"Salt River Cliffs" ©

18" X 24", oil

Last week, I took a course from Mark Boedges.  A terrific Vermont landscape painter, who studies with Richard Schmid.  We painted everyday in the Arizona desert, along the Salt River in the Tonto National Forest.  This particular view of the sunlit cliffs, as a storm clouds blew in for the night got my attention and begged to be painted.  

"Desert Beauty" ©

At the recent Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival I had the opportunity to demonstrate oil painting during the art show.  This little painting was the result and easy to paint while talking to all the people.  

This weekend I will be showing 30 paintings at the  53rd Annual Sierra Madre Art Fair.  It is a fun weekend full of good art, music and food trucks.  If you are in the area come on by and say HI!

Sierra Madre Art Fair

Memorial Park

222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.

Sierra Madre, CA 91024

*my booth is #31 near the Cannon

"Ancient Canyon Walls" #CanyondeChelly #desertpainting #Navajo #Laurawambsgans

I am still painting some Canyon de Chelly scenes, for many reasons.  Learning how to paint the canyon cliffs and figuring out an easy approach to such a large scene has been very valuable.  While painting each painting it brings the experience of being down in the canyon into focus again and I am able relive each moment.  

Oil on canvas,  16X20

"Canyon Shadows" © #GrandCanyonpainting #laurawambsgans

We watched a summer storm break up after drops the size of nickels brought all the colors of the stone cliffs to a brilliance, unknown in the usual dry desert air.  The play of the sunlight sneaking under and over the clouds created it's own drama that demanded reverence.  

Oil on Canvas,  20" X 24"

"Shallow Water Shadows" © #canyondechelly #oilpainting #laurawambsgans

The first time our Navajo guide drove up the shallow wash water we were surprised that the water was used as the road.  We traveled across the shallow water as much as on sand.  The reflections of the canyon walls and the lit trees against the backdrop of the shaded cliff was just stunning.  I thought I would give it a go at painting the scene.

Oil on Linen,  18" x 24"

"Junction Overlook, Canyon de Chelly" © #canyondechelly #painting #laurawambsgans

Canyon de Chelly is often called the "sacred canyon."  After painting on the edge of the canyon for a week I agree with this name.  Hawks soar, small squirrels scurry and in general life moves on without considering all that people at home seem to be distracted with.  Cell phones do not work, the television news seems distant and home feels like a globe away, not just a days drive.  Truly, I can't wait to return to this sacred canyon.  

Oil on linen, 18" X 24"  

"Canyon Morning" © #canyondechelly #desertpainting #Navajoreservation

Oil on Linen

Last week I had the luck to go to Canyon de Chelly to paint with 5 other Southern California painters, Marian Fortunati, Debra Holladay, Sharon Weaver, Linda Brown and Nita Harper.   Canyon de Chelly is a National Monument located in the north east corner of Arizona and part of a Navajo reservation.  We experienced wild weather from a desert dust storm, to 33 degree mornings to perfect sunny days on the reservation.  

Here is a photograph of Nita and Linda painting along the South Rim of the canyon.  The views were endless and painting the canyon is easy.  You can find spots to paint out of your trunk or you can hike a bit, depending on your comfort level.  

Nita Harper, Marian Fortunati and Sharon Weaver in the 3rd seat.  

To explore the canyon floor hiring a Navajo guide is necessary.  We used Canyon de Chelly Tours, Leon Thomas Skyhorse is the owner and Irene was our guide.  She couldn't have done a better job, making sure we made it to all the best spots for painting.  We were riding in a Suburban with the 3rd seat and rotated seats clockwise with each stop so everyone had an opportunity to see well.  Irene told us that clockwise is the Navajo way and she was surprised we came up with the system as none of the other groups had ever suggested it.  Although we spent the night outside the canyon in the Best Western and Holiday Inn, we felt like Irene was able to give us the canyon experience that people talk about after camping overnight in the canyon.  

If you ever have the opportunity to see or paint Canyon de Chelly, go for it!  

"Pink Mountain Moment" © #BorregoSprings #desertpainting #pleinair

For a brief time each morning the mountain in the west that hovers over Borrego Springs turns every color of orange and pink.  It is a free light show the sun offers the desert residents, until the evening show at sunset.  

I have been on the road painting Canyon de Chelly, Arizona and will start posting that adventure when I get all the paintings and cameras unpacked and unloaded.  It's funny when I am out painting far from home it's easy to forget what I have painted until I start opening the wet panel boxes.  I enjoy the surprises and reliving the painting experience.  

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

A couple more Borrego Springs paintings.... #Borregosprings #desertpainting

On Church Street, where you can find a variety of church services I painted this view one afternoon, while the bells rang out every half hour or so.  The singing bells kept me in line from staying too long in one spot by reminding me that time was marching on.

This little painting of a Palo Verde tree was done at the Anza Borrego visitors center.  Usually I don't post paintings in frames but I had not photographed the painting before it was hung in the Borrego Art Institute.  Below is the Institute with the sunrise reflecting in the glass windows.  I a few minutes later the whole mountain lit up in shades of pink.  

  

This is very typical of the terrain in Borrego Springs, surrounded by the Anza Borrego State Park.  It really is quite beautiful in it's understated hues and ever changing skies.  

#Borregosprings #desertpainting "Sunrise Serenade" ©

The desert is complimented in the morning by birds, roosters and coyotes serenading the rising sun.  I believe it's the nosiest time of the day.  All the other creatures that venture out as the sand heats up are very quiet.  A ranger told me that when the little lizards do push up's, it helps them to determine how far away something is.  It is as though their bodies are just too low to the ground for them to judge distance.  The things you learn out painting are endless.  

Oil on Canvas, 20" X 24"

#Borregosprings #palmtrees "Sun Lovers" ©

Outside the Anza Borrego visitor center gates, these palms seem to spring up out of the desert floor soaking up the sun and loving it.  I painted this early one morning before the crowd arrived to visit the park.  This painting is one of the 10 I painted during the Borrego Springs Invitational last week.  

Oil on Linen, 11" X 14"

This is the gallery walls before the final hanging.  As the artists finished the paintings we brought them into the gallery framed, ready to hang.  The artwork was hung so that visitors could see the work accomplished each day and decide which paintings they would like to purchase.  There were 15 artists and we produced 158 paintings, in 5 days.  It was worth stopping into the Borrego Springs Art Institute to see the wet paintings and different views of the desert.  The paintings will hang and sell through the end of the month.  

#smoketree #Borregosprings #oilpainting , "Desert Beauty", Borrego Springs CA

Last week I had the opportunity to paint in Borrego Springs California, during the annual plein air event hosted by the Borrego Springs Art Institute.  This image is my favorite painting, out of the 10 that I painted, shown as it hangs on the gallery wall.  Painting in the desert it was so quiet you could almost hear the silence.  I was smitten with the subtle colors and constantly changing light.  The main mountain that Borrego Springs is nestled up against, Indian Head, starts out a brilliant pink with each sunrise and ends the day in shades of blue.  

Oil on Linen,  11" X 14"

"Onxy Afternoon" ©

Onyx, California is a classic example of our high desert. Sand drifts, Rabbitbush and cottonwoods announcing water in the distance are beautifully lit in the late afternoon sunlight. Marian Fortunati, Sharon Weaver and Diane Nelson Gold were my painting buddies out in the desert last fall and I am so looking forward to a return painting trip to Kernville.

Oil on panel, 12" X 12"