THE OPEN ROAD! Field work for new paintings

14 April 2011 -- Finished the Rio Chama painting late last month - varnished, framed it and sent it off to it's new home in Cambria, California on Monday.  Spent the rest of Monday and most of Tuesday feeling "post-ARTum" blues.  Took off in search of orchards with apple blossoms -- about a week too early.  Wandered for most of the day.  These past two weeks have gathered much new material -- planning some large canvases - new "environments" - am very excited.  I LOVE large blank canvases -- like reading a long book that you can't put down!  Also planning to add some new smaller auction paintings.  To receive my Studio Newsletter with the latest paintings, send your e.address via the sign-up on this page.  I will be happy to send you photos of my new work!  ENJOY!  DC

RIO CHAMA AT ABIQUIU - 36"X48" ORIG. OIL COMPLETED

 

"RIO CHAMA AT ABIQUIU" - Sold

36"X48" ORIG. OIL 

"SANTO DOMINGO" - Sold

"SANTO DOMINGO" Cundiyo, N.M. - Sold

11"x14" Original Oil, Fr. in Gold w/ Linen Liner

LAS FLORES! HAPPY SPRINGTIME! - NEW ARCHIVAL GICLEE

3/20/11 - Good Morning Taos Sunshine!

Last year members of the American Bar Association held a conference here in Taos.  Art Friend Karla Matthews from Virginia arranged a studio visit for the spouses of the participants holding the meeting.  We all laughed and had a fine old time - one huge coffee klatch!  The next day some of the lovely ladies gifted me with one of the flower arrangements used as table decoration.  I put the flowers in my studio thinking I would paint them (you can see the paint tubes in the upper right hand corner). I photographed them instead.  Found the photo and decided this morning to pull a 15"x20" (image size) print.  It is beautiful!  Rich colors -- wipes away the winter blues!  This print is available for purchase - $65.00, free shipping.  Visa, Mastercard and Amex available through my studio for your convenience.  To order call (575)758-7454.

STUDIO NEWZ: Yesterday added new paintings available for purchase at the Collector's Gallery on my website at www.donnaclairart.com  Almost finished with the 36"x48" commissioned painting "Rio Chama at Abiquiu .  Am considering having an open studio weekend over the Memorial Day holiday.  If anyone is interested, just let me know.

Big Springtime hug to all Art Friends!  Donna    

ON THE ROAD TO COMPLETION - 36"X48" RIO CHAMA COMMISSION

18 March 2011 - Rio Chama, 36x48" (sold) -- On this early Friday afternoon am finally seeing how this painting can be completed.  Here are the glazes; some parts of the painting are already finished - the sky and parts of the foreground.  Made a pot of spaghetti sauce this morning, listening to Annie Proulx's Bird Cloud - a perfectly awesome way to end the week!  Stay tuned to see this finished canvas and some new underpaintings.  Spring has sprung!  DC

"RIO CHAMA AT ABIQUIU" -18"x24" Original Oil Study (Available)

STUDIO #511 - "RIO CHAMA AT ABIQUIU" - NEW 18"x24" Original Oil on Belgian Linen, Framed in Gold.  $1800.00, +$100 Shipping and Handling.   Just completed this afternoon, this work is a study for a 36"x48" commissioned canvas.  The colors are rich and vibrant and the brushstrokes fat and juicy!  If you have any questions or would like to purchase, call my Taos Studio at (575)758-7454.  Hug an artist today!

RIO CHAMA AT ABIQUIU - 18"x24" Work in Progress - the Glazes

2/14/11 - "RIO CHAMA AT ABIQUIU" - 18"x24" Study - Work in Progress (Glazes) -- This is a study for a larger commission piece (36"x48")  The sky is completed and the mountains in the distance.  Sky:  Thalo Blue, Permalba White, Indanthrone Blue and a touch of Yellow Ochre.  Far mountains:  More intense sky color.  Same mixtures.  Closer mountains:  Add Chrome Oxide Green Opaque and more Yellow Ochre.  River:  Deeper sky colors.  Land and trees:  Combinations of semi-transparent glazes:  Yellow Ochre, Cadmium Yellow, Burnt Sienna.  Foreground:  Burnt Sienna in cross-hatch pattern to simulate gravel (I hope).

WINTER RIVER -- NEW 11"x14" Original Oil Painting - SOLD

"WINTER RIVER" - Sold

NEW 11"x14" Orig. Oil/Canvas, framed

Call my Taos Studio at (575)758-7454 for price and availability

SOUTHWEST ART MAGAZINE - FEBRUARY ISSUE

PSSST!  Look for "TAOS AFTERNOON SHADOWS" - FULL PAGE AD IN FEBRUARY ISSUE OF SOUTHWEST ART MAGAZINE!  ENJOY!

RIO CHAMA AT ABIQUIU - 18"x24" Work in Progress - Underpainting

 

21 January 2011 - "RIO CHAMA AT ABIQUIU" - 18"X24" New Work in Progress - The Underpainting.  Oil colors mixed with MG Fast Drying Underpainting White to Pastel Hues.  Sky:  Thalo Blue, Indanthrone Blue, Yellow Ochre, Cadmium Yellow.  Mountains:  Deeper Blue Hues than sky.  Adding Chrome Oxide Green to deeper blue mixture.  Dioxazine Purple with Blue and Green Mixtures.  River:  Lighter hues than sky but same mixture of blues and greens to reflect sky color.  Trees/Land:  Yellow Ochre, Cadmium Orange, Mars Orange, Cadmium Yellow. 

.

HOT OFF THE EASEL! "PEDERNAL" NEW 8"X28" Original Oil SOLD

1/18/11 -- "PEDERNAL" - 8"X28" Original Oil, to be framed in gold with linen liner.  $1600.00.   SOLD Just put my brushes down about half an hour ago.  This canvas practically painted itself!.....the beginnings of the material I got this fall on  my trip to Abiquiu and Chama. 

STUDIO NEWZ:  Waiting for the upgrade on Dreamweaver software and then will make an appointment to be tutored in how to change my new website by myself.  Until then I will send e.mails a little more frequently.  After that most work in progress will be posted to my Art Journal at http://donnaclair.blogspot.com  Thanks for all the great comments about my redesign at DonnaClairArt.com -- warms my old heart to hear from so many with such good cheer!  The Art Gods have taken up residency in my studio again now that most of the changes to the website are made.  Some new larger canvases have already been painted in my head -- that's the hard part, the Dreamtime!  Now all I have to do is stay at the easel until they are finished......Stay tuned!  Hug an Artist today!

Feliz Ano Nuevo a Todos! Donna

WINTER RIVER - 11"x14" Work in Progress - Underpainting

STUDIO #411 - "WINTER RIVER" - 11"X14" Original Oil on Canvas Work in Progress - the Underpainting.  All colors mixed with Fast Drying MG White.  Blues: Thalo, Indanthrone.  Greens:  Prussian Blue and Burnt Sienna, Chrome Oxide Green Opaque.  Brush: Yellow Ochre, Cadmium Red, Mars Orange, Burnt Sienna.

"PEDERNAL AT ABIQUIU, N.M." - 8"x28" Oil - WORK IN PROGRESS - Underpainting

STUDIO #311 - "PEDERNAL AT ABIQUIU, N.M." - 8"x28" Work in Progress, Original Oil on Belgian Linen.  Sky: Thalo Blue, Ochre, MG Underpainting White.  Mountains: Indanthrone Blue, sky mixture, and MG White.  Trees: Prussian Blue, Burnt Sienna, Chrome Oxide Green Opaque, MG.  Land: Yellow Ochre, Mars Orange, Diox. Purple, MG.

AN INVITATION TO VISIT MY "NEW" WEBSITE

 

1/14/11 -- For the past six months or so, my friend and fellow tech collaborator, Dan Kuehn and I have been working to simplify and upgrade my website at www.donnaclairart.com  -- The new site is now available online.  On the Collector's Guide page you can find a gallery of new paintings available through my studio.   I also  invite you to visit The High Road Print Catalog page which represents the journey I have taken in northern New Mexico over the past forty-four years.  This year I plan to add to all the categories represented on the home page -- an expanded journey!   Your comments are appreciated.  Click to the Contact Page and leave your e.address to receive my Studio Newsletter with updates of new paintings and prints.  Your comments are appreciated.  Stay tuned!  DC  

24"x24" HONDO VALLEY DREAMING - Completed 1/6/11

"HONDO VALLEY DREAMING"

NEW 24"x24" Orig. Oil on Linen

Framed in Gold w/ Linen Liner

Call my Taos Studio (575)758-7454

24"x24" HONDO VALLEY DREAMING - Work in Progress - The Glazes

1/5/11 - From My Taos Studio -   HONDO VALLEY DREAMING - 24"x24" Work in Progress, the sky is completed and the Glazes on the lower 2/3rds of the painting:  Sky: A combination of Permalba White, Indanthrone Blue, Thalo Blue and Thalo Green and Payne's Grey.  The Grasses: Darkest Greens:  Prussian Blue and Burnt Sienna.  Adding Chrome Oxide Green Opaque, Cadmium Orange and Cadmium Yellow for the lighter areas.  Stay Tuned!

"EL LLANO" - 22"x28 Original Oil - SOLD

"EL LLANO" - Sold

22"x28' Original Oil, Framed in Gold with Linen Liner

CORDOVA AFTERNOON - SOLD

 "CORDOVA AFTERNOON" - Sold

24"x30" Orig. Oil on Belgian Linen

Framed in Gold with Linen Liner

30"x40" ABOVE THE VALLEY OIL PAINTING - SOLD

 

"ABOVE THE VALLEY" (LLANO SAN JUAN DE NEPOMUSENO) 30"x40" Original Oil  - SOLD

48"x48" POPPY LOVE GRANDE! NEW Original Oil Painting

11/19/10 -  "POPPY LOVE GRANDE!" NEW 48"x48" Original Oil on Belgian Linen --Just completed today, this painting will be featured as a full page ad in the 2011 Wingspread Collector's Guide.   The glazed version of this painting is featured below -- the background will give you a fair idea of the size of this piece.  In my very modest opinion, it is a knockout!  Puts a big smile on everyone who sees it!  Now available for purchase through my studio - all major credit cards accepted.  Call at (575)758-7454 or e.mail dclair@donnaclairart.com for price and availability.

 

Preparing for winter.  Feel as though I am over the jitters of "what to paint next" -- the new material is amazing and the amount of new photos and sketches from my trips this summer and fall makes my old heart race with anticipation.  A couple days to chase dust bunnies and I will be all ready to start again!  New paintings, new auctions and some really special surprises!  Stay tuned!  DC

GRACIAS A LA VIDA!

"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures."  Thornton Wilder
Happy Thanksgiving to all!  DC

PLACITA IN WINTER 30"x60" Varnished and Framed (S0LD)

"PLACITA IN WINTER" - SOLD

30"x60" Orig. Oil on Belgian Linen

Framed in Gold with Linen Liner

38"x68" Framed Size 

24"x24" "HONDO VALLEY" - Work in Progress, Orig. Oil Painting

11/15/2010 - 24"x24" - "HONDO VALLEY" - Original Oil Painting on Belgian Linen, Work in Progress.  All colors mixed with MG White.  Sky: Dioxazine Purple, some Rose Red.  Mountains: Thalo Blue, Indanthrone Blue.  Middle Ground:  Chrome Oxide Green and Cadmium Yellow.  Foreground:  Same combination, leaning more to Chrome Oxide Green and adding some Prussian Blue. 

30"x60" "PLACITA IN WINTER" - Original Oil

"PLACITA IN WINTER" 

30"x60" Original Oil on Belgian Linen

Framed in Gold with Linen Liner

SUNDAY MORNING SURPRISE!!

 

10/31/10 - 10AM - TAOS MOUNTAIN BALLOON RALLY!  Surprise drop in visitors in my neighbors yard -- UP UP AND AWAAAY!  I LOVE SURPRISES!

30"x60" PLACITA IN WINTER - STEP 2 - UNDERPAINTING

30"x60" PLACITA IN WINTER (Work in Progress - Underpainting) -- Color notes:  Most of the color mixtures are done using MG Fast Drying White.  Sky:  Payne's Grey, Prussian Blue.  Mountains: Combinations of Prussian Blue and Burnt Sienna as darkest colors; lighter shades with Chrome Oxide Green Opaque and Yellow Ochre.  Snow:  Lightest areas MG mixed with a little Cad. Red and Cad. Yellow.  Shadows:  Payne's Grey -- Some Dioxazine Purple.  Light Trees:  Mud mixture with some Holbein Rose Grey.  MUD:  At the end of the day bring all the color mixtures together in one pile with your palette knife -- create "mud" -- use as a transitional color in the painting.  ENJOY!  DC

30"x60" PLACITA IN WINTER - STEP 1 - OIL SKETCH

Step #2 - Using study and photos as guides, oil sketch with Prussian Blue and Burnt Sienna.  Let
dry to the touch.  The next step is the underpainting - MG Fast Drying White with basic pastel colors.

30"x60" PLACITA IN WINTER, WORK IN PROGRESS

Portrait quality canvas, custom stretched.  Three coats of gesso tinted with Payne's Grey; let dry
for about ten days before painting.  Light sketch okay.

24 SEPTEMBER 2010 - STUDIO NEWZ

STUDIO NEWZ:   For the past four years the major share of my painting sales large and small have been made via the internet - through my website at www.DonnaClairArt.com     As the result of this online success, I am no longer affiliated with McLarry Gallery in Santa Fe.  All New Mexico sales will go through my Taos Studio at least for the next six to eight months.  Am re-designing my website and the "COLLECTOR'S GALLERY" of new paintings will be online in early November.  Am also working on two book projects which I hope to have completed by next spring.  In the meantime, my studio will be open by appointment -- please call a day or two in advance of your visit.  My sincere thanks to Art Friends near and far for your continued interest in my work!  Donna

PS -- Become an Art Friend - send your e.address to me to receive my Studio Newsletter with photos of works in progress, completed paintings and new prints!

"PLACITA IN WINTER (FINISHED STUDY) 18"X36" OIL ON CANVAS - SOLD

 "PLACITA IN WINTER" (STUDY) - Sold

18"x 36" Original Oil on Canvas unframed.

This is a study for a 30"x60" canvas.

This painting is available for purchase thru my studio.

Call (575) 758-7454 or e.mail. 

PLACITA IN WINTER (STUDY) - 18"X36" UNDERPAINTING

 

9/15/10 --The second phase of this painting is what I call the "underpainting" - most of the colors have been mixed with MG Fast Drying White.  Although it might look finished now as it is, I will work the top layers of oil colors into it as soon as these paints dry....five or six days.  The dark greens are a combination of Burnt Sienna and Prussian Blue.  The top sky colors are Cobalt Blue, Payne's Grey and MG White.  The snow:  MG White, Cadmium Yellow and a touch of Cadmium Red.  The shadows on the snow: same combination as the sky colors.  This painting should be completed in about ten days.

"PLACITA IN WINTER" (STUDY) 18"x36 Sketch

Hello from Taos!  Here are the beginnings of what I expect will be two paintings -- the first is an 18"x36" Study for Placita in Winter.  I love this composition and the colors and am planning to order a 30"x60" stretched canvas tomorrow to make a larger version of this painting.  First of all, here is the original sketch.  The canvas was prepped with gesso mixed with Payne's Grey.  The sketch is a combination of Burnt Sienna and Prussian Blue.

VALDEZ AUTUMN - 30"X30" ORIG. OIL - SOLD

"VALDEZ AUTUMN" - SOLD

30"x30" Orig Oil/Linen, Framed in Gold

"SOMBREROS DE SOLOLA" - 14"X11" ORIG OIL (Click here to preview/purchase)

"SOMBREROS DE SOLOLA" (Guatemala)

14"x11" Orig. Oil, Fr. in Gold w/ Linen Liner

Click here to preview/purchase

"LLANO SAN JUAN" - 30"x40" Orig. Oil (Click here to preview/purchase)

"LLANO SAN JUAN"

30"x40" Orig. Oil/Linen, Fr. in Gold

Click here to preview/purchase

"ADOBE WALLS/SANTA FE" - 24"x30" Orig. Oil - SOLD

"ADOBE WALLS/SANTA FE" - SOLD

24"x30" Orig. Oil on Linen, Fr. in Gold

IGLESIA DEL NORTE - Orig. Oil (Click to preview/purchase)

"LA IGLESIA DEL NORTE"

11"X14" Original Oil, Framed in Gold

Click here to preview/purchase

LAS NUBES DE TAOS - SOLD

"LAS NUBES DE TAOS" - SOLD

(THE CLOUDS OF TAOS)

9"x9" Original Oil, Framed in Gold with Linen Liner

HERE I GO AGAIN! Another New Beginning

8 September 2010 - It's that time of the year again when I begin to block in new paintings to work on through the winter.  Have had several field trips so far with a lot of new material.  In the right hand corner of this photo is the new 48"x48" canvas called "POPPY LOVE GRANDE" which I will reveal in stages on this blog.  This week I will also post photos of original oil paintings to be sold via EBay store.  Stay tuned for previews of my new studio work.  If you have any questions, just give me a call (575)758-7454 or send query via e.mail.

"FROM THE HIGH ROAD" - NEW ORIGINAL OIL

#2011 - "FROM THE HIGH ROAD"

16"x20" Original Oil on Linen

Framed in Gold with Linen Liner

For price and availability, please call Taos Studio at

(575) 758-7454 

"LOS CAMPOS DE CUNDIYO" - NEW ORIGINAL OIL

#2010 - "LOS CAMPOS DE CUNDIYO

11"X14" ORIGINAL OIL ON LINEN

FRAMED IN GOLD WITH LINEN LINER

For price and availability please call Taos Studio at

(575)758-7454 

"POPPY LOVE II" - NEW! 10"x10" Original Oil - SOLD

#1810 - "POPPY LOVE II"- Sold

New! 10"x10" Orig. Oil on Linen

Framed in Gold with Linen Liner

"CUNDIYO" - NEW! 11"x14" Original Oil

#1710 - "CUNDIYO"

NEW! 11"x14" Orig. Oil on Linen

Framed in Gold with Linen Liner

For price and availability please call Taos Studio at (575)758-7454

"TAKING THE SUN" - NEW! 11"x14" Original Oil Painting

#1610 - "TAKING THE SUN"

NEW 11"x14" Orig. Oil on Linen

Framed in Gold with Linen Liner

For price and availability please call Taos Studio at (575) 758-7454

"SPRING THAW" - NEW 11"x14" Original Oil Painting

#1510 - "SPRING THAW"

NEW 11"x14" Original Oil on Linen

Framed in Gold with Linen Liner

For price and availability, please call Taos Studio at (575)758-7454

11"x14" Original Oil - "PENASCO AFTERNOON"

#1410 - "PENASCO AFTERNOON"

New 11"x14" Original Oil on Linen

Framed in Gold with Linen Liner

For price & availability, call Taos Studio at

(575)758-7454

BACK TO THE EASEL!

23 June 2001 -- Every so often I realize I don't know who I am without a paintbrush in my hand!  That's when I have to take a break - time to observe the world without a camera or sketchbook. This hiatus took a little more time than I had planned, but it was well worth every minute.  What did I do on my spring/summer "vacation"?  My living space required repair and cleaning.  My office needed a good straightening up -- filing, proofing new prints, preparing my space to work on some books I plan to work on this fall.  I reconnected with friends -- some I hadn't seen in many, many years. Entertained a great group from the American Bar Endowment.....Art Friends from Virginia, Louisiana, Ohio, Santa Fe, Illinois and Wisconsin.  Went to Taos Pueblo for some fantastic fry bread.  A wonderful lunch at Rancho de Chimayo.  Visited Santuario de Chimayo and gave some prayers of thanks for good friends and this amazing place where I live and paint.....gratitude is good!  DC