Plein Air at Around 100 Degrees

When the temps hover around a hundred, it’s too darned hot for painting outside. It’s August, so Southern New Mexico can be hot. Saturday the plein air painters in the area converged on a mini eco-system in the middle of the vast nothing that is south of I10 between Lordsburg and Deming. One of the Black Range Painters has a large ranch there and graciously opened her home to us to paint. Nestled under very large cottonwood trees, her home was protected from the onslaught of the sun, and populated by a group of friendly dogs that barked at cars, but proved to be very happy to have company. Temps were even cool under this natural umbrella.

Our painter friend has artifacts that have been found on her property by her family for the last hundred years and more. So the setup possibilities are varied and interesting. From Mimbres pottery bowls, to rusted old spurs to glass butter churns with wooden paddles, topped by the products of her gardens, and the output of her canning. And she had AIR CONDITIONING.

Velva's Window 16x20
Oil on canvas - Available, contact me please

With the sun streaming through her kitchen windows, her canning jars took on the clear jewel tones of a stained glass window. And when she added her depression glass oil lamp, what to paint was decided for me. The window and lamp and canning jars grouped with some fresh veggies suggested to me “Velva’s Window”.  It’s not my usual subject matter, and dear hubby does not know what to make of it. I am still undecided too.

This painting is large for a plein air (I painted it from direct observation) as a 16x20. A few adjustments still needed to be done in studio to add the final touches. But the streaming light was just too delicious to not paint. Very seldom can you use pure unadulterated pigment in plein air. Most colors are neutralized from the atmosphere and reflections.

Thanks Velva for an inside plein air experience. The carrot cake you made wasn’t bad either. Now that’s the way to plein air paint. I figure I deserve brownie points just for trying this piece.

Tomorrow I leave for Las Cruces, to be one of the artists at the Franciscan Art Festival, held at Holy Cross Retreat. There will be many artists and lots to 'oooooh' and 'aaaaah' over, so stop on by if you are in the area. (No 'pthaaaas' allowed!)

Fav quote:

"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race." The difference between a winner and a quitter is that one has a strong will and the other has a strong won't. Never, ever give up.                                           (Calvin Coolidge)