"Chapel at Tlaquepaque"

"Chapel at Tlaquepaque"

12"x9" oil on panel

This painting was started in my plein air class when we painted at Tlaquepaque shopping area in Sedona. Since my plein air class is finished now, I am free to finish up the paintings I started outdoors in my studio. I'd like to get to the place that I could do a finished painting in one sitting, but for now it seems like I have to make my plein air paintings a two day event. The first problem is that I can't seem to work fast enough yet, to catch the light before it changes, and second it feels like I can't get a good reading on the color until I get it indoors.

"Desert Monastery"

"Desert Monastery"
8"x6" oil on panel

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I'm in Tucson for a few days. This morning I got up early to paint before it got too hot. it was nice to do some plein air work outside of class. Somehow I always feel stressed in a class setting, and never seem to do anything I like much, even though I'm learning a lot. It was so peaceful painting on the church grounds with no one around. Just me--this idyllic little church, in it's lush desert setting, the cool desert morning--easy to get into the zone in this kind of environment.

"Gates to the Creek"

"Gates to the Creek"
16x20" oil on canvas
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Yesterday I painted with friends at Polly's house in Sedona. I decided to carry-on with the theme of last week and do another painting of her house. I haven't done a painting this large in more than a month. I worked with the palette knife--it was really nice to have more room to work. After I get a critique and do a little finish work, I'll post this on my website.

"Shaded Window"

"Shaded Window"
9"x12" oil on wrapped canvas

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Yesterday I painted in Sedona at my friend Polly's home. Polly is a pastel artist, and her husband is a very talented building artist. Their home is always a source of wonderful things to paint--beautiful architecture and gardens.

I have been struggling in my plein air class with not simplifying enough and not painting quickly enough. So, that was my challenge for the day. I believe I simplified the subject enough, but I certainly didn't manage to paint very quickly. This was the only painting I did in an afternoon of painting--and I still worked on it some when I got home. But, I am pretty happy with how it came out. I'm thinking I could do a whole series, only on Polly's beautiful home.