Desert Views

The desert is not as pretty in the winter as it is in the spring but it's still a novelty for this northern girl from the flat lands of Ohio. I only had to climb a few hundred feet up the hill behind my friends condo and I was presented with an awesome view of cactus, hills and mountains. It's just a matter of picking out which specimen you want to be the 'star' of your show. With so many different and varied shapes to choose form this can be a difficult task.

I did this 6" x 8" painting in about an hour just before sunset.

Desert Vista

Tumacacori Mission Tubac, AZ

When we arrived in Tubac we found the area experiencing a record-breaking cold spell. The ranger at Tumacacori Mission told us the previous night's temperatures had dropped to 4 degrees. Plumbers were making out like bandits, with unprotected pipes freezing and creating lots of problems for homeowners and businesses.

Even with two pairs of gloves on and a beautiful sunny day the biting wind made it a chilly proposition to paint outside. But we came here to plein air paint and we would not be deterred! We stood in the courtyard, out of the wind to paint a back yard view of the mission. It was still an interesting subject with its block walls and bell tower.

This is an 11" x 14" painting, which is the largest I g\felt I could complete in the short period of time we were out there. Ironically, while it was 40 degrees that day in Tubac, it was closer to 50 degrees at home in Ohio.

10 Days in Arizona

I attended a workshop at the Scottsdale Artists School earlier this month. The three day workshop was given by Nancy Seamons Crookson, and titled Lessons on Russion Colorist painting. The workshop was based on color theory she learned from Sergei Bongard, a Russian artist who immigrated to the United States and taught students in Utah in the 70's.

Nancy did a demo of a still life the first day and we all did the same thing. The second day we had a great model for a half day. His name was Miguel and he was dressed as a pirate. I worked on him for three hours on Saturday and another two hours on Sunday, the final day of the workshop.

I love the way this turned out and I had fun using Nancy's method of making a blue underpainting as a base. Lends the piece a mysterious and unusual feel. I found it was possible to achieve a very realistic looking painting in a short period of time using her strategy. In keeping with what I try to do when I take a workshop, I will use her methods for a three month period and evaluate what I like and don't like at that point.

11" x 14" Miguel

Jessica from our Portrait Group

Thought I had better be doing some painting from life in preparation for my upcoming workshop with Nancy Seamons Crookston at the Scottsdale Artists School.

This is Jessica from our Saturday morning portrait group at Common Space II- corner of Hill and Holland Sylvania in Toledo, Ohio.

She loves to dress in period costume and I have a feeling we will have her back again because she is a great model! Bruce found her at the Toledo Museum of Art when he was up there to see the Manet Exhibit.

I focused on the face while she posed and finished the hat when I got home.

14" x 18" oil on linen

First Painting of the Year!

This is a small study for a larger painting I intend to do later this year. It is a 12" x 16" painting of my Compassion daughter, Yasmina. It's based on a photo I found on her Facebook page before the page was removed. I changed a few things but r\tried to remain true to the "feel", although my background is much more interesting and impressionistic than the old school in the photo. She lives in Columbia and I have been her sponsor through Compassion International for four years. This 15 year old loves to dance, and is interested in becoming a lawyer one day so she can help her people fight for their rights. She attends a Christian school and loves God. I am a bit worried. Columbia is a scary place to live in and she lives in Cartagena-- it is even scarier in the cities. I have not heard from her in some time and I usually receive a letter every few months or so. The country has been overrun with drug lords for many years. Yasmina lives in a dangerous place at a very dangerous time and I am requesting prayers to keep her safe from harm.

12" x 16"

Yasmina Pinzon