STUDIO WORK.....

Once or twice a year I order my paints, canvases and panels. As long as the gesso is mixed, it pays to build an inventory of supplies at the ready.   If in the middle of a "work blockage" -- don't fight it -- gesso canvases, build your source material with some field trips.  Taking a break once in a while is great for inspiration -- most of my work is painted in my head long before the brush ever hits the canvas!

PREPARING TO PAINT -- GESSOING CANVAS

It is my habit to work on a "toned ground" - years ago I worked on a red ground and sometimes ochre.  Then I found that a grey-blue background worked best for me -- I mix the gesso (if necessary thin a little bit with water to a workable consistency) with Payne's Grey and then apply two to three coats to the canvas in a swirling motion (let each coat dry to the touch before applying the next) - avoid painting in straight strokes.  Let dry overnight before stacking boards or canvas for storage.

WELCOME 2014!

NEW YEAR....New palette, new canvas ......anything is possible!

RIO CHAMA (ABIQUIU, N.M.) 20"X20" Orig. Oil - Sold

3-DAY AUCTION - "RIO CHAMA" (Abiquiu, N.M.) 20"x20" Original Oil (wrap-around painting) - auction ending Sunday  - SOLD

WINTER GIFTS......

 

To Art Friends Everywhere!  Many of you have been with me a long time and know I love to send this greeting every year.  The original of this painting was "adopted" by some great friends and very prolific art collectors years ago and still resides in a lovely home 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 and place 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 each and every one of you all the best of this holiday season -- Hug someone special today!  Sincere best wishes, Donna - Tesuque, New Mexico - 12/20/13

"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

FROM MY TESUQUE WINDOW - 12/19/13

This morning - from Tesuque window - I see a painting in there - taking shape - loved the light coming in through the garden gate on the patch of snow.....

TAOS WINTER DREAMS, 6"x8" Orig. Oil Framed - Sold

TAOS WINTER DREAMS (Santistevan Lane, Taos, New Mexico) - 6"x8" Original Oil, Framed in Silver - Sold

DEEP RIVER DREAMS, 9"x12" Original Oil, Framed - Sold

DEEP RIVER DREAMS (Rio Grande at Pilar, New Mexico) - 9"x12" Original Oil Framed in Silver with Linen Liner. SOLD

From a Winter Window - Tesuque - 12/5/13

TESUQUE BLUE - 12/1/13

12/1/13 - Getting acquainted with my new neighborhood!

100 Small Paintings No. 72 - RANCHITOS PASTORAL 8"X8" - Sold

 

100 Small Paintings No. 72 - RANCHITOS PASTORAL (View from the field at Padre Martinez Hacienda, Taos, New Mexico), 8"X8" Original Oil, SOLD

100 SMALL PAINTINGS NO. 73 - PUESTA DEL SOL, 6"x8" Framed - SOLD

100 SMALL PAINTINGS NO. 73 - PUESTA DEL SOL (One of the last paintings of the view from my Taos kitchen window) 6"x8" Original Oil on Gessoed Panel, Framed in Gold -  SOLD

OUR DAILY BREAD.....

OUR DAILY BREAD (Taos Pueblo, New Mexico)

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity.  It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.  Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."

- Melody Beattie

A very happy and peaceful Thanksgiving to family and friends everywhere!  Best regards, Donna

HARVEST MOON RISING, NEW 30"x40" Original Oil, Framed

 

Studio No. 2113 - HARVEST MOON RISING, 30"x40" Original Oil on Belgian Linen, Framed in Silver with Linen Liner - Completed 11/19/13 - Now available at Online Gallery .

HARVEST MOON RISING - 30"x40" Work in Progress (The Glazes)

STUDIO NO. 2113 - HARVEST MOON RISING - 30"x40" Work in Progress (The Glazes) - Glazes are transparent or semi-transparent colors thinned with painting medium and worked into the underpainting.  Trees:  Combinations of Chrome Oxide Green Opaque, Yellow Ochre, Prussian Blue, Burnt Sienna and Cadmium Red.  Sky:  Ultramarine Blue, Violet Lake, Thalo Red Rose and Yellow Ochre Transparent.  Because there is turpentine in painting medium, the glazes have to dry before going in with the opaque colors. 

HARVEST MOON RISING - NEW 30"x40" Work in Progress (Underpainting)

HARVEST MOON RISING -  30"x40" work in Progress (Underpainting) - Original Oil on Canvas.  Trees:  Chrome Oxide Green Opaque, Yellow Ochre, Prussian Blue.  Sky:  Ultramarine Blue; Cadmium Yellow, Thalo Red Rose, Cadmium Red.  Earth:  Mixed all colors together to get a wonderful "mud".   All colors mixed with Grumbacher MG White and thinned with turpentine.

TAOS SUNRISE - NEW 36"x36" Original Oil Completed 11/12/13

TAOS SUNRISE - New 36"x36" Original Oil on Belgian Linen - Wrap-around Canvas.  Completed 11/12/13.  Now available for purchase at my Online Gallery/Store.

TAOS SUNRISE - 36"x36" Work in Progress (Opaque Colors)

 

STUDIO NO. 2013 - TAOS SUNRISE - 36"x36" Work in Progress (Opaque Colors) - Worked on this canvas all week and dropped the idea of using only five colors.  Added Cadmium Yellow Light to the area where the sun is rising and will add some dry brush Holbein Rose Grey to the sky next week.  Also added some Burnt Sienna and Alizarin to the grasses and trees.  The paint is laid on rather thickly and needs to dry before I can work to bring out the early morning light.  This is not a New Beginning as I thought when I blocked it in - it is the last painting from my kitchen window on Santistevan Lane -- that makes it very special in my eyes.  Hope you are enjoying this process.  DC

TAOS SUNRISE - Work in Progress - the Middle Tones.

10/31/13 - Second day of work on this canvas - "Scumbled" (rubbed in) colors in all combinations.  Laid in branches with combination of Burnt Umber, Ultramarine Blue, and Prussian Blue.  Concentrating intense light in one area.  Let dry for a day or so.....Stay Tuned!

36"x36" Work in Progress - TAOS SUNRISE (Underpainting)

STUDIO #2013 - TAOS SUNRISE, Work in Progress (Underpainting) - On Toned Ground:  Whole canvas is covered with mixture of gesso and Payne's Grey.  Allowed to Dry.  Loose sketch:  Darks - Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Umber - some Prussian Blue.  To lighten add MG Underpainting white.  Light areas:  Yellow Ochre Pale and Grumbacher's MG Underpainting White. 

New 36"x36" Work in Progress - "TAOS SUNRISE (Palette)

COLORS:  Yellow Ochre Pale, Payne's Grey, Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Umber and Prussian Blue.

200 Small Paintings No. 88 - TAOS SUNRISE (Study), 6"x6" Original Oil, Framed

 

200 Small Paintings No. 88 - TAOS SUNRISE IN FIVE COLORS - Study for larger painting, 6"x6" Original Oil on Linen Panel, Framed in Silver - Now available at Online Gallery. 

BLANK IS A NEW BEGINNING!

100 Small Paintings No. 85 - LLANO SAN JUAN, 8"x16" Original Oil - Sold

 100 Small Paintings No. 86 - LLANO SAN JUAN, 8"x16" Original Oil on Gessoed Panel, unframed. Sold

100 SMALL PAINTINGS "CAPILLA DEL NORTE", 6"X8" ORIG. OIL - Available

100 Small Paintings No. 85 - "CAPILLA DEL NORTE" 6"x8" Original Oil on Gessoed Panel, framed in gold.  Available.

RIO CHAMA AT ABIQUIU, New 20"x20" Original Oil

 

Studio No. 1513 - New RIO CHAMA AT ABIQUIU, Original Oil on Canvas, 20"x20" (wrap-around painting).  Now available for purchase at Online Gallery.

RIO CHAMA AT ABIQUIU, 20"x20" Work in Progress (Underpainting)

STUDIO NO. 1513 - RIO CHAMA AT ABIQUIU, 20"x20" Original Oil on Canvas, wrap-around paintingWork in Progress (Underpainting) - Pinon Trees:  Prussian Blue and Burnt Sienna for the darks, chrome Oxide Green and Ochre for lighter areas.  Trees:  Cadmium Yellow, Yellow Ochre, Burnt Sienna.  Water:  Indanthrone Blue with Permalba White and touch of ochre to grey the blue.  Stay tuned.  DC

LAS AMAPOLAS, NEW 24"x30" Original Oil - SOLD

STUDIO NO. 1613 - LAS AMAPOLAS, New 24"x30" Original Oil, Framed in Gold with Linen Liner.  SOLD

LAS AMAPOLAS - 24"x30" Work in Progress

STUDIO NO. 1613 Work in Progress (Underpainting) - LAS AMAPOLAS, 24"x30" Original Oil on fine Belgian Linen.

30"x60" GARCIA PARK, New Original Oil (Completed 8/24/13)

30"x60" GARCIA PARK II -- New Original Oil Painting on fine Belgian Linen - wraparound painting.  Free shipping.  This painting can be purchased through my Studio 0r Online Gallery. 

My first large painting from Tesuque -- blocked the underpainting in at the end of May.  Determined it would be completed before the aspens turned. Extra blanket on the bed last night -- autumn is right around the corner!  This painting was a joy from start to finish. 

Best regards, Donna
(505) 983-8306

30"x60" Work in Progress - GARCIA PARK II, Original Oil

PREVIEW!  GARCIA PARK II - 30"x60" Original Oil on Belgian Linen - work in progress.  This is the first of many large canvases to be completed in this new Tesuque studio.  The different phases of this painting are posted to my Art Journal along with accurate color notes.  This canvas is unusual in that it has two layers of rich, dark glazes instead of one.  Will begin the final painting today - laying in the opaque colors and highlights.  Art Friends will be the first to see this finished canvas.  If anyone has any questions or comments, just e.mail dclair@donnaclairart.com or call me personally at (505)983-8306.  Stay tuned!

GARCIA PARK II - 30"x60" Work In Progress - the Glazes - Color Notes

Studio No. 1413- GARCIA PARK II, 30"x60" - The sky has been completed - a combination of warm and cool grays.  Foreground:  Combinations of Yellow Ochre, Mars Orange, Chrome Oxide Green Opaque, Prussian Blue and Burnt Sienna.  Middle Ground:  Snow - same pile of sky mixture (see previous post) Aspen Trees:  A wash of Yellow Ochre, Burnt Sienna, Cadmium Red, Chrome Oxide Green Opaque.  Ready to work on the final painting!

GARCIA PARK II, 30"x60" Work in Progress - Glazes and Opaques

Studio No. 1413 - GARCIA PARK II, 30"x60" Original Oil on Wraparound Belgian Linen.  Work in Progress - (Glazes and Opaques) - Sky - Two mixtures with Permalba White - Davy's Grey and Payne's Grey in separate piles - using the same mix for snow.  Davy's is warmer and Payne's is bluer.  Pine Trees:  Prussian Blue and Burnt Sienna for darks and Chrome Oxide Green Opaque with Cadmium Orange for lights.  Grasses:  Yellow Ochre, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber.  Stay tuned!

STUDIO NO. 1313 - LLANO SAN JUAN, NEW 16"x20" Original Oil on Belgian Linen, Framed in Gold with Linen Liner.  Completed 8/13/13.  Click here to preview/purchase.


Hello from Tesuque!  Wow!  What an adventure so far!  A real monsoon season this year with hellacious thunderstorms - wind, hail - just everything!  Exciting - especially when the rain came through the roof in five different places - towels, buckets -- just short of having to get out the life preserver.  Phone and internet out for two days.  Roof repair this week sometime.  Went back to the  easel the next day as though nothing happened -- nothing monotonous around here; that's for sure!  Starting to  photograph the views from my Tesuque windows and will head down the road apiece this weekend - I love the little street sign that says "Margaritaville" along the dirt road.  Had a good time making this painting - it is for sale through my Online Gallery/Store and will be displayed on website Collector's Gallery - ENJOY!

LLANO SAN JUAN, 16"x20" Work in Progress (Underpainting)

LLANO SAN JUAN, 16"x20" Original Oil - Work in Progress (Underpainting).

"SUMMER STORM AT CHAMA" - New 16"x16" Original Oil - Sold

 

"SUMMER STORM AT CHAMA" - 16"x16" Original Oil on Wraparound canvas. Ending Sunday.  SOLD

Hello!  Still having a little trouble with new Photoshop - can't "gray" the sky as much as necessary --- The original is more of a midnight blue!   I need to cry "Uncle" and ask for help!   Also have to arrange a better lighting system to photograph the work.  Am working on it - all the details - one of these days......    This is a lovely painting - just completed it this afternoon.  ENJOY!

Best regards, Donna
(505) 983-8306
http://donnaclair.blogspot.com
www.DonnaClairArt.com†

CAPILLA SIN NOMBRE, NEW 12"x12" Original Oil - Sold

 

3-Day Auction - CAPILLA SIN NOMBRE (Family chapel, northern New Mexico) - 12"x12" Original Oil on Canvas, unframed. Sold

The Nest, 8"x8" New Original Oil Framed - Sold

No. 82 - "THE NEST"  New 8"x8" Original Oil on Linen Panel, Framed.  Sold

9"x12" NEW ORIGINAL OIL "DEEP RIVER DREAMS"

NEW - DEEP RIVER DREAMS -  9"X12" Oil on Canvas, silver/gold frame  with Linen Liner.  Click here to preview/purchase.

One of my all-time favorite books is QUERENCIA by Stephen Bodio -- The word doesn't translate.  It is used  in Spanish to designate that mysterious little area in the bullring that catches the fancy of the fighting bull when he charges in.  He imagines it his sanctuary: when parked there, he supposes he cannot be hurt. . . So it is, borrowing the term, that one can speak of one's "querencia" to mean

that little, unspecified area in life where one feels, safe, serene.  William F. Buckley, RACING THROUGH  PARADISE              

My first sight after crossing the border into New Mexico in 1967 was that long, straight stretch of highway out of Tucumcari. Off in the distance and moving toward the car was a huge black storm cloud with a column of midnight blue rain pouring from it. Later I learned that the Native Americans call this phenomena "Walking Rain". I was a big city girl with three babies, six month twin girls and a two year old son, on a mattress in the back seat of the car and I was heading to the rest of my life on this alien planet called New Mexico.

Forty-six years later, I believe that the quality of my life and my work are inextricably bound to the  spirit of this place and its people. My visits to Mexico and Guatemala elicit the same excitement and curiosity.  It has always been my intention that the paintings exude the same wonderful mixture of the past and the present through color and texture.

Gratefully I have found that "unspecified area in life" where I feel safe and serene - peace. Those accidental twists and turns have brought significant changes in my life.  It is so easy to resist that "Senda Desconocido" (The Path Unknown); with just a little courage one can head the pick-up truck down another unfamiliar dirt road.  

MUMS, NEW 10"x8" Original Oil

 

STUDIO NO. 913 - MUMS, NEW 10"x8" Original Oil on Panel, Framed in Gold with Linen Liner.  Completed 7/13. Click here to preview/purchase.

RIVER ROAD, NEW 9"x12" Original Oil on Canvas

 

STUDIO NO. 813 - RIVER ROAD (RIO GRANDE AT PILAR, N.M.) - 9"x12" Original Oil on Canvas, framed in gold with linen liner.  Click here to preview/purchase.

MONDAY - NEW PALETTE=NEW PAINTINGS! Stay tuned!

SEARCHING FOR SUGARMAN - SIXTO RODRIGUEZ

Anyone seen "SEARCHING FOR SUGARMAN"? The story of Sixto Rodriguez who was more famous in South Africa than Elvis - totally unknown in America. Fantastic story - amazing music. His CDs are available on Amazon. Going there right now to buy mine! If you love good lyrics, great guitar.....Wow!!!  Inspiring!  Click here to find his music.

ASPENS (GARCIA PARK, NEW MEXICO) New 16"x16" Oil- Sold

"ASPENS" (GARCIA PARK, NEW MEXICO)  -- 16"x16" Original Oil on wraparound Canvas.  Completed 7/15/13.  Sold.

16"x16" New Work in Progress (Glazes) - ASPENS

 

16"x16" Work in Progress - New Original Oil on Canvas "ASPENS" - All colors are thinned with painting medium.  Sky: Thalo Blue, Thalo Green - a touch of Gold Ochre & Permalba White.  Fir Trees - Burnt Sienna and Prussian Blue - Chrome Oxide Green Opaque.  Aspens:  Burnt Sienna, Yellow Ochre - a touch of Cadmium Red.  Stay tuned!

100 SMALL PAINTINGS - No. 79 - RANCHITOS ROAD, TAOS - Sold

No. 79 - RANCHITOS ROAD, TAOS, 6"x8" Unframed Original Oil on Gessoed Panel  - Sold

100 SMALL PAINTINGS - No. 77 LIFE ON THE RIVER - Sold

NO. 77 - LIFE ON THE RIVER - 8"x10" Unframed Original Oil on Gessoed Panel - SOLD