Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Ghost Ranch — SOLD



Recently, I made my first trip to Ghost Ranch, where Georgia O'Keeffe found inspiration for her paintings. It wasn't until the end of the day that we arrived, just in time to catch the last minutes of sun on the cliffs. The color gradations from purples and reds of the geology to brilliant yellows of sunlit white cliffs, with subtle changes in reflected light are evident in this stunning landscape. I plan on doing at least one larger painting of this area.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Moon Over The Bosque — SOLD



This painting is of an area in the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge near the Rio Grande, 16 miles south of Socorro, New Mexico. Right after sunset, the sky above the eastern horizon was layered with subdued color, each layer transitioning into the next and creating an interesting textural effect. The air cooled quickly, and the presence of Mr. Moon added a dreamlike quality to the quiet landscape.

The word "bosque" is Spanish and refers to small wooded areas along the flood plains of stream and river banks in the southwestern United States. In the fall, visitors to the refuge will witness flocks of migratory birds such as sandhill cranes, Arctic geese and many kinds of ducks. Many other varieties of migratory and native fauna are here, too. If you're lucky, like we were on this day, you will catch a glimpse of some of the more elusive critters, like the bobcat or mountain lion.