Devil in the Details

Here is a repeat of "Morada" along with a series of digital details so that you can get a better idea of the painting than was possible with a single smaller image. "Morada" is the term used for a meeting place of the Penetentes. The Penetentes (Brothers of the Light) is a religious organization of of lay Hispanic Catholics. They were formed to protest and politically work to preserve ancient New Mexican land grants after becoming a U.S. Territory. Its a very secret organization and membership is both secret and almost impossible to join. Penetentes meet secretly at various times of the year in their own Moradas, or chapels. Their rites and rituals, or what we think we know of them, are strongly influenced by Mexican cultural values. Penetentes go in for scourging themselves, and realistically re-inacting actual crucifixions. Interesting stuff ... to me anyway.

Here is the repainted cavalry hill. As you can see I didn't crop it correctly, so you see more than just the picture intended.








The chapel is modeled after a Pentente building just south of Santa Fe. It's adobe walls meld seamlessly with the native rock of its hill-top site. Inside the alter is just behind the bell tower, and the whole nave is filled with Catholic and Mexican folk art. Mr. Skeleton is very much in evidence. Originally the chapel was drawen in a more "boxy" manner. I think this better.

Here are two more poorly cropped details of the foreground of the painting. I'm very pleased with the brush/pigment effects in this painting. The underpainting was done mostly in reds and oranges, which makes quite a difference in the final layers of paint.

We had a magnificent thunder and lightening display last evening. Ah, I wish I could catch the process of a Southwestern lighting storm as day fades into darkness. Oh well, that isn't really my style anyway, but I'm still envious of the painter's aesthetic skills.

I picked up some more frames (all paid for by the sale of a painting a while back. I got two good frames for drawings for a total of $10. Framing and mattingt raises the price of a drawing by better than a factor of ten. Now all I need is a customer. A lot of people stop by, but very few like the paintings enough to get their best friend, Bill Fold, into action.

No change in our health or means this last week. We've been doing a bit of furniture rearrangement and are pleased with the results.

New August Paintings

"Survivor" 20X16, on linen pannel. Constrast between the detail of the tree and the subdued background is meant to focus attention on the tree ... the survivor. There's a lot to see in that snowy field, but it only becomes apparent when you look beyond the survivor to the conditions it survives in. The detail shows a single leaf that still holds on by its fingernails, and we ask is this the survivor, or is it the tree? Hopefully a very simple composition will carry a lot of conceptual freight to engage the audience.

The Survivor is a close relative to "Christmas Casita", in that both feature seasonal snow. My intention is to submit both to an upcoming Exhibition in downtown Albuquerque. They aren't right on point, but I think are close enough for consideration ... and both should appeal to seasonal buyers.


"Navajo Station" I'm not sure whether this one is done, or not. Its a small painting, and it might find a buyer just as it is. I was experimenting with using the warmest colors in the distance, with the coolest temperatures in the middle ground, and a mix of temperatures up close. I'll live with this for awhile (if no one buys it), and maybe try to improve the result.

"Moon Maiden" and "The Potter" have gone up to the New Mexico Art League's exhibition, and will be there for the month of September. Hopefully one of them will find a buyer in this coming month.

State Fair Rejects

Some have asked how Natalie and I are these days. We're fine. Overweight, deaf, and diabetic still. Natalie has largely recovered from spinal Meningitus, but will probably take another 6 months to a year to be back to 95% of what she was before. We are still uncertain as to what the new total medical bills will come to. Can't get blood from a stone, and this stone is particularily short of dollars.

Shannon is in his new assignment in Japan, but we haven't heard from him or the family since they moved. We are hoping he will stop off here for a short visit toward the end of the year when he goes back to Washington to brief the big brass. Kris and Michelle are still adjusting to being parents. Kris started to post baby photos and remarks at his blog site, but hasn't posted anything for over a week now. They were going to fly up to Washington State for her brother's wedding, but the doctor was able to convince them that might not be a wise thing to do with a baby only a month old.

Here are my three submissions to the New Mexico State Fair that were rejected. REJECTED! Oh well, there are at least four more exhibitions left in 2006, and these paintings may do better in a different venue. Actually, at the moment I'd almost rather just knock the price way down and sell them out of the studio. Currently, I have about 75-80 pieces for between $30-$900. A lot of folks stop and shop, and that's a good thing. Unfortunately, even with "give away" prices I'd starve to death if we had to rely on art sales.

What the heck!

Here are the other three paintings that I have on hand.

"Glyph" and "Dancer" are both very small panels meant to be hung without frames. These will probably go for $50, or less.

"Albuquerque", on the other hand is 24X36 and will be priced closer to $500 ... when it is finished. I will painting in the city lights between the trees in the foreground and the volcanos in the middle ground. The original plan was for more very dark and linear clouds in the lighted area, but I'm still thinking about whether to do that or not.

Not much opportunity for sex interpretations in this lot.

New August Paintings

Here are three of the six paintings I've been working on over the last few days. I'll post the other three maybe tomorrow. These are all relatively small oils, and will sell for around $300 a piece ... I hope.

"Sandia Moon" and "Morada" use a more dynamic use of pigment and brush. I think these will be popular with the folks who stop by the studio.

"Christmas Casita" is much more restrained, and I've deliberately down played the colors. Note the little Christmas Tree in the window that mirrors the larger pines around the house. Snow scenes seem popular here, and there is an exhibit in late September that has Autumn as a motif. RGAA will also have a small members only exhibition during the holiday shopping season.

An earlier painting of the reddened Sandias is sold ($250) and is awaiting pickup later this week. Today, a woman visiting from New York said she'll return to buy "Above the Rio Grande" for $350, and a salesman from up the street is trying to decide which of several paintings he'll might buy for $350-$500. A whole lot of promise, but not much cash in hand just yet. Oh well ...........

Testing ... New Paintings

Here are two recent paintings. The one on the left is, "At the Beach" and the other is "Choices", Being new to this Blog business, I'm not sure how it will turn out. The idea is to occasionally (once a week, at least) write an update of news from Corazon de la Osa, and publish images of my paintings.