"Gonske's Gate"

I am a lucky girl - I was personally invited by Walt Gonske himself to paint at his house while he was away.  Walt is a well known Taos painter who I also can call a friend and mentor.  I was compelled to paint Saint Francis, the patron saint of small animals, who stood guarding the front entryway.
You see, my Dad (I believe) is one of the reasons I am a painter today.  He could draw anything us kids asked him to draw and it always amazed me.  My Dad was also a patron saint of small animals, making birdhouses and making sure those birds were fed each day.  The yard became a bird sanctuary to many species - and still is today because my Mom makes sure of it.
I lost my Dad two years ago - one reason why I have not updated my blog in so long.  I'm a lucky girl to have had such a wonderful Dad and so this blog is dedicated to him -
Thanks Dad - I am forever grateful.

24" x 30"  original oil painting      $1,000.00

"Moon over Candido's"

Candido is an elderly gentleman who lives at the end of the road.  He's always working out in the garden and waves to every car that goes by.  If you ever stop to talk he has many stories to tell about how Taos was "back in the day".

24" x 30" original oil painting       $1,000.00  

"Abiquiu Cottonwoods"

I have to say that Georgia O'Keefe has had an amazing impact on my life as a painter in New Mexico - not to mention what an amazing woman she was.  This was my first visit to her "Ghost Ranch" over in Abiquiu - I made it a day trip, but I wished I had camped out like some of the other painters did.
I've seen a lot of cottonwood trees and their colors but....these seemed like they were on fire against the red rocks.  There was some magic in the air for sure.

18" x 24"  original oil painting     $500.00

"Diane's Hollyhocks" SOLD

Diane is a friend who owns an adorable little Christmas shop on Ledoux Street where Rich's studio is located.  She's a HUGE part in taking care of us painters during the annual "paint-out" during the Fall Arts in September.  Little by little she's collecting small pieces from the artists that participate - now she owns one of mine.

10" x 14"  original oil painting

"October Snow"

I love the trees here in the fall - it's like they're on fire against the blue sky - and then we get an early snow.  That was the original attraction to this scene.....but then I couldn't just let things be......

"Snow Day" SOLD

Well, I guess I really changed this one.  There is a lesson I'm still learning - and that is knowing when to STOP!  It was fun to put in a figure which I think this was a first for me - but I lost what I had going on with the tree - so - anyway - it is what it is.

16" x 20"  original oil painting     $500.00

"Arroyo"

One day I was stumped as to what to paint so did a real quick small painting from a photograph,, which sometimes I do

8" x 10" original oil painting     $120.00

"Hondo Morning" SOLD

There seems to be a lot of "Hondo" paintings in my collection...Arroyo Hondo is a place just north of Taos, not really a town, but full of beautiful things to paint.  On this day I set out to paint the old church there.  I got myself all set up and unfortunately had to stop because I was getting majorly attacked by biting red ants.....so I walked down the road a bit and when I looked behind me and saw this old house I decided to paint it.  The wall you see on the left is the wall that surrounds the church.

12" x 16" original oil painting

"Winter Reds" (study)

I love painting the red willows in the winter - especially when there's snow!  This "study" ended up being a larger finished piece which is hanging at the "Taos Plein Aire Painters" exhibit at the Trading Post Cafe, running through August.  I will photograph it (unless it goes to a new home) and post it another time.

finished painting:  12" x 16" original oil painting     $300.00

"Still Life with Roses"

Every once in a while (especially in the winter) I stray a little from landscapes and have fun setting up a little still life.  This one was fun with the copper reflections on the pewter tea pot.

8" x 10" original oil painting     $120.00

"Field of Gold II'

This painting is one you've already seen posted in the past but I re-worked it a little and am happier with the results.  Painted this in plein aire just off of Mariposa Road in Taos last fall.

20" x 24" original oil painting     $800.00

"Vista Grande"

This was another day of plein aire painting at fellow artist Ron Larimore's house out in Des Montes.
I'm still contemplating the foreground - but I loved the open field of purple flowers leading up to those amazing mountains!  (This was the beginning of painting LARGER)

18" x 24" original oil painting     $650.00

"Hondo Hillside" SOLD

I painted this one morning with the plein aire group along the little road leading to the John Dunn Bridge - it ended up going to a new home in Kansas City.

12" x 16" original oil painting

"Still Life with Sunflowers" SOLD

This was a still life that Rich had set up in class one day.  I hung it at the Deli and soon it found a new home.

11" x 14" original oil painting