High Desert Painters

[put pic here]
High Desert Painters is an international, juried group of professional artists that meets regularly to study the art of painting, encourage each other's endeavors, and, most importantly, to create plein air paintings in amazing locations. Events will be posted to this blog. To see our member listing and Event schedule, see the group website http://www.highdesertpainters.com/

Plein Air Painters of New Mexico - 2014 Plein Air Santa Fe

High Desert Painters have been busy.  Nita Harper painted in the 2014 Plein Air Santa Fe competition June 13, 2014; she was joined by Janis Loverin for lunch at Santa Fe Inn.

Spring in Taos

That yellow sign there is absolutely no lie. It always gives me pause at this point, faced with a road that just drops off and the Rio Grande River Gorge straight ahead.
This is the road from the west side of the gorge down to Pilar and the Taos River Road: steep, winding and a lot of signs that warn about falling rocks- you know the ones that show some helpless car threatened with a boulder dropping out of the sky.
I am headed to the Village of Pilar to join up with the High Desert Painters for a day of plein air painting.










It is always somewhat miraculous that we even meet at all, there being no cell service in this part of the country but we look for cars, or painting umbrellas and amazingly we connect. It was a week of some harsh weather changes with high winds and rain - not ideal - but Friday was perfect. When we eventually found each other on the hillside above Pilar we enjoyed views in almost every direction. Judy Howells and Janis Loverin looked to the view over Pilar and Jana Van Wyk set her sights on the river. The piece on my unmanned easel on the right is of the view to the west and down the canyon.
Click on the photos to view them larger.

Painting in the Rio Grande Gorge

In May 2010 the High Desert Painters met in Taos, New Mexico to paint on location for a week. Above, back left-to-right, Janis Loverin, Jana Van Wyk, Judy Howells, Nita Howell. front, Coni Grant

Janis Loverin

Nita Harper

Early Spring in Chimayo

A visit to the Chimayo Santuario never fails to quiet and strength the spirit. On the way to Taos via the High Road, the High Desert Painters stopped at Chimayo. The trees are just beginning to green in early May 2010.

near Abiquiu, NM

In early October 2009 the High Desert Painters spent a week painting in northern New Mexico. We had the opportunity to paint in this new location which was high up a cliff looking down on the Chama river. The view was spectacular and powerful.

Near the Monastery on the Chama in NM

It's cold, dark and rainy in NC tonight, as I write this, but when I look at these photos taken in Oct 09 I can still feel the warm sun, smell the fertile air, and wonder at the play of light we experienced during this late afternoon. The High Desert Painters were painting along the Chama river in northern New Mexico when I took these photos. You can see the long shadows as the sun wanes in early evening. The perfect hour to be painting outdoors -- the Golden Hour.

High Desert Painters

High Desert Painters is an international, juried group of professional artists that meets regularly to study the art of painting, encourage each other's endeavors, and, most importantly, to create plein air paintings in amazing locations. Events will be posted to this blog. To see our member listing and Event schedule, see the group website http://www.highdesertpainters.com/

High Desert Painters in Arroyo Seco, NM

After a full morning painting, the High Desert Painters take a break for lunch in Arroyo Seco, NM. Left to Right: Judy Howells, Nelson Hubley, Nita Harper, Ron, Ann Templeton, Janis Loverin and Coni Grant.

Painting in Taos, NM

This is a sunrise shot near the Rio Pueblo just south of Taos. Janis, Judy, and I got up early to see the sunrise but this is the most sun we saw; the sun snuck right under those clouds and didn't re-emerge until later in the morning. The early morning jumbo latte was worth the early rising!

We also stopped at the St. Francis de Asis church in Rancho de Taos for some early light photographs.

Later that day we found some gorgeous apples tree in bloom; here's a shot of Nita admiring the pink blossoms.

Nita trying to concentrate and paint while Coni looks on.

Pilar Yacht Club

There was not a yacht in sight but the idea of a yacht club in the middle of the high desert did cool us off on a warm day in May! The High Desert Painters posed for this photo after a day painting along the Rio Grande Gorge in northern New Mexico.

The High Desert Painters in Pilar, NM - l to r: Jana Van Wyk, Judy Howells, Nelson Hubley, Coni Grant, Nita Harper, Ron, and Janis Loverin.

Abiquiu 15 miles

15 miles to Abiquiu, New Mexico - Why does the sky seem bigger in New Mexico? Even driving along the road it's possible to snap memorable photographs like this one driving north from Santa Fe to Abiquiu. I can still feel the anticipation as the High Desert Painters converged on Ghost Ranch from north, south, east and west.

Taos May 2009

High Desert Painters will be painting on location in Taos, New Mexico during the week of May 3 - 9, 2009. We will wander the back roads, like the photo of our drive down into the Rio Grande Gorge above, and paint the splendor of Spring colors in the High Desert.

North of Taos

During the High Desert Painters Taos paint out in October 2008, we set up our easels just north of Taos. The sunny weather turned a bit colder and the clouds rolled in as we painted. The colors and shadow patterns on the mountains were amazing, and we stayed out in the cold wind as our fingers turned numb. What a wonderful afternoon, followed by the outdoor fireplace on the patio and then dinner at Orlando's. The photo above is of Judy Howells and Janis Loverin, l. to r.

Painting in the High Desert in Autumn

On a gorgeous October day, Ann Templeton worked her magic and allowed us to watch her create a painting of Abiquiu Lake from an overlook near the entrance road for Ghost Ranch New Mexico. As she painted she gave an eloquent description of her complicated thought process during the design of a plein air landscape painting and then on to the finish. Just on the right edge of the photo is the beginning of the Pedernal - the mountain that Georgia O'Keefe made famous.

This mesa overlooking the box canyon in the heart of Ghost Ranch, New Mexico is a favorite painting location for the High Desert Painters. Some of us choose the upright red rocks as our subject; others decide to let the casitas weave their story into the painting. This day dawned with the crisp October air at 40 degrees so by midday the warm sun on this mesa is a welcome participant in our painting experience.