O'Keefe Country

This past week, I worked on two landscape scenes of Georgia O'Keefe country - the area of northern New Mexico near Abiquiu.

The rocks of this region take on different depths and tones of color, depending on the mineral content of the rock formation, the time of day, quality and direction of the light, and atmospheric conditions. While at times the rocks take on vermillion hues similar to the red rocks of Sedona, at other times, and particularly when the sun is hitting them directly, they take on a more golden hue.

In these two pieces, I have tried to capture these different effects. Regardless, the landscape of this region is breathtaking.

Georgia O'Keefe Country - Abiquiu, NM
18" x  24" in acrylic with palette knife

Abiquiu, NM
18" x 24" in acrylic with palette knife

Canyon with Angels

I have been continuing to explore painting in the style and technique of the late, great Louisa McElwain. This is my latest effort in that vein.

This painting is 18" by 24", done with palette knife in a loose, expressionistic style, with gusto and emotion in each stroke of the knife. I may have wanteded down a trail of semi-abstract in the painting process. 😉

Louisa McElwain was an artist extraordinare, who lived in the Santa Fe, NM area. I've viewed videos of many of her painting sessions in an effort to understand the process and techniques she used. My work is not a copy of hers, rather my own exploration of using her techniques to create different effects.

Her canvases were huge - 4 feet by 6 feet and larger! She painted plein air, using the tailgate of her pick-up truck as her studio. She used mason trowels as palette knives, and had to duck-tape large paintbrushes to long tree branches in order to reach the tops of her paintings!

My painting is much smaller, of course.  I would love to paint on canvases that large, though, and I would really love to have a pick-up truck.

Canyon with Angels, 18" by 24" in acrylic with palette knife.

Exploring the Style of Louisa McElwain

I recently discovered the work of the late artist, Louisa McElwain, and have been exploring painting large pieces in palette knife in a semi-abstract expressionist style. Here are several of the works I've created from her inspiration.

Magenta Sunrise

Two Shores

 

New Day on the Gulf

Sunset on Deep Water

On a Clear Day

Cornville Arizona 22 x 30

Cornville AZ is just off I-17 and some of the scenery is very beautiful.  Montezuma's Well is quite close and is one of the many visited places in the area.  I start with a loose charcoal sketch of the necessary pieces of the painting.  I never sketch in the ground cover as I feel this needs to be felt from the heart and painted in without a preconceived notion of what you are going to paint.
It needs IMO to be a spontaneous action with very little if any preconceived shapes or color and in this case it needs to augment the distant mountains.

I start with a loose charcoal sketch of the necessary items in the scene.

This is done on 22 x 30 watercolor paper (full sheet) in a loose impressionistic style using a big brush and professional Chroma Interactive acrylics.

Hope you enjoyed the journey.

JR Secor

Passing Shadows

Passing Shadows 22 x 30

The plains are such a beautiful part of our country - next to the desert, they are my favorite places.

This painting is done on 300lb watercolor paper, 22 x 30. It is done in an impressionistic style. I first start with a very loose charcoal sketch, indicating only a portion of the scene. I break my charcoal sticks into short pieces so I will not even be tempted to put in too much detail!! Less is MORE!!

Hope you enjoyed this trip

JR Secor

Hazy - Lazy - Daze

18 x 24 - heavy linen paper - Professional Chroma Interactive acrylics - big brush - done in a painterly impressionistic style.

Most days in the Southwest are bright sunshine with beautiful blue skies - However - there are those Hazy - Lazy - Dazes of summer that the colors in the sky are not all that visible and the land mass stands out with the brightness the sky is lacking.

Hope you enjoyed

JR Secor

Monsoon Enters The Canyon

When we arrived in Sedona AZ the monsoon was in full swing.   For those of you who do not know about monsoons, just imagine a real wicked rain storm on STEROIDS!!!!!

18 x 24 on heavy linen paper - professional Chroma Interactive acrylics - big brush - done in a impressionistic style.

Hope you enjoyed

JR Secor