Saturday, May 13, 2023

PUESTA DEL SOL (RANCHITOS ROAD) - Large Studio Edition Print


PUESTA DEL SOL (Ranchitos Road - Taos, N.M.) Large Studio Edition Print from Original Donna Clair painting. 17"x22" presentation matte paper, hand-signed, enclosed in clear polyurethane envelope and mailed flat. https://www.ebay.com/itm/394623436997

Friday, May 12, 2023

CALLECITAS DE CORDOVA - Large Studio Edition Print


CALLECITAS DE CORDOVA (Cordova, New Mexico) - Large Studio Edition Print from Original Donna Clair painting. 17"x22" presentation matte paper, hand-signed, enclosed in clear polyurethane envelope and mailed flat. https://www.ebay.com/itm/394621348106

POPPY LOVE - Large Studio Edition Print

 

POPPY LOVE (Taos, New Mexico) - Large Studio Edition Print from Original Donna Clair painting. 17"x22" presentation matte paper, hand-signed, enclosed in clear polyurethane envelope and mailed flat. https://www.ebay.com/itm/394621309940

Thursday, May 11, 2023

EL OTONO DE SANTA - Large Studio Edition Print - Sold

EL OTONO FE SANTA FE (Washington Ave) - Large Studio Edition Print from Original Donna Clair painting. - Sold

LAS TRAMPAS (New Mexico) - Large Studio Edition Print


LAS TRAMPAS (New Mexico) - Large Studio Edition Print from Original Donna clair painting. 17"x22" presentation matte paper, hand-signed, enclosed in clear polyurethane envelope and mailed flat. https://www.ebay.com/itm/394619879841

Sunday, May 07, 2023

WORD PAINTINGS #132 - ITS RAINING MEN!!


 

WORD PAINTINGS # 132 (How I came to New Mexico and learned about Art and Life) - ITS RAINING MEN!!

13 May 2023 - First thing Monday Morning Sheriff Montoya knocked on my door with some ominous-looking papers in his hand.  Whew - he wasn't looking for me! Wrong house and got back into his Sheriff's car and headed down the road. Noticed a VM on my phone - it was the Gas Company saying that my gas had been turned off - I needed to get a plumber and then make an appointment with the State Inspector in order to have things turned on again.  Panic. Large trailer showed up in front of my neighbor's house the night before - earth movers.  As the day went on - mysteries and synchronicity!  And more was revealed.

The earth movers made their way to the back yard, followed by a group of hefty men. The men began digging a new leach field - and they dug for two days! Leading them was my landlord's son. Then came the plumber. Consensus of opinion was that the huge trailer carrying the earthmoving equipment took out the gas meter. Four houses, this house included, had no gas service.  Thinking this project would last into next week, I began to scramble - electric coffee pot, hot plate from Wal-Mart, burrito from Mary Jane's.

Big Mystery - who was responsible for the damage???? Am certain there were many many phone calls between landlord, construction company, septic service, gas company, plumber, State Inspector.  The whole yard was being dug up - new gravel, new pipes!  Honestly it was an amazing show to watch. In a slightly twisted way, I enjoyed all the activity - there is a definite drama to heavy earth moving machines and the concentration it takes to make things happen - it was  a "man dance"!  Oh, the testosterone! Synchronicity! It looked as though it was choreographed!  Kudos to everyone involved - they performed a miracle.  What an exciting 2 days!!!

Gas company installed new meter.

State Inspector came in the middle of the night to check the new meter!!!! And on the second day....the gas came back on - plumber came in to turn on appliances. My landlord's son dealt with the gas company for me. Let there be GAS!!!!

The Sheriff did some sleuthing and found a car down the road with the imprint of the gas meter on the grill - the suspect confessed. Mystery solved. Landlord and workers breathed heavy sigh of relief that they had no responsibility in the outage - plumber, workers, landlord and me all smiles - life got back to normal.  No more drama!  One worker returned to pick up the construction trash - it was over. So quiet!  Watched the sun set over Tres Orejas....

A few weeks ago I did a study of a cloud painting called Summer Storm - and decided it should be larger - 40"x30".  Here is the Work in Progress - I began the sketch on Tues. when all the craziness began - some burps and stops since then - spring cleaning, framing new paintings - but here it is so far (see above) - I have great hope for this one.

Oh, and the coronation! Considering all the homeless, hungry people in the world, I felt that gold coat was a little over the top - all I can say is that the Windsors need to remember what happened to the Romanovs!!! Just saying  - 

This Sunday is definitely a day of well-earned rest!  A very late new beginning! DC

Tuesday, May 02, 2023

LLANO SAN JUAN (New Mexico) - Small Studio Edition Print

 

LLANO SAN JUAN (New Mexico) - Hand-signed small Studio Edition print on Premium Matte Presentation Paper. Mailed Flat -https://www.ebay.com/itm/394602337105
 

Monday, May 01, 2023

TAKING THE SUN - Small Studio Edition Print

 

TAKING THE SUN (Taos Pueblo, New Mexico) - Hand-signed small Studio Edition print on Premium Matte Presentation Paper. Mailed Flat -  https://www.ebay.com/itm/155532674820

Sunday, April 30, 2023

WORD PAINTINGS #131 - UNCOMPETITIVE PURPOSEFULNESS!

 

        "NOCHECITA" (Trujillo Road - Llano Quemado, New Mexico) New! 8"x10" Original Oil

WORD PAINTINGS #131 (How I Came to New Mexico and learned about Art and Life!) - UNCOMPETITIVE PURPOSEFULNESS!!!

30 April 2023 - Saying Farewell to winter and "Hola" to Spring!  It is a quiet Sunday morning here on Llano Quemado.  Woke up with a long "to do" list running through my brain until I remembered that I have given myself a weekly reprieve for this "day of rest". 

It has been a month since writing about the dicey stay in the ER at Holy Cross last September.  Many days focusing on "mortality" and "retirement".  Finally decided that sometimes the difference between staying alive and brain death are small daily choices.  This isn't a fight I wanted to have at my age. From the time I was a young child, my only purpose was to raise my children and paint.  There it is - PURPOSE!!!  Rather than plop around in my own thoughts of perpetual darkness, I decided to take out this ad in the Taos Gallery Guide, believing that Centinelas de Oro was one of my best canvases to come off the easel!

 

About this time last year I decided to leave my gallery and just wing it again.    Having done this before, it was a little scary.  In this process I remembered all the other times I felt like a "cash cow" and walked away from the hype.  This has always been my way of maintaining artistic integrity and a healthy creative life . Turned down a sure sale because it was absolutely necessary for me to sit with this painting for a year before deciding to let it go. Hoped with all my heart this work could stay in Taos where it belonged!

Buying this ad renewed my self-confidence and PURPOSE!  Within a day of its publication the painting was "adopted" by a local family just down the road. The man had visited my studio on Santistevan Lane over 30 years ago, but waited for his perfect piece. He and his wife had decided that this was "the one" before they ever set foot in my studio! We three hugged and cried.  Told them it felt like a "divine appointment"!   My spark was lit one more time! 

Now what??? Later next month I will celebrate my 37th year of sobriety thanks to all my angels and helpers along the way.  My sponsors drummed into my head that life needs to be lived One Day at a Time!  Who can do that when a hundred images run through your head - empty canvases as far as my mind can see!  Well, here I am where time matters and I need to make creative choices on a daily basis.  It turns out that my choice to be on my own again was a solid decision because I no longer feel the need to
compete and am free to choose what to paint one day at a time.  This might be called a late in life New Beginning- a new adventure! Amazing Grace....DC

 

 

Saturday, April 29, 2023

NOCHECITA - New! 8"x10" Original Oil


Studio #1123 - NOCHECITA (Trujilllo Road - Llano Quemado, New Mexico) - NEW! 8"x10" Original Oil on Italian Linen panel, custom framed in gold with linen liner. Free shippng. https://www.ebay.com/itm/394597001014

EARLY MOONRISE AT TRUCHAS - Large Studio Edition Print

 

EARLY MOONRISE AT TRUCHAS (Truchas, New Mexico) - Large hand-signed Studio Edition print on premium matte presentation paper - enclosed in clear polyurethane envelope and mailed flat - https://www.ebay.com/itm/394596694961
 

Friday, April 28, 2023

YELLOW MUMS - Hand-signed Studio Edition Print -SOLD

YELLOW MUMS -Hand-signed Large Studio Edition Print on matte premium presentation paper - 22"x17" sheet size - in clear polyurethane envelope, mailed flat - https://www.ebay.com/itm/394595137553 - SOLD
 

Friday, April 21, 2023

MY TAOS WILDFLOWERS - Prints, greeting cards, posters, etc.

MY TAOS WILDFLOWERS - Prints, greeting cards, posters (even coffee mugs) now available at Fine Art America! https://fineartamerica.com/.../my-taos-wildflowers-donna...
 

Thursday, April 20, 2023

LILAS DE TAOS - Prints, greeting cards, posters....


LILAS DE TAOS (Years ago in front of the Old Taos News on Ranchitos - old fellow walked past there every day!) - Prints, greeting cards, posters and many other great items at Fine Art America - https://fineartamerica.com/.../lilas-de-taos-donna-clair...

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

ESTACA IN BLOOM - Prints, Greeting Cards, posters....


ESTACA IN BLOOM - Prints, greeting cards and many other great items available now at Fine Art America - https://fineartamerica.com/.../estaca-in-bloom-donna...

Monday, April 17, 2023

PLACITA AFTERNOON (Placita, New Mexico - New 12"x12" Original Oil, framed

PLACITA AFTERNOON (Placita, New Mexico) - New 12"x12" Original Oil on Canvas, custom Framed - free shipping. https://www.ebay.com/itm/155510041352
 

LOS PINONES (Chimayo, New Mexico) - New 6"x8" Original Oil

LOS PINONES (Chimayo, New Mexico) - 6"x8" Original oil on Linen Panel, framed - free shipping - https://www.ebay.com/itm/394574137377
 

Saturday, April 08, 2023

BEARERS OF LIGHT - Chichicastenango, Guatemala

BEARERS OF LIGHT - Easter Sunday 1991 - Cofradia del Iglesia de Santo Tomas, Chichicastenango Guatemala
 

Saturday, April 01, 2023

CENTINELAS DE ORO (Pilar, New Mexico - 30"x40" Original Oil - SOLD


CENTINELAS DE ORO (Rio Grande at Pilar, New Mexico) - 30"x40" Original Oil
 - SOLD

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

SUMMER STORM (Llano Quemado, New Mexico) - New! 8"x6" Original Oil


Studio #623 -SUMMER STORM (Llano Quemado, New Mexico) - New! 8"x6" Original Oil on linen panel, framed - free shipping. https://www.ebay.com/itm/394534853952

Monday, March 27, 2023

STUDIO #723 - OLD FENCES - NEW! 8"x8" Original Oil

Studio # 723 - OLD FENCES (Martinez Hacienda - Taos, New Mexico) - NEW 8"x8" Original Oil on Linen Panel, framed - free shipping....https://www.ebay.com/itm/155474633292
 

STUDIO #823 - IN HIDING - NEW! 6"x8" Original Oil


Studio #823- IN HIDING (Taos, New Mexico) - NEW! - 6"x8" Original Oil on Linen Panel, Framed - free shipping. https://www.ebay.com/itm/155474695936

Saturday, March 25, 2023

WORD PAINTINGS #130 - "A CAUTIONARY TALE


WORD PAINTINGS # 130 (How I Came to New Mexico and learned about Art and Life) - A CAUTIONARY TALE!

Sometimes when we least expect it, Life Happens!!

Had a fall last September (I slid rather ungracefully to my bedroom floor) - was unable to raise myself up.  The EMTs arrived and were concerned that my oxygen levels were very low.  They put me in an ambulance and whisked me to the Emergency Room at Holy Cross Hospital. What happened next was Terrifying!!!!  The ER doctor asked what happened and I pointed to my right knee and said "I leg lifted 400 lbs....." - with that she left the room and didn't hear me add "25 years ago and my right knee gives way now and I fell this morning."  

She got on the phone with my son-in-law a retired brain surgeon. He and I hadn't had any contact for long time, so he didn't have a clue to my state of mind or physical condition. Together they, along with one of my helpers, decided that I needed to be transferred to the Psych Ward for evaluation.  The "brain" surgeon diagnosed me with delusions of grandeur!  Through some miracle, they reached my daughter Sarah in Germany - 3AM and she's in bed with Covid.  Finally she convinces the girl at the desk that she had seen me only ten days before and besides - she had my Power of Attorney!!! 

Why am I sharing this story?  Certainly not for entertainment! This is a cautionary tale to anyone of a certain age who hasn't done the work of making end of life choices. I know, I know - but if I had been sent for evaluation, my rise in blood pressure from the fear would have caused them to medicate me.  Once I was medicated I was just an 83 year old woman with delusions of grandeur.  I would have no more choices about anything. All my belongings - my easels, paints, brushes, precious things would be scattered to the winds. (Remember that scene in Zorba the Greek when the woman dies in the village her neighbors take all her things in minutes and empty her little house to the bones?) I would have been sent to some old people's orphanage and left there just staring at the gray walls just waiting for someone - anyone - to visit!!!  Do your homework!!! Don't wait for a medical crisis!!!

Thanks to Sarah, I had a stay of execution.  I had no injuries and was released from the hospital that evening....along with a new and very noisy companion in the form of a respirator and a very long hose that follows me all over the house 24/7.  It is an awkward ballet daily to avoid the loops and tangles, but am still able to get to the easel every day.  Still making plans for new work. As long as there is breath in my body I plan to keep moving - albeit just a little bit slower now!  (Read Amy B. Scher's amazing book This is How I Save My Life.)

Footnote: I finally realized that the smoke from the horrific Hermit's Peak Fire compromised my oxygen levels and it was hard for me to catch my breath.  Also experienced a "fogginess" - couldn't concentrate.  If you are of a certain age and lived th

Now I am going to have a cup of coffee and head back to my easel to paint another day! 

Best regards, Donna

PS - a few months before I fell, I purchased a Thrive Medical Alert system through Amazon. At first I hated wearing that medallion every day - but I was able to get the help I needed by just pressing  button!  When one gets to the ripe old age of 83 the word for the day is ADAPT!!! 

 

 

Monday, March 13, 2023

THE LITTLE RED FENCE ON PERALTA STREET - 14"x18" Original Oil

 
 
THE LITTLE RED FENCE ON PERALTA STREET (Taos, New Mexico) - 14"x18" Original Oil on Italian Gessoed Panel - framed in Gold with Linen Liner - https://www.ebay.com/itm/394511442243
 

Thursday, March 09, 2023

PUESTA DEL SOL (Llano Quemado, New Mexico) - New! 8"x*' Original Oil

PUESTA DEL SOL (Llano Quemado, New Mexico) - NEW! 8"x8" Original Oil on canvas panel, framed - free shipping - https://www.ebay.com/itm/394504743233
 

WAITING FOR SPRING (Taos, New Mexico) - New! 11"x14" Original Oil


 

HOT OFF THE EASEL! WAITING FOR SPRING (Taos, New Mexico) - NEW 11"X14" Original Oil on Italian gessoed panel, custom framed - gold with linen liner - free shipping.https://www.ebay.com/itm/155446469542
 
Bought my old railroad station bench at a consignment shop for $90 - cast iron - takes two men to carry it. Sits proudly under the portal in front of the house on Llano Quemado. This location is the backyard on Victor Court about 5 years ago. Perfect for cloud watching!

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

ON THE ROAD - Prints, greeting cards......


ON THE ROAD (Another back road adventure in northern New Mexico) - Prints, greeting cards, posters and many other great items now available at Fine Art America - https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-donna-clair

Thursday, February 23, 2023

DREAMKEEPER - NEW! 30"X30" Original Oil

DREAMKEEPER - (Moonset over Tres Orejas from my bedroom window 11/11/22 - Llano Quemado, New Mexico) - 30"x30" Original Oil on Belgian Linen - framed in gold with linen liner- https://www.ebay.com/itm/394477023015
 
Bring me all of your dreams
You dreamer
Bring me all of your
Heart melodies
That I may wrap them
In a blue cloud cloth
away from the too rough fingers
Of the world
 
Langston Hughes

 
 

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Sunday, February 19, 2023

TAOS AFTERNOON SHADOWS - Prints, greeting cards, posters....


TAOS AFTERNOON SHADOWS (From my kitchen window on Santistevan Lane - Taos) - Quality prints, greeting cards, posters and many other great items now available at Fine Art America - https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-donna-clair...

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Monday, February 13, 2023

CELEBRATING 23 YEARS OF DONNA CLAIR ART.COM!!!


Celebrating 23 years of online sales from my website with a new look!!!! https://donnaclairart.com/ More than 25 years ago I read about a man who had a "computer" and was earning his living from a mountaintop in Colorado!!! I had to wait a while, but my first website was created in 2000! What an innovation! Couldn't have done it without the expert help of my technical guru, Dan Frank Kuehn owner of a digital design business in Questa, N.M.! Would love to hear your comments...

Saturday, February 11, 2023

TWO COWS IN A WINTER FIELD ON CHRISTMAS MORNING (Taos, N.M.) - Prints, greeting cards, posters....


TWO COWS IN A WINTER FIELD ON CHRISTMAS MORNING (Taos, New Mexico) - High quality prints (framed or unframed), greeting cards, posters and many other great items now available at FINE ART AMERICA - https://fineartamerica.com/.../two-cows-in-a-winter-field...

Sunday, February 05, 2023

EL VALLE SIN NOMBRE (Northern New Mexico) - Prints, Greeting cards....

 
  
EL VALLE SIN NOMBRE (New Mexico) - Prints, greeting cards and many other great items nowavailable at Fine Art America -https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-donna-clair

Thursday, February 02, 2023

STUDIO #123 - DREAMKEEPER STUDY - NEW 12"x12" Original Oil, custom framed


 

Studio #123 - DREAMKEEPER STUDY (Moonset 11/11/22 - Llano Quemado, N.M.) - 12"x12" Original Oil on Linen canvas, custom framed - free shipping - https://www.ebay.com/itm/155389993132
 
Bring me all of your dreams
You dreamer
Bring me all of your
Heart melodies
That I may wrap them
In a blue cloud cloth
away from the too rough fingers
Of the world
 
Langston Hughes

Wednesday, February 01, 2023

LLANO SAN JUAN - Prints, greeting cards.....

 

 LLANO SAN JUAN - Prints, greeting cards, posters and many great items now available at Fine Art America - https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-donna-clair

Friday, January 27, 2023

ARCO DE IRIS - 8"X16" ORIGINAL OIL


ARCO DE IRIS (Rainbow from Santistevan Lane - 2017 - Taos) - 8"x16" Original Oil on Canvas, framed in black with linen liner - free shipping -https://www.ebay.com/itm/155380461209

Saturday, January 21, 2023

FIRST PAINTING OF THE NEW YEAR - DREAMKEEPER WORK IN PROGRESS


ON MY EASEL TODAY! Studio #123 -WORKS IN PROGRESS DREAMKEEPER - 12"x12" Oil Study for 30"x30" Original Oil. Early morning on Nov. 11, 2022 I lifted the bedroom window shade and saw this moonset over Tres Orejas. Just stood there for a long time and then I sat down to make some color notes, (will post to my Art Journal blog later) By accident few days later I found this poem...
Bring me all of your dreams
You dreamer
Bring me all of your
Heart melodies
That I may wrap them
In a blue cloud cloth
away from the too rough fingers
Of the world
In my imagination that full moon picked up my night dreams as it sailed over my house, taking them all around the world....just imagine!

 

Sunday, January 15, 2023

TRIBUTE - Margaret Jamison and Julian Robles

Paying Tribute - Portrait of Margaret Jamison (Santa Fe Gallery Owner, friend and mentor) painted by friend Julian Robles who recently passed. (1970 or thereabouts?) Wonderful people - truly missed!
 

Wednesday, December 21, 2022

GREETINGS!


To Friends Everywhere! A very special holiday greeting from my house to yours.The original of this painting is titled WINTER GIFTS. "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 my memory of my little Polish grandmother, Ella -- she carried that shopping bag with her everywhere -- those were her "gifts" her "surprises". The words of Fra Giovanni never fail to inspire and 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 -- Sincere best wishes, Donna - Llano Quemado, New Mexico 2022

"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



 

Tuesday, December 20, 2022

LATE WINTER STORM (Truchas, N.M.). - 22"x28" Original oil, framed


LATE WINTER STORM (Truchas, New Mexico) - 22"x28" Original Oil on Belgian Linen, framed in gold with linen liner/fee shipping https://www.ebay.com/itm/155065024986

Saturday, December 17, 2022

CIELO AZUL - (Abiquiu, N.M.) - 40"x40" Original Oil - SOLD!

                            CIELO AZUL - 40"x40" Original Oil, framed - SOLD!
 

Friday, December 16, 2022

DON GREGORIO'S WINTER FIELD (Truchas, N.M.) 48"x36" Original oil


DON GREGORIO'S WINTER FIELD (Truchas, New Mexico) - 48"x36" Original Oil on Belgian Linen, Framed in silver with linen liner, free shipping....https://www.ebay.com/itm/155050336131