Overbooked in Santa Fe

I actually brought art supplies with me on the trip and thought I would have time to paint, to park at the side of the road in some serene New Mexico landscape, set up my travel easel and paint.  That never happened because I over scheduled myself with artist studio visits.  My days went like this:
1/2 hour drive each way to and from artists studios.  I booked a morning 10am visit and an afternoon 2pm visit, each lasting 1 1/2 to 2 hours.  In between visits I would go back to the condo, have lunch, maybe a few minutes to rest and then in the evenings, dinner and then 2 hours in the condo complex laundry room where the internet was located, working on the blog, website, photo editing and studio visit summaries.

Monday - 3 artists in Cerrillos
Tuesday 2 artists in Santa Fe
Wednesday 2 artists in Santa Fe
Thursday 2 artists in Santa Fe
Friday - thought I was going to get the day off but ended up delivering art work for a friend.

I did get a few hours mid day to paint and finished one small 6" x 8" and a start on another from photos taken at the Santuario de Chimayo.

My friend Cheri O'Brien, a fellow artist from WA state creates fun and narrative works in both paintings and sculpture.  Her sculptural friends, "Oskar" and "Cajeta" are based on real dogs, dogs I have personally met. (That's a whole other Santa Fe story.) "Cajeta", "Miss Molly Picks a Pony" and other works of Cheri's art are available for sale at the La Posada de Santa Fe.

On my 2nd delivery to La Posada de Santa Fe, the "Art" hotel, I stayed for a reception and talk about the history of art at the hotel.  La Posada, originally built as the Stabb House in 1882, the hotel has evolved and grown and at a time was  a summer arts school with many long-term guests who were an important part of Santa Fe's flourishing arts community.  Today the walls are full of art which add to the ambiance of this lovely historic hotel only a block from Canyon Road galleries.

"Cajeta", Cheri O'Brien

"Miss Molly Picks a Pony"
Oil on Canvas, 36" x 48"
Cheri O'Brien

"Oskar", Cheri O'Brien

During my visit there was a welcomed rain storm that caused a power outage for the downtown area including the hotel and a number of galleries and artist's studios on the opening night of the Santa Fe Artists' Open Studio Tour.  As I was handing my valet claim check to the attendant, a woman was coming in with a guitar.  I asked if she was playing and based on her positive response, I quickly snatched up my claim check and returned into the hotel where I spent the rest of the evening listening to guitar and violin and meeting and visiting with wonderful people in the the hotel lounge, all in the dark of the power outage.

El Santuario de Chimayo

Before leaving Chimayo I had to visit the Santuario.  Over the last few years I have been photographing cemeteries and adobe structure in the southwest and have plans to incorporate that into my art.  The Santuario fit perfectly into that journey.

When I arrived on a Sunday morning, there was actually mass in process in the church so I did not go inside but found information and a number of great shots around the property.

Working on a painting from this shot.

A Night in Chimayo

After leaving Truchas I stopped in Chimayo for dinner and spent the night at the Rancho de Chimayo Hacienda.  The inn sits on the hill across the street from the restaurant - same owners.  Compared to the Inn in Taos that I had stayed at - this place was a gem.  The room was large and open, uncluttered with high ceilings.  All of the rooms open to a beautiful garden area where you can enjoy your breakfast.  With no internet or tv, it is a relaxing and quiet place to stay. When I went to bed I discovered that I had left my favorite pillow at the inn in Taos - I debated all night about driving back up or just buying a new pillow.  Since I wanted to go back up to photograph the church at Las Trampas, I figured I could make it back to Taos and still get to Santa Fe before dark.

Garden Courtyard at the Hacienda de Chimayo

Room Cuatro at the Hacienda

Rancho de Chimayo Hacienda

Rancho de Chimayo Restaurant

At the hacienda, Connie welcomed me and had a sweet and gentle spirit.  She called me after I checked out in the morning and had left to let me know I had left my luggage - yikes - good thing I was just down the road at the Santuario.  Hmm, time to pay more attention to where I am leaving things on the road.

Finding Truchas

"Taos Afternoon" - Trish Booth

"Kiva Ladder" - Trish Booth

I had driven the High Road from Santa Fe to Taos in the past and Truchas was one of those towns that always lived in the back of my mind.  I found the work of Trish Booth on Facebook and invited her to participate in the project.  I was drawn to the vivid colors and southwest landscapes that she was painting.  I met Trish and her artist husband at their home/gallery in Truchas and we spent time in her studio and additionally I was given a tour of their home.  Trish will be a featured artist in the Southwest Art Studios project.  Stay tuned.

Ghost Pony Gallery & Studio - Trish Booth - Truchas, NM

Truchas Market

"Camino de la Sociodad" - Sally Delap-John

After visiting with Trish I was able to stop in a few other galleries in town and met with Sally Delap-John in her home/studio/gallery.  Sally is a plein air painter and I found her vibrant loose painting style of the southwest landscapes and architecture of the High Road towns to be exciting.

Chamisal & the High Road

When I left Taos, I headed southeast to take the High Road from Taos to Santa Fe visiting two artists on the way. I found Donna Caulton at her 130 year old adobe home in the very small town of Chamisal. The 2010 census states a population of 310. It is a sweet little town where people have lived in their family homes for generations. Donna is working on a special project along with three other artists called "Creation Migration". Check out the blog site for this project by clicking here.

Visiting with Donna confirmed for me the value of the Southwest Art Studios project.  When you have an opportunity to meet an artist in their studio and talk with them about there work there is so much more of a connection to and an appreciate of the work.  Sure, you can fall in love with art in a gallery but a connection to the artist takes it to a whole other level.  There are a number of things that I loved about visiting with Donna and I will be sharing in more detail on the website as Donna will be the featured artist for July 2013 for Southwest Art Studios.  Seriously, I did not want to leave and could have stayed all day visiting with her and her sweet gentle poodle, Jazzy but had to head further on down the road to meet another artist in Truchas.

Donna Caulton

"Raven's Dream" - Solar plate Etching - Donna Caulton

Chamisal, NM

Earthships

During my time in Taos my new friend Loretta and I took a little road trip out to the Greater World Earthship  Community.  I have wanted to see this place for years.  Michael Reynolds, the architect/builder and founder is brilliant.  I saw his dvd "Garbage Warrior" years ago and found it so moving it brought me to tears.  Again, as I told Loretta about the dvd, I was brought to tears.  Of course, I have to share with you as well.  If you ever have a chance to see this place, you will be inspired.

When we arrived we saw Michael walking away from the visitors center and we thought it was closed.  We wandered for a few minutes and then discovered it was in fact open.  The architecture is amazing but the sustainability in design and life inside the structures is genius!

I also discovered that you can rent one of the properties for a night or few - definitely on my list for my next visit to the Taos area.

How cool would it be to live in one of these!

 

Time in Taos

Mitch Lyons

My first destination spot was Taos.  I had been through Taos before but never spent much time there.  This time I had arranged to participate in a workshop, learn some new stuff and meet some artists.

I have had a love for printmaking for many years and have been interested in alternative or experimental printmaking techniques.  About 5+ years ago I learned about Mitch Lyons and his "Clay Monotypes"  I wanted to take his workshop ever since.  Mitch resides in Pennsylvania so it wasn't very convenient for me to take his workshop until he brought it to Taos this summer.  He reserved all the rooms at an Inn/B&B where they had a workshop space.  The workshop was great, the Inn, not so much.  Although the property was beautiful, a miscommunication between the innkeepers and Mitch left us all feeling unwelcome.  There's a big long story about this that I won't go into other than to NOT recommend this place to anyone I know or who reads this.

Mitch developed the clay monotype process after years of working with clay.  I was intrigued with the technique and enjoyed the process as well as meeting other artists in the workshop.  Mitch is truly a sweetheart and I am grateful to finally have met him.

We have arranged to have Mitch come teach the Clay Monotype workshop at the Tubac Center of the Arts where I work next spring.  I highly recommend this to anyone that works with clay or printmaking or even anyone interested in learning new art techniques.

Along the Way

Along the way to Taos, my first art destination, I longed to pull off the side of the road and get my feet wet in the Colorado River as I saw rafters, tubers and kayakers making their way through the running water alongside the highway.  What I was able to stop for, (I actually had to do a u-turn and tell myself it was ok to stop) was this sweet little winery in Velarde called Black Mesa Winery.  They had a number of wines to try in their tasting option and I selected 6 reds.  The $7 for the tasting and "keep the glass" was right in my budget but under other circumstances, I would have walked away with at least 2 bottles of the Cabernet - it was to die for.

On the Road in New Mexico

Looking Back to Arizona

My journey into New Mexico started on a Saturday morning.  I took the southern route and then on a whim (I'm doing that a lot lately), turned left and went up through the mountains.  Although this added almost an hour to the day's  drive, it was a beautiful adventure.

One of my favorite things about living in the southwest is the wide open skies, crisp blue skies and the clouds - I love the clouds.

Its a subtle change in the landscape between Arizona and New Mexico.  They are very similar but there is a change you not only see, but you can feel. 

As I travel throughout the state and share images and stories from my journey, you will begin to understand.

After a very long driving day through the mountain I landed in Albuquerque just after dark, the entrance to the hotel in a construction zone and a major wind storm that about knocked me over as I managed to get my luggage out of the truck and into the hotel.

What I have learned from previous travels is to always bring my own coffee.  With my french press and a bag of Starbucks, I'll be ready for the days ahead.

Always bring your own coffee

From Albuquerque I'm headed to Taos for some art adventures.  Stay tuned.

Hitting the Road

Last minute packing and a few chores around the house before I hit the road for a 2 week trip through New Mexico.  I will be making a little detour into the Albuquerque airport where I recently learned that a piece of my encaustic work that is part of the permanent collection of the Encaustic Art Institute is on exhibit until August 10th.  Congrats to all of the artists whose work was selected and kudos to you for donating it in the first place and supporting the EAI!

I will post more images from this exhibit after I have a chance to see it in person.  Well for now, time to get busy and get on the road!  See you in New Mexico!

Getting Started

This idea has been brewing for some time now.  Its finally percolating into a physical form, way past just an idea in my head.  I have moved many times in my life and with each, found some space in my house or in a space outside of my home, that I could set up or use as a "studio".  I recently moved again, hopefully for the very last time and am settled in a home in the Santa Cruz Valley of Southern Arizona, only a few miles north of the Mexico border.  The previous house I lived in included a 800 sqft casita that I had turned in to my studio.  Boy was I spoiled.  It was the largest, nicest studio space I have ever worked in.  And now, well, temporarily, I have a little space in the "eat in area" of my kitchen.  Some day I plan to build a separate studio space on my property.  With that in mind, this whole adventure began.

I, as do many other artists, have a fascination for peeking into the lives of other artists, to see how they work, how they set up their studios, what type of paint they use, etc.  Occasionally this need is fulfilled when discovering and artists Open Studio Tour but lately I find many of the tours to be more of an art presentation, much more about the work than the studio and often there is no studio at all when the work is presented in a gallery or other venue.

Historically and currently, artists have found their way to the southwest, for the light, the energy, the colors and wide open spaces.  I am guilty of that and find that it inspires my work.  I wondered about other artists that made their way to the southwest as well and decided to interview artists in New Mexico and Arizona, in their studios and to share it on a website.  This blog will document my travels throughout New Mexico and Arizona while I visit artists and find out what is really going on in their studios.  Stay tuned!

Image above is the San Cayetano Mountain in Rio Rico, AZ. I am blessed to have this view from my backyard.  How can that NOT inspire art!