Rocky Ridge 

16 X 12 

Oil on Linen Panel 

Painted from a photograph by Janet Herman 

We have so many ridges similar to this in our area along our highways where cuts have been made in the hills.

I did learn how to paint over palette knife when painting this picture, and to use a palette knife to flatten the paint from the brush.  I have much to learn about painting clouds.

Grand Tetons National Park 

16 X 12 

Oil on Linen Panel

From a photograph by Barbara Cooper

The Grand Tetons were much different than I expected when we visited there this summer. The mountains are huge and there are so many of them, but they are all together. No one mountain stood out. This view is at nearly dark. One lone duck is swimming along. I was surprised to see a white line along the edge between the land and the water. Normally that edge would be very dark. 

Winter Peace

16 X 12

Oil on Linen Panel

Painted from a photograph by Christine Huard-Adams

This painting is of Rundle Ridge and Policeman's Creek near Canmore, Alberta. I believe I have a photograph from the other side of this ridge. The whole area is beautiful.

I've learned that a rainbow of colors makes a painting more interesting even though the colors may be very soft.

Aspen Path 

12 x 16

Oil on Linen Panel

We have lots of aspens where I live, but none in our yard. Every year we have lived here we have had discussion about planting some in our yard, but it still hasn't happened. I have more to learn about painting them.

No Hunting 

10 X 10 

Oil on Linen Panel

Painted from a photograph by Linda Brooks

In the original photograph there is a No Hunting sign at the bottom left.  Linda is in my painting group and the elk was outside her back door at home.

I'm trying to learn how to put more depth in my pictures and how to put in all those little branches that don't show, but add depth and interest to a painting. This is on a hill so I think that part came out in tis painting.

The Fawn

12 X 9 

Oil on Linen Panel

Painted from a photograph by Lenora Melville

I like the innocence of this little guy. He's vulnerable and brave at the same time. I'm working to make my critters more real. I made fewer adjustments to him than I've had to make on other paintings so I'm really please with this one.

Upper Falls at Yellowstone National Park

16 X 12 

Oil on Linen Panel 

Painted from my photograph.

I took this photograph on our extended trip this summer. The amount of water going over the falls was really impressive. In New Mexico we need more water; perhaps that's why it fascinates me so. Above the falls, looking down on the water just going over the edge, the water is dark green at the edges. It's truly a gorgeous place. Yellowstone was not as I had imagined it. I'm so glad we took the time to go and I plan to go again sometime.

Surfing Boys 

14 X 11

Oil on Linen  Panel

Painted from a photograph taken by Joe Price

When Joe Price talked about how he took this photograph in Mexico he said he basically took it through a telescope. Painting the water was fun. The boys were much harder for me, but at least they look like people. They look like they are having a good time in the water.

Aspens in Summer

12X16
Oil on Linen Panel

Painted from a photograph by Cindy Crooks

There's something about aspens that makes me happy. They sparkle as the wind moves the leaves. I've set these over a valley and lake. I could sit here and relax in this scene all afternoon.

Above: Daisies in the Window

Both paintings are 6 X 8
Oil on Linen Panel

Below: Roses in the Window

Mountain Peaks

16X12

Oil on Linen Panel

Painted from a photograph by Joe Price

The photograph this was painted from was taken in Alberta, Canada, but the feeling of the picture is the same as when you go over Raton Pass from New Mexico into Colorado. The mountain peaks seem to stretch forever and the closer areas are so green - more green than I've made them here.

Hunter Fishing

16X12

Oil on Linen Panel

Painted from a photograph by Shannon Cordova

This lake is typical of New Mexico in that the ground next to the water does not have green plants growing, except a few weeds that don't use so much water, and they are away from the edge. Hunter is the boy with the fishing pole. My skills are not honed enough to make him recognizable, but it was fun to try. My husband was surprised that the photograph had what looks like clay at the water's edge.

Morraine Lake/Banff

16X12

Oil on Linen Panel

If you have not been to the Banff area of Alberta, Canada, please make the effort to go. I did not realize there was such a beautiful place on earth and it isn't just this lake. Beauty is everywhere. The water is glacier water and is really this color, and in some areas it's a pale green or a more intense blue. It's impossible to take a photograph of this lake without getting evergreen trees in the foreground, but every time I started to put in the trees my husband would say, "Please don't put anything in the foreground." It's also impossible to get all of the peaks at Morraine Lake in the same photograph though I did try.

Rounding Up 

20X10  

Oil on Stretched Canvas 

Painted from a photograph by Julie Carter

Julie's photograph was lovely and my painting is pretty blobby. Cows are just blobs to me. I don't understand them at all. Horses and cowboys have a lot of detail and I'm not good with that either. However, I think the viewers will get the idea of this subject matter as long as they don't stand too close. I like the painting and I'm surprised because the subjects are rather loose and I generally like a bit more detail. The original photograph was taken at a ranch near Carrizozo, NM.

 

Red Lily 

11X14 

Oil on Linen Panel 

Painted from photograph by Sei Nakatugawa

This lily appears to be a rather simple subject. Sei Nakatugawa's work tends to be very dramatic. At first, that resulted in a rather dark and bright painting, but I was uncomfortable with it. Since then I have painted it, and painted it and painted it and painted it ..... I even sent it out to family and friends as completed, but I just was not satisfied. Finally, yesterday I painted all the light areas of the flower itself a bright pink. When Jud came in he said, "I liked it better before." I did too, so I began again today thinking that I didn't want any black in the flower, so the it is painted in cadmium red medium, scarlet, and alizarin crimson. I'm happier. The flower even photograph red whereas before it photographed orange.

Hibiscus from My Deck 

10X10

Oil on Linen Panel 

Hibiscus are beautiful flowers. This one was on my deck last week. The pot I have of them this year contains both yellow blooms and red blooms. The only problem is that they fade so quickly. One day blooming and the next day they are really old looking.

I'm learning to use more contrasts, but it's hard to keep that from being black and white. 

It's easiest to sign the painting while the background is still pretty wet. I've always thought you don't sign until the painting is done and then you don't add or subtract any more. That's not really true. If something needs fixing the signature has nothing to do with it. So now, I sign when I think the paint is at the right stage and then paint the painting. 

Mexican Sunflower 

12X16 

Oil on Linen Panel 

Painted from photograph by Sei Nakatugawa 

Maybe I should spend more time painting sunflowers. Every time I paint one I like it more than the last one.

Grizzly

24X12

Oil on Canvas

Painted from a photograph by Cindy Nowotny

This was an interesting project. The photograph by Cindy Nowotny was taken at a zoo in Montana. I put the forest and the road in the distance where the back wall of the enclosure had been in the photograph. If I had followed through with my original idea the grizzly would be about four times the size it is in the painting, but a smaller bear gives greater depth perception.  have spent many hours trying to figure out how to make the picture interesting in a way that will keep the viewer from being stuck in one part of the painting. I keep telling myself I set him free.

Black Bear

12X12

Oil on canvas

Oregon zoo photograph

A group of us paint together on Fridays. We encourage and tease each other, which helps us grow and also helps us be willing to expand into new subject areas. Two people in the group recently painted polar bears, and have painted dogs as well. The fur is intimidating. I decided I would try it as well. Probably the whole concept of the nose was harder for me. It did take longer.

Sailboat in Storm

16X12

Oil on linen panel

Painted from photograph by Kymberlee Edwards MacKay

I love the drama and the colors of this painting, but living through a storm like this is very stressful, even if you're on land.

Ever Changing Ocean Waters

24X12 

Oil on Canvas 

Painted from photograph by Joan McDaniels 

I can watch as the ocean ebbs and flows for hours and hours without tiring of the scene. Painting it makes me wonder what's under the surface and wish I could take it all home with me.

Swan Setting down on the Lake 

10X10 

Oil on Linen Panel 

Painted from Photograph by Andy Dodds

This painting is small, although here it looks the same size as everything else. Andy Dodds took his photographs just as the swan skimmed in and settled on the lake.

From the Shade into the Bright

16X12

Oil on Linen Panel

I liked the idea of this painting when I was setting it up, but I'm not sure I did it justice. The photograph that gave me the idea for the painting is by John K. Mitchell. He took it in Ireland where they have lots of moisture and lots of water. In New Mexico we take water any way we can get it even if it is just in pictures. I changed the terrain and trees to fit in New Mexico but I think you would have to hike a long way into the mountains to find this much water in a stream. 

Carrizo Peak from Ranchman's Camp

24X12

Oil on Canvas

Photographed by Albert Schenck and Barbara Cooper

These ridges are on the right side of the road as we drop down into Nogal, NM. For each one it's like God dropped several pieces of cloth to form the ridges and valleys. On the left side of the road are the higher ridges of Nogal Peak and Sierra Blanca. There are actually three ridges, but I've only been told the name of the one farthest away. It was impossible to get close to the edge to take a photograph with fewer trees. Albert Schenck took the photograph that got me interested in it and I took a bunch of pictures to get more detail.

Hot Air Balloons at White Sands

20X16

Oil on Linen Panel

Photograph of Balloons by Melanie Marquez

White Sands is near where I live. Hot Air Balloons there is a once-a-year event and it comes late enough in the year that the sand (gypsum) is comfortable in the morning air. I've had complaints that the sand isn't white enough in this painting. The sand is very light because it is gypsum rather than the kind of sand you would find in other places, but I couldn't make myself make it a truer "white." Melanie took pictures of the balloons last fall. The sand has moved around so much none of my photographs in and around White Sands really look like the painting but the flavor is still there.
 

Canon Beach Flower Garden

14X11

Oil on Linen Panel

This flower garden is literally about one short block off the beach in Canon Beach, Oregon. My painting came out much gloomier than I had in mind. I took the photograph on a bright summer day. I still haven't gotten a thorough understanding of shadows and bright, though I do think I'm getting better. Yes, that is a forest with huge trees behind the flower garden just off the beach. 

Rock Water Tank

14X11

Oil on Linen Panel

I do not know how old this water tank is, but I have never seen another one like it. There was surely a windmill beside it in the past, but it is not there now. It's near Arabella, NM. I've driven past it for nearly forty years and never noticed it until the day I took the photograph that I painted from.

Prickly Pear

12X12

Oil on Canvas

Reference Photograph by Melanie Marquez

People who have seen this painting say it screams "New Mexico." We don't have them here in Alto, but they are not too far away and they are plentiful. 

Childhood Memories

12X16

Oil on Linen Panel

Reference Photograph by Dianne Hewitt

I remember swinging in a swing like this when I was a small child in Illinois. When we moved west there were no trees where we lived that would hold a swing like this. We live in the mountains of New Mexico with pine trees. Tire swings absolutely don't work.