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!
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.
