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

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!!! 

 

 

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

 

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!

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

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

 

 

2/21/23 - ON MY EASEL TODAY!!!

 

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...

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!!

 S.W.A.K.

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...

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...

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

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

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

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

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!

 

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!
 

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