Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Pastel Woman (2007)


Pastel on paper, about 20"x25". Drawn from life.

I've been away from the internet, taking lots of photos and seeing new things. One place I visited was Santa Fe, which is full of artists and art galleries and, at this time of year (the Indian Market time), full of people shopping for Southwestern art. (I wasn't shopping--just happened to visit at the same time.) As I get a chance, I'll share some of the sights and experiences.

The light in Santa Fe is amazing. Our host told us that Mabel Dodge Luhan, a wealthy Eastern transplant to New Mexico who became a famed patroness of the arts in Taos, is said to have demanded "Why was I not informed of this?" when she first laid eyes on the Southwest.

19 comments:

  1. You deserve an internet cafe break, JS. But, then we need to see some of your work while in New Mexico. I hoped you visited some of their cafes.

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  2. This is breathtaking. Such beautiful movement in this one.

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  3. And as has struck me before, this work has a Cezanne quality to it.

    (Funny quote. The rich are different from you and me...)

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  4. I love this sketch, Jean! The colors, the shadow, the light... Top!

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  5. Thanks, Cafe Pasadena. Whether I deserve a break or not, circumstances are definitely creating one. But I have amazing cafe and restaurant reference photos from Santa Fe, which I will take advantage of as soon as I can. These folks are ever so ready for their close-up.

    Thanks, Laurie, AH and Annie. AH, you should hear our friend channeling Mabel Dodge Luhan--a wonderfully haughty and querulous delivery of the line.

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  6. Have you considered hanging, JS, these cafe scenes in loco restaurants for possible sale??

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  7. Jean, this is beautiful. Happy traveling. I hope to have some settle down time to do some life drawing soon.

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  8. Line and volume. Beautiful work. You make me want to run off to the Norton Simon. Let the masters mock my meager talents.

    having a hell of a time painting a six foot high dalmation. Those spots can make you dizzy

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  9. I like that quote too. And, as always, I really appreciate the subtle interplay of colors going on here.

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  10. Thanks, PA and Margaret.

    PA, is that dalmation inside the studio that's the subject of your new post? This is part of the firehouse project?

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  11. CP, thanks; this is something I'll need to think about. I think more paintings first, then figure out what to do with them.

    MG, I hope you get some settle down time to do some life drawing. I'm working on the happy traveling part, and also hope to get some more life drawing in as soon as I can.

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  12. Love that Luhan link, by the way.

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  13. Yes, it's the earth/dirt panel

    I have the dog at my home studio. Mr V created a system so that I could work from the house. The painting is rolled on a tube. I've rented an empty studio for the month of September. One panel left to paint, then the fine tuning.

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  14. Thanks, Yoga Gal.

    PA, that's quite an apparatus.

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  15. What a great, imperious quote! (from Mabel) Love it. As a native (ex pat) New Mexican, we try to keep the secret of the light as best we can, but it keeps getting out.

    Lovely sketch, as well.

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  16. Thank you, r garriott. Mabel sounds like she was really something. She apparently published a few memoirs. I'm going to see if I can find some to read.

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  17. I came back to grab that Luhan link. Got to get back to work but am so edgy with the fires.

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