the large "environment" canvases and small auction pieces), internet sales. Winter is always a long period of preparation. Am feeling quite free to follow my Muse wherever she leads me......DC, Taos, N.M.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
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
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
48"x60" Original Oil Painting "FIRST LIGHT"
"FIRST LIGHT"
48"x60" Original Oil on Fine Belgian Linen
Call Taos Studio (575)758-7454
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
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
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
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
Monday, September 21, 2009
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
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
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
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
"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.
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.
Saturday, September 05, 2009
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.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
#14-FAMILIA SANTA DE CHIMAYO - SOLD
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
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
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
"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
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
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.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
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
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
FROM MY TAOS STUDIO
Monday, June 29, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
"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
Monday, June 22, 2009
"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.
Friday, June 19, 2009
GUATEMALAN JOURNEY
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
"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
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
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
"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
Monday, June 01, 2009
"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
Friday, May 29, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
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!
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