PROGRESS, NOT PERFECTION....YET!

Hello from Tesuque!  A lovely and most welcome drenching rain this afternoon -- just when we thought that moisture was a figment of our imaginations, the Rain Gods smiled on us!  Longtime Art Friend Dr. David Reagan of Texas suggested I send photos of my new place - here they are.  Just getting started again -- yes, that is a worktable in the kitchen area - underpainting some 6"x8"s - new underpaintings large and small on the easel.  Finally working my way through the new Photoshop CS6 software - not quite there yet.  Why do they take something so simple and easy to use as CS2 and complicate it beyond my frail capabilities? Still have a little workroom off to the side of the office that needs some TLC - unpack more boxes, put out my music - organize the chaos.

My plan is to begin posting some small auction pieces around the 9th of next month - working on some lovely medium underpaintings -- it all seems so new -- set out new paints again today -- I fall in love with linseed oil and turpentine all over again!  Waiting for one more standing light for the easel paintings - having to learn some things as though for the first time.

Oh, almost forgot - found this gem on Facebook today - an article that states that more art is now being sold online than in galleries!  -- Hot off the easel!  It pays for every artist to know how to use a computer!  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23054641 

Just beginning to rebuild my inventory and plan to post my progress to this blog on a regular basis --  should be very interesting!  Stay tuned!  Send e.mail address to receive Studio Newsletter - previews of new paintings and prints.

Best regards, Donna
505-983-8306

Change!

New Photoshop, computer upgrade, new studio arrangement, unfamiliar surroundings - strangeness -- unfamiliar lighting on palette and easel - the word for the Day is ADAPT!!

WOW! ANOTHER NEW BEGINNING!

UPDATE:  Tesuque.  Here I is!  Took three trips to get everything here to the new studio.  The last to arrive was my easel which went into the garage temporarily until I could unpack and organize my space.  It was a shock to me after all the giving away and selling that I still have so much STUFF!  The easel is now set up in the house, along with a new eight drawer taboret which holds all my paints and brushes.  Still a big pile of cartons in the living area -- but it is starting to look like home.  Miss my kitchen window on Santistevan Lane and feel somewhat closed in - but on the other hand this place feels safe and protected.  It is tucked away on the top of a little lane - sort of a family-type compound - nice neighbors.   The yard needs a lot of TLC, but the house is great! It was built about thirty years ago - solid adobe, brick floors, a fire place that works-skylights, wonderful spaces - room to stand back and view the work of the day.

With the exception of the new Winterlight Quartet paintings, which I am keeping, the entire studio inventory sold within two weeks of the move.  This truly is a New Beginning.  Told my friend Andrea this morning that it is as though a samurai sword came between my old life and this new time which I look upon now as a gift of renewal.  Was feeling pretty low about getting so damned old a few months back and I found this quote  from the immortal Japanese printmaker Hokusai: " I have drawn things since I was six. All that I made before the age of sixty-five is not worth counting. At seventy-three I began to understand the true construction of animals, plants, trees, birds, fishes, and insects. At ninety I will enter into the secret of things. At a hundred and ten, everything--every dot, every dash--will live”― Hokusai Katsushika  (At 73 I am beginning to understand....)

Hoping to connect my cameras, printers and computer this week - right now am looking at a scary bunch of cords.  Time to set out fresh paints and begin again.  My sincere thanks to all who helped me get to this place.....I am so grateful to everyone.  Am not making any promises right now -- just going to sit in front of that blank canvas and open my mind and heart and give it my all one more time.  Sending you all big Tesuque hugs, Donna

(505)983-8306
www.donnaclairart.com

MOVING ALONG! THREE NEW AUCTIONS ENDING FRIDAY.

Moving cartons arrived today.....giving away, packing up years and years of stuff.  Five paintings were "adopted" last week - would love to find good homes for these three as well.  Have my blank canvases all shapes and sizes ready for the new studio in Tesuque.  If you have any questions, just give me a call (575)758-7454.  Two or three more e.mails this week and then I will concentrate on packing for the move.  Thanks so much for all the good wishes!  This is exciting!  Best regards, Donna

  "FIRST LIGHT" 48"x60" Original Oil on Belgian Linen, Unframed- Sold

  "ON THE ROAD" 18"x18" Original Oil on Belgian Linen, Framed in Gold with Linen Liner - Sold.

 "HIGH COUNTRY AFTERNOON" (On the road to Chama, N.M.) 24"x30" Original Oil on Belgian Linen, Framed in Gold with Linen Liner - Sold.

MY EASEL AND I ARE MOVING TO TESUQUE!

Hello!  This past Sunday, after a lovely drive through Taos Canyon and seeing some early bird apple trees in bloom at Velarde, I was driven up a very narrow dirt road to an old compound of houses in Tesuque.  There it was... a casita, a perfect studio with wonderful skylights, brick floors, a fireplace and room for a vegetable garden.  It's that time in my life when I want to simplify, experiment and explore new ideas.  So, within the next three weeks I will pack up, give away, or sell 25 years of my life in Taos -- will take as little as possible in order to have a true New Beginning.  From now until the end of the month my e.mails will be a little more frequent because these auctions will include some of my prized favorites as well as my current studio inventory at very special prices.  This is a huge adventure...you are invited to join me. If you have any questions, just give me a call (575)758-7454.  Best regards, Donna - Taos

NOCHECITA DE CHIMAYO, 22"x28" Original Oil on Belgian Linen, Framed in Gold with Linen Liner.  Sold

WINTERLIGHT QUARTET NO. 3 - "LOOKING DOWN THE LANE"

 

 

Winterlight Quartet No. 3 - "LOOKING DOWN THE LANE" - (Santistevan Lane, Taos, New Mexico)  11"x14" New Original Oil - completed 4/1/13, Framed. $850 - Available at Online Gallery.

WINTERLIGHT QUARTET NO. 3 - UNDERPAINTING

WINTERLIGHT QUARTET NO. 3 - "DOWN THE LANE" - 11"x14" New Work in Progress (Underpainting) - Clouds: Rose Grey/Payne's Grey.  Trees:  Ultramarine Blue/Burnt Umber.  Buildings & Highlights:  Cadmium Yellow/Cadmium Red.  Shadows:  Dioxazine Purple/Payne's Grey.

MADRUGADA DE PICURIS, 48"x48" Framed Original Oil

MADRUGADA DE PICURIS, 48"x48" Framed Original Oil -- Sold

24"x30" Original Oil - RANCHITOS PASTORAL, Framed

 

STUDIO NO. 413 - RANCHITOS PASTORAL (View of the neighboring fields from the Padre Martinez Hacienda, Ranchitos Road, Taos, N.M.), 24"x30" Original Oil on Belgian Linen, Framed in Gold with Linen Liner.  Click here to preview/purchase or call my studio at (575)758-7454.

Studio No. 413 - Work in Progress (Glazes-Opaques): RANCHITOS PASTORAL, 24"x30 Orig Oil

3/11/13 Color Notes: RANCHITOS PASTORAL, 24"x30" Original Oil on Belgian Linen - Sky:  The sky usually lightens at the horizon and deepens from middle to top.  Light:  Cerulean Blue, Titanium White, Yellow Ochre.  Deeper colors - Indanthrone Blue, Thalo Blue and Thalo Green mixed with lighter combination.  Tree:  Dark Shadows:  Prussian Blue, Burnt Sienna and Aliz. Crimson.  Lighter foliage:  Chrome Oxide Green Opaque and Cadmium Yellow - this is a middle tone.  Foreground:  Italian Pink and Burnt Sienna.

Studio No. 413 - RANCHITOS PASTORAL, 24"x30" Work in Progress (Underpainting)

Work in Progress:  RANCHITOS PASTORAL - 24"x30" Oil on Belgian Linen (Underpainting)  Color Notes:  All colors mixed with Grumbacher Fast Drying MGWhite and Turpentine, applied with a bristle brush.  Sky:  Thalo Blue, Indanthrone Blue.  Tree: Darks - Prussian Blue and Burnt Sienna.  Medium Tones - Chrome Oxide Green Opaque and Cadmium Yellow.  Foreground:  Combinations of Naples Yellow, Yellow Ochre and Burnt Sienna.

100 Small Paintings No. 72 - Ranchitos Pastoral Study, 8"x8" Framed

100 Small Paintings No. 72 - RANCHITOS PASTORAL STUDY, 8"x8" Framed

VIEW FROM THE HIGH ROAD, 16"x20" - Sold

VIEW FROM THE HIGH ROAD, 16"x20" Original Oil on Belgian Linen, Framed in Gold with Linen Liner  - Sold

No. 71 - RIO PUEBLO - (Available)

100 Small Paintings No. 71 - RIO PUEBLO (View from the bridge at Padre Martinez Hacienda) - 8"x6" Original Oil on Italian Gessoed Panel, Framed - Available

No. 70 - VIEW FROM A WINTER WINDOW - Sold

100 SMALL PAINTINGS NO. 70 - VIEW FROM A WINTER WINDOW (Yes, another sunset from my kitchen window!) - 6"x8" Original Oil on Italian Gessoed Board, unframed  - Sold

EL LLANO AFTERNOON, 8"x8" Original Oil - Sold

100 SMALL PAINTINGS NO. 69 - EL LLANO AFTERNOON, 8"X8" Original Oil on Linen Panel, Framed  - Sold

STUDIO NEWZ:  Beginning to block in four or five larger paintings from my field trips last fall -- it will take two to three weeks to do sketches and underpaintings.  I will post my progress on my Art Journal along with basic color notes.  In the meantime I will auction a few more paintings from my 100 Small Paintings project.  Saw some tree trimmers in the neighborhood today - could it be that spring is just around the corner?

STUDIO NO. 313 - WINTERLIGHT #2 - SUNSET ON SANTISTEVAN LANE

STUDIO NO. 313 - WINTERLIGHT NO. 2 - SUNSET ON SANTISTEVAN LANE - New 11"x14" Original Oil on Linen, Framed - Click here to purchase.  To order from my Studio, call (575)758-7454.

NO. 68 - HOW DO I LOVE THEE?

  NO. 68 - HOW DO I LOVE THEE?  New 6"x8" Original Oil on Italian Gessoed Panel unframed  - Available at 100 Small Paintings

Studio No. 313 - WINTERLIGHT WORK IN PROGRESS, THE GLAZES

Studio No. 313 - WINTERLIGHT NO. 2 - SNOW CLOUDS ON SANTISTEVAN LANE, New 11x14" Work in Progress - The Glazes (Dark transparent and semi-transparent colors) - Basic colors mixed with Painting Medium  Sky: Payne's Grey, Permalba White and Holbein Rose Grey Trees: Cadmium Yellow, Burnt Sienna and Transparent Italian Pink.  Pine Trees:  Prussian Blue, Burnt Sienna and some Cadmium Red.  Road: Payne's Grey. 

Studio No. 313 - WINTERLIGHT NO. 2 - WORK IN PROGRESS, THE UNDERPAINTING

Studio No. 313 - WINTERLIGHT NO. 2 - SNOW CLOUDS ON SANTISTEVAN LANE, New 11x14" Work in Progress - The Underpainting - Basic colors mixed with MG Underpainting White and turpentine.  Sky: Payne's Grey Trees: Cadmium Yellow.  Pine Trees:  Prussian Blue, Burnt Sienna and some Cadmium Red.  Road: Payne's Grey. 

NO. 67 - EL LLANO PASTORAL - Sold

100 Small Paintings No. 67 - EL LLANO PASTORAL, 8"x8" Original Oil on Linen Panel, unframed.  Sold

NO. 66 - RANCHITOS AFTERNOON - Sold

100 Small Paintings No. 66 - RANCHITOS AFTERNOON, 6"x8" Original Oil on Linen Panel, unframed. Sold

RIO CHAMA, 18"x24" Original Oil, Framed - Sold

RIO CHAMA. (Abiquiu, New Mexico) - 18"x24" Original Oil, Framed - SOLD

TAOS TWILIGHT - New 8"x8" - Sold

 100 Small Paintings No. 65 - TAOS TWILIGHT, NEW 8"x8" Original Oil on Canvas Panel - SOLD

WINTERLIGHT NO. 1 - "LOOKING SOUTH" - New Original Oil (Available)

Studio No. 213 - WINTERLIGHT NO. 1 - "LOOKING SOUTH"  - NEW 11"x14" Original Oil on Belgian Linen, Framed (Completed 1/18/13) - Now available for purchase at my ONLINE GALLERY/STORE.

STUDIO NEWZ:  As promised, here is the first of four new canvases.  Early one evening about  two weeks ago as I took out the trash I saw this incredible light - Santistevan Lane just glowed.  This huge gray cloud hung over the setting sun intensifying the light.  Couldn't resist getting photos and the next day I started the underpaintings.  Sometimes it is worth doing one's chores!  Enjoy!

Please Note:  This work and other prints and small paintings are  now available through my online store.  If you would rather not make your purchase through Pay Pal, just call studio to make arrangements to purchase.  (575-758-7454)  Thanks!

Best regards, Donna

THE LITTLE RED FENCE ON PERALTA ST., TAOS

100 Small Paintings No. 63 - THE LITTLE RED FENCE ON PERALTA ST., Taos, N.M.  8"x8" Original Oil on Canvas Panel unframed - SOLD

100 SMALL PAINTINGS NO. 62 - REFLECTIONS ON THE RIO GRANDE

100 Small Paintings No. 62 - REFLECTIONS ON THE RIO GRANDE, New 6"x8" original oil, unframed on Italian Gessoed Board.  Completed 1/8/13 -  SOLD

ON THE LLANO, NEW 11"x14" Original Oil - Sold

STUDIO NO. 113 - ON THE LLANO, NEW 11"x14' Original Oil on Linen (Completed 1/4/13), Sold

ON THE RIO GRANDE - Sold

100 Small Paintings No. 61 - ON THE RIO GRANDE - NEW 8"x6" unframed original oil on Italian Gessoed Panel.  Sold

EARLY MORNING LIGHT - SOLD

100 SMALL PAINTINGS - NO. 59 - EARLY MORNING LIGHT - NEW Original Oil on Handmade Italian Gessoed Panel. Sold

HOKUSAI........

Taos Art Supply posted this wonderful quote from Hokusai - the greatest Japanese printmaker. Gives me the impetus to continue and to hope I can have the experience that "every dot, every dash - will live"! What a great thought to prepare for a new year of painting.....

I have drawn things since I was six. All that I made before the age of sixty-five is not worth counting. At seventy-three I began to understand the true construction of animals, plants, trees, birds, fishes, and insects. At ninety I will enter into the secret of things. At a hundred and ten, everything--every dot, every dash--will live”
― Hokusai Katsushika

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM TAOS!

WINTER GIFTS......

To Art Friends Everywhere!  Those of you who have been with me a long time know I send out the same holiday greeting every year.  The original of this painting was "adopted" by some very special art collectors years ago and still resides in a lovely home here in Taos.  The street in this painting is the main street in Truchas -- I walked to the post office from my little adobe house every day and still keep the memories of that special time very close.  The woman is the memory I've kept of my little Polish grandmother -- she carried a shopping bag with her everywhere -- those were her "gifts" her "surprises".  The words of Fra Giovanni never fail to uplift - especially at this time of the year.  From my heart I wish you all the best of this holiday season -- Hug someone special today!  Sincere best wishes, Donna

"There  is nothing I can give you which you have not;
But there is much, very much that while I cannot give it,
 you can take.

No heaven can come to us unless our hearts
find rest in today.  TAKE HEAVEN.
No peace lies in the future which is not hidden
in this present moment.  TAKE PEACE.

The gloom of the world is but a shadow.
Behind it, yet within reach is joy.
There is a radiance and glory in the darkness, could we but see,
and to see we have only to look.  I BESEECH YOU TO LOOK.

Life is so generous a giver, but we, judging its gifts by
their covering, cast them away as ugly, or heavy or hard.
Remove the covering, and you will find beneath it
a living splendor, woven of love, by wisdom with power.

Welcome it, grasp it, and you touch the angel's hand that
brings it to you.  Everything we call a trial, a sorrow, or
a duty, believe me that angel's hand is there; the gift is there,
and the wonder of an overshadowing presence.
Our joys, too, be not content with them as joys.
They, too, conceal diviner gifts.

And so, at this time, I greet you.
Not quite as the world sends greetings, but with
profound esteem and with the prayer that for you now and
forever, the day breaks, and the shadows flee away."

Fra Giovanni, 1513 AD
 

GIVING THANKS!!

OUR DAILY BREAD - Taos Pueblo

"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us." Albert Schweitzer 

LLANO SAN JUAN IN AUTUMN - NEW 16"x20" Work in Progress (Underpainting)

LLANO SAN JUAN IN AUTUMN - 16"x20" Work in progress, the Underpainting.  Colors mixed with Grumbacher Underpainting White and turp. Color notes: Sky & Shadows-Indanthrone Purple, Cerulean Blue and Cobalt Blue.  Fields:  Yellow Ochre.  Trees: Outlined in Prussian Blue.  Chrome Oxide Green Opaque and Ochre.

TAKING THE SUN, 11"x14" Original Oil, Framed

TAKING THE SUN (LAS TRAMPAS, NEW MEXICO), 11"x14" Original Oil on Linen, Framed - Now available at my ONLINE GALLERY/STORE.

RODARTE (NEW MEXICO), Archival Giclee

RODARTE (NEW MEXICO) - Archival Giclee now available at my Online Gallery/Store. 

Went past this spot on a field trip last month and it has all changed! The original of this painting was completed quite some time ago -- what I know about the High Road after living and painting here for 45 years, sooner or later everything changes.

CAPILLA DE PLACITAS, Archival Giclee

CAPILLA DE PLACITAS, Large Archival Giclee Print (also available in smaller size) now available at my ONLINE GALLERY/STORE.

REMEMBRANCE......

Remembering: Many years ago my friend Susie Romero, daughter of Truchas Mayordomo Cosme Romero, took me to the loft of this old church (La Nuestra Senora del Rosario) to show me the lists of Truchas men who had served in war. It was an unforgettable homage. Today I would also like to remember my uncle Major Roy Knoll who served in Burma and Calcutta during WWII, uncle Alvin Hermesdorf who fought in the Battle of the Bulge....and all those who have served this country in uniform. Thank you.

WINTER FIELDS AT LAS TRAMPAS, Archival Giclee

WINTER FIELDS AT LAS TRAMPAS, Archival Giclee now available at my Online Gallery/Store.  From my kitchen window I can see it is snowing in the Pecos this afternoon - heavy winds and rain in Taos. This image is of the field on the left side of the highway just past the San Jose de Gracia Church as you are going toward Truchas. I've always loved this field at any time of the year, but especially in winter! Almost time to hibernate!

RIO CHIQUITO, Archival Giclee Print

RIO CHIQUITO, Archival Giclee Print now available at my Online Gallery/Store.  In the villages of northern New Mexico, after many trips to the mountains with chainsaw and pick-up truck, the fire wood is chopped and stacked -- the chilis are roasted and in the freezer....all's well with the World!

LILIAS DE TAOS, 10"x10" Original Oil, Framed

LILIAS DE TAOS, 10"x10" Original Oil on Linen, Framed in Gold with Linen Liner now available at my Online Gallery/Store.