New Mexico always recharges my “Art Batteries”

Another series of small (4”x4”), quick studies inspired by my recent trip to New Mexico includes places like Pecos National Historic Park and the ruins in Jemez.  Now it’s time to work on some bigger paintings…

New Mexico Collagescape

New Mexico, 12”x24” mixed media on wood panel (detail image below)

If I am not at home in California, New Mexico is pretty much my favorite place to be.  As this series has been underway, I have known it would not be complete without a New Mexico collagescape.  I was having trouble deciding what colors I should use to depict the landscape.  in New Mexico the colors are often washed out, dull and dry, a condition exaggerated by years of drought.  It all still looks good when contrasted against the blue New Mexico sky.  Yet, you might notice there is only a hint of blue in this work.  As I have been cutting up smaller and smaller pieces of painted paper to make this series, I suddenly decided to take my inspiration from the stone and adobe walls of pueblos both contemporary and hundreds of years old.  All the time I have spent at places like El Morro National Monument and Chaco Canyon played a big role in this work.  Now to decide, are the hints of blue the glimpses of sky through a window in a wall or are they small pieces of turquoise…..

New Mexico will be shown in my Collagescape exhibit opening on July 29.