FELIZ ANO NUEVO everyone....HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Lucie and I will be praying for good health, peace and happiness for all!

 

I have just posted this new image on my website.

 

"Traditions"

Oil on Canvas (framed)   18"x24"

Contact Daniel at www.Ostyn-Newman.com for information

 

I am excited to participate in a "30 Paintings in 30 Days" challenge beginning

January 1, 2013, along with artist Leslie Saeta

and the followers of her blog.

This is a really ambitious challenge for me, but I look forward to

pushing myself to find more painting time. 

 

I fear, however, that Lucie's walks will become shorter,

 and her naps longer.

 

Stay tuned to see how it goes........

 

 



MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL.......

"The Littlest Tree"
Acrylic on Paper     20x16

I painted this piece several years ago, and each year hang it in my home
during the holidays.  It's one of my favorites.

Last weekend here in Las Cruces we enjoyed La Posada on Main Street Downtown, and Las Pastores at the Rio Grande Theatre.

Tomorrow evening will be the traditional Christmas Eve gathering on the

Plaza in Mesilla, with candles, luminarias, caroling,

hot drinks and friends.

 

Here is a gift for you.  You may have seen it before......
if so, I invite you to click here to enjoy it again.

Lucie sends along a sweet wish to you for a joyous Christmas. 
We'll both be back with you before 2013.

 

Stay tuned...........

 

 

 

 

 



FIESTA - PILGRIMAGE - DANCING - AND MORE!

 

This week, join in one of the region's oldest continuing traditions during Our Lady of Guadalupe Fiesta events.  The celebrations, always on

December 10, 11 and 12, include a mountain pilgrimage on Tortugas ("A")

Mountain here in Las Cruces, masses, a candlelight procession, feasting

and Danzante and Matachine dancers performing traditional dances. 

 

My painting below depicts a group of dancers of the

Piro-Manso-Tiwa Tribe of Guadalupe Pueblo during the annual

 Virgin de Guadalupe Feast Day Celebration last year.

 

"Matachines at St. Genevieve Church"
Oil on Linen       18"x14"
for information:  Daniel Newman at www.Ostyn-Newman.com.

We're told that the weather will turn cold tonight, so Lucie and I
 had a nice long walk this morning. 
We have enjoyed the balmy, sunny weather the past several weeks.....
but it is, after all, December.

(You've noticed there isn't much "walk" to Lucie's walks....you're right!)

Coming up.......Posadas, Los Pastores, posole, and more.......

Stay tuned...........
 



RAMBLE WITH ME ON FRIDAY!

 

There will be lots of exciting things happening

Friday (December 7th) during the December Downtown Art Ramble:

Lighting of the Christmas Tree at City Hall

Lights and luminarias on Main Street

Galleries open - 5-7pm

(I personally invite you to visit Julie Oliver's Art Studio and Main Street Gallery)

AND.......THE ICING ON THE CAKE.......

"LAS CRUCES COLLECTS"

at the Las Cruces Museum of Art

featuring works from the collections of four prominent Las Cruces art collectors.

 

DON'T MISS the collection of Dr. Phil Born (Dental Associates, PA),

 which includes my painting (now in his collection),      

 

"Land of Enchantment (Truchas)"
Oil on Canvas     16x20

Lucie has been preparing for the upcoming holidays.  Let her know  
if you need help "wrapping things up". 

Coming soon.....festivals, matachines, posada, posole.....

Stay tuned................

 

 



The Turkey is History........

Except for the upcoming, this evening, traditional turkey vegetable soup, Turkey Day is history and we're moving on. 

 

The fall days here in New Mexico blend dramatic color, warm sunshine, and light that only happens this time of the year. 

 

This painting is of "Let's Paint New Mexico" Challenge #7 photo.....

 

"Coloring November"

6"x8"     Oil on Linen Panel
$90.00

The painting below also represents the light of this time of the year....

 

"Desert Shadows"

11"x14"  Oil on Canvas
Contact the Design Firm, www.Ostyn-Newman.com for information.

Lucie is really enjoying these Fall days here in New Mexico.....she displays an extra burst of energy during her walks.

Coming soon.......festival, dancers, pilgrimage, posole, tamales,.......

Stay tuned........

 

 

It's All About Lucie.......

As our "little Lucie" was one of those featured in the "Critter Corner" column, page 3 in the "Life" section of Friday's (11/16/12) Las Cruces Sun-News, I feel it's appropriate to feature her in today's post.  She has indicated, however, that she is completely unimpressed with her new fame.

 

This portrait of Lucie hangs in the Cutter Gallery, and Sally Cutter will be happy to provide information on it.  You can see the painting in their beautiful facility ----

2640 El Paseo here in Las Cruces --- or contact Sally at 575-541-0658:

 

"Cat Nap"
Oil on Linen    11x14 (framed)

The image that appeared along with Lucie's story is:

And, in honor of today being "Lucie's Day", I'm including an image of her friend, Jazz......

We'll get back to business as usual on our next post.   Stay tuned........


 

 

 

Well, I've been killing alligators here, but am now back on track.

 

"Wildflowers at El Monte Sagrado"
6"x8"     Oil on Linen Panel
$85.00

This is my version of Let's Paint New Mexico! Challenge #6. 
Here is the original photo for the Challenge:

El Monte Sagrado is a very beautiful, very luxurious resort and spa in
the charming mountain village of Taos, in Northern New Mexico.
Taos has a rich Native American heritage, and is also an artistic mecca
with many museums and galleries.

Lucie and I have been enjoying the gorgeous Fall days here in
Las Cruces with both morning and evening walks. 

No.....you're not confused!  This is Lucie's version of a "walk".  As you can see, she "walks" with a harness and a leash......but doesn't require that anyone
be on the other end of the leash.  A very independent girl...that one!

Stay tuned.......


 



 

"New Mexico Native"

8x8

Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas

 

 

Mornings here in Las Cruces are beginning to feel a bit like Fall, although the trees haven't yet changed color.  The foliage, especially in the Valley near the river will soon look like this native. 

 

The Daily Paintworks website offers a weekly challenge to their members, and to anyone else interested in participating.  This painting below is my response to their challenge, in which the artist is to depict an emotion.  I chose to leave that emotion to the viewer......could it be joy, passion, contentment, or even sadness if they are parting?  I may join the website, although a painting a day is beyond my expectations....perhaps three times weekly?

 

"Emotion"

6x8

Oil on Canvas Panel
 

Lucie will be featured in the Friday, November 2nd column, "Critter Corner" in the Las Cruces Sun-News.  I suspect she'll be expecting us to begin the "Lucie Squires Fan Club" when that gets out.  She's already waiting for the newspaper delivery person......

Stay tuned...........

Eric Wallis Workshop on the Mountain

Yesterday, I participated in a plein air workshop taught by Utah artist, Eric Wallis, and organized by local artist and friend, Julie Ford-Oliver (thank you, Julie).  Eric was in town for the opening of his new show at a local gallery.  The location was at the foothills of our beautiful Organ Mountains in a natural-area park called Dripping Springs.  The morning (8AM-eek) was crisp and the light flat, so the early morning demonstration painting done by Eric was beautifully soft with a minimum of value changes. 

 

Here is a photograph of Eric's subject and his completed painting. 

 

 Following the demonstration, Julie's husband Jim treated everyone to a delicious "burger" lunch cooked on the grill on the mountain.......(thank you, Jim).  Linda Hagen brought a surprise guest, but it didn't hang around for lunch. 

 

I'll be working to complete the painting I started yesterday afternoon, and will share it in another post.

 

Lucie is feeling totally left out....she didn't get to go yesterday.

 

Stay tuned........

 

Diez y Seis de Septiembre

Mexico Celebrates Its Independence on the 16th of September

16th of September Fiesta

Oil on Gallerywrap Canvas  16x20

For information on this painting, please contact the Gallery.

In Dolores Hidalgo on September 16th, 1810, Father Hidalgo launched the Mexican War of Independence against Spain.  Each year, this event is celebrated on the plaza in old Mesilla, our neighbor, with mariachi music and folklorico dancers like those pictured above. 

 

Images of my paintings of challenges #4 and #5 have now been posted to the "Let'sPaintNewMexico"  blog.  Please visit and let me know what you think about both the blog and my work.

 

It is Lucie's naptime (which we don't disturb under pain of death!), but I'm know she'll want to visit with you next time.





 

Stay tuned........



Let's Paint New Mexico

 On Thursday, about noontime..........about 1500 feet above the ground........

 

this flew over my house on its way to its final resting place in California. 

HAPPY RETIREMENT, ENDEAVOR!

 

I am looking forward to participating in an online painting challenge with a group of New Mexico artists. Their website is www.LetsPaintNewMexico.com, and I hope to post during Challenge #5, the Santisima Trinidad Church in Arroyo Seco, which I have painted several times before........

Santisima Trinidad, Arroyo Seco NM
Oil on Canvas   12x16
(e-mail me for additional information-
KSquiresStudio@comcast.net)

I'm posting below the photo of Challenge #3 and my painting of "Arroyo Seco", which is a small village on the road to Taos Ski Valley.........also home to the above Santisima Trinidad........

 

 

Arroyo Seco
Oil on Canvas    6x8

Lucie wasn't able to participate in the posting today as she is in "time out" for misbehaving...........

 

We'll both be back next week.........stay tuned.





 

"Lucie Squires"

 

 

Please meet Lucie, who you'll be seeing from time to time on my blog.  She is one of my favorite painting subjects, tho she only models during naptime.  Otherwise, she rates at the bottom of the list as an ideal model.

 

I'm looking forward to painting with a Challenge group of New Mexico artists, so I'll be posting their photo and an image of my painting of that subject next time.  Stay tuned.......

 

Kathleen

 



I have a new website! In an effort to allow more creative time for painting, my online source is now exclusively Ostyn-Newman Design in Arizona. I have eliminated the process involved in updating my own website.

Ostyn-Newman is an Arizona interior design firm of tremendously talented (and very nice) people who encourage the use of local and regional art in their designs. To that end, originally for the benefit of their design clients, they developed their website to feature the work of a limited number of regional artists. As demonstrated in the few years of my successful relationship with them, they have given each large, complex project or small, straightforward sale their absolute best effort.

Please click here to take a look…..at both my work on their site, and at the site itself. You can also view my paintings under “ART” on the www.Ostyn-Newman.com website, or Google my name and follow the link there. I value your opinion, so please let me know (KSquiresStudio@comcast.net) what you think about this change.

I continue to be represented by Cutter Gallery on El Paseo in Las Cruces, and in the Marketplace at Placita Santa Fe (by the Magic Pan) on Doniphan in El Paso.

Stay tuned.....more to come soon.

Kathleen