Taos Artist Retreat Artwork 2013

I took some better photographs of the art that I created while on my trip:

Arroyo Seco Spring, 9.5 x 7, pastel on PastelMat

Comanche Drive View, 12 x 5, pastel on Belgium Mist Wallis

Rio Grande Rock, 9.5 x 7, pastel on PastelMat

Mabel's Gate, 8.5 x 5.5, pastel on black home made texture

Arroyo Seco Shed, 4 x 6, pastel on  home made texture

Arroyo Seco Alley, 9 x 6.5, pastel on white Wallis with gouache underpainting

Back Home

I headed back home on Saturday. I made sure I had extra time to get to the airport and through security. It turned out that was a wise decision. Although the line through security was short, I got to spend extra time with the security people.

Because the Heilman box holding the pastels looks very suspicious in the Xray machine, and although I had pasted a photo and note about the contents on the outside, I was pulled aside. Besides the normal body scanner, and quick pat down, I was ushered over to the search area. They opened the Heilman box, did a swap of it and my hands to test. Something beeped on the machine, so then they had to search ALL my belongings and send them through the Xray machine again, while a female officer did a FULL body pat down. Everyone was very nice and I completely understand, but I let them know that in June with the big pastel convention, they will be very busy with all the pastel boxes going through security!

The flights were uneventful and I was never so happy to smell Ohio rain and see spring green! New Mexico is a high desert and very dry. My nose was very stuffy the whole time I was there. I also had trouble adjusting to the 7000 ft elevation. It took a couple days to get over the fatigue and headaches. And once home, it took about a day to get comfortable back at 900 ft. I've taken a few extra vacation days off and will return to work on Thursday.

Taos Day 6

Last painting day of the retreat. We headed back to Arroyo Seco to paint. Great little town.

I decided on this view which was backlit, although this isn't a great photo. I worked on Pastelmat today.

Then I turned 90 degrees and painted this scene.

Michael worked in pastel today also, and here is his first.

I didn't take a picture of the second.
Here's some pictures of the others getting that last painting done, and the critique.

Here is this mornings critique.

We headed back to the house for lunch and got cleaned up and much of my stuff packed. I have to head out at 6 am to drive to Albuquerque and will get back home early evening on Saturday. I'll be happy to sleep in my own bed. For dinner, several of us had to go back to Orlando's in El Prado for one more New Mexican meal. Really great food and a welcoming family feel. The place is tiny and only holds about 45 people.

It was a great retreat and I had a great time! Michael and Trina are gracious hosts. Thanks so much!

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Taos Day 5

We got a slow start today as the weather was iffy. We ended up driving down to the bridge over the Rio Grande gorge, which was only seven miles from the rental.

Because the sky was overcast, most of us were uninspired so Michael did a demo for us, using very different colors and the scene included the coffee wagon across the road.

We headed back to the rental while several groups decided on different activities for the afternoon. I went with Trina and Linda to visit the Fechin museum and studio, the famous San Francisco de Asis Mission church in Rancho de Taos plaza, and the La Loma Plaza.

Then we came back to the rental and several of us painted while sitting on the patio, with Saba.

Then we headed to town to a really great pizza place, Taos Pizza Out Back. Great menu and friendly service!
One more full day to go, and then back to Ohio on Saturday!

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Taos Day 4

We headed to the Mabel Dodge Luhan house and grounds today to visit and paint. Georgia O'Keefe stayed in this house across the parking lot.

 

Then we went back to Parsons Gallery to hear Jerry Jordan talk about his art. It was a very interesting conversation.

I then went on my own to the Plaza and looked around and did a little souvenir shopping.

Oh -this morning we did our critique before we left to paint:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Taos Day 3

We had high wind yesterday and we all got blasted by dust yesterday and we were sure feeling it in the sinuses. Overnight a front came through and it is overcast today. We went to Arroyo Seco to paint this morning. It was 46 degrees and for awhile it wasn't too bad but the wind started up and it got cold!

We are getting together lunch at the rental and this afternoon we will be headed into Taos to gallery and museum hop and then get dinner later.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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