Off-roading the backroads of Santa Fe

Back at the painting today, I've missed it! 

Met up with my friend, and fabulous painter, Bill Rhea for a guided excursion to a perfect painting location.

This is me following Bill...

He suggested we head South about 35 minutes to Cerrillos where he has a favorite spot; it was past an almost ghost town and then down a winding dirt road and into a sort of canyon. Can you see the cars?? Look how small they are next to the rock walls! 

I think we were there about 3 hours. I forgot to get a photo of my painting on the pochade, darn it, but here it is on the ground.

Afterwards we split up for the day, I headed to a little funky town nearby called Madrid. (Pronounced Mad-rid.)

Some good art and good looking doors out there!

Lots of galleries, a terrific coffee spot called Java House (with iced coffee that has coffee ice cubes!) and little antique/junk shops. Very unexpected little enclave... With crushed glass walkways!

My biggest find however was heading back towards Santa Fe, I saw these sculptures of cranes off to the side so I flipped a u-turn, went back and discovered 'Oragami in the Garden.'

About 20 of these big sculptures of different Oragami along a self-guided walking path. My favorite were the Buffalo:

I thought they were all fantastic! The artist: Kevin Box.

Tomorrow is another painting day! It's great to have a local artist to suggest locations AND to have someone to paint with! 

Official Paint Out Day

Over 100 artists painted today along Hell's Backbone Rd. It's a loop actually and connects with Hwy 12 between Escalante and Boulder.

I'd driven the washboard road section of HBR and decided I'd rather go for a vista piece off the paved Hwy. 

I usually choose scenes that have a central or close subject, so to stand up overlooking an entire canyon just as daylight hits the upper peaks was a huge shift for me! 

From the start I was taken with these subtle colors on the light sandstone; lemon and melon and a beautiful salmon pink and violet! Gorgeous! Plus, all along the furthest range, called the Straights, were these ribbons of pale cool green and lavender. Yes! I can paint here!

Our finished piece had to be turned in between 3 & 5pm, I glued mine down to the floater frame, told them leave it flat on a table until the glue dries (!) at 3:30pm.