Painting of San Jose de Gracia Church

Here's a painting demo from last Thursday's class. It's San Jose de Gracia Church from a photo I captured on our recent trip to New Mexico. Also known as Church of Santo Tomas Del Rio de Las Trampas, the church was built between 1760 and 1776 in Las Trampas, New Mexico.

Painting Video - 2013 Brush Creek Art Walk

Here's a very short video of my painting progression during the 2013 Brush Creek Art Walk.

Brush Creek Art Walk 2013

This was created over three beautiful mornings in September. I could only paint for about an hour and a half each session due to the rapidly changing light. Thanks to Kimberly Saunders for the photos and video. http://saundersfinearts.com

New Classes Starting Up

I've started 3 new classes this week. Here's a quick shot of the demonstration I painted during Wednesday night's session. About 2 hours. Fun to do.

The House That Nicolai Fechin Built

Earlier this week, I posted about the paintings of Nicolai Fechin. Another truly remarkable work of art by Fechin is the house and all of the furniture within.

From Taosartmuseum.org:

In the early winter of 1927, the Fechin family acquired the property of Dr. and Mrs. Bergman, a Dutch couple who were returning to their native Holland. The Fechins moved into the house, located on the main street of Taos, Paseo del Pueblo Norte.

Nicolai planned, and the multi-lingual Alexandra communicated directions to masons from the Taos Pueblo. The Fechins' workmen removed all interior, non-load bearing walls and reconfigured the space. They doubled the size of the front porch and added a series of rooms that projected from what was once the central cube.

The final result was an asymmetrical adobe Pueblo and Mission Revival house, with twenty-four-inch walls. The Fechins created a wonderful home and a masterpiece of Southwest architecture that celebrated a marriage of the arts: painting, sculpture, drawing, and metalwork. The spaces within the home were sympathetic to Nicolai's art collections as well as his carvings of sculpture, furniture, and architectural ornament.

Despite the massiveness of the walls, Fechin carefully planned window openings. Their locations and shapes were important to accommodate the home's scenic surroundings, including the Sangre de Cristo Mountains under a high sky. He introduced intense light, which bathed textured "terra bayeta" walls and richly carved wood, into the interior through lancet and arched bay windows of rolled and beveled glass.

Working in his father's workshop as a youth provided training for Nicolai as a carver. He absorbed a variety of influences from his Russian heritage and also from his encounters with Native American and Hispanic cultures. Armed with mallet and chisel, he began carving columns, stair rails, vigas, doors, and furniture. With the local metal smith, he fashioned light fixtures, door pulls, and hinges. By 1933, Nicolai and Alexandra, with their workmen, had created one of the most exciting homes in Taos. Eya stated, "A Russian house evolved out of New Mexico mud."

Check out the images below:

Nicolai Fechin Up-Close

Kimberly and I visited the Fechin house in Taos, New Mexico last week. It was a great opportunity to view some paintings with the most expressive brushwork ever. We took some close-up shots, so you can really see the paint at work.

Here's a portrait of his father, followed by a close-up of the eyes. It's amazing how the rough brushwork comes together to create the forms.

Another portrait and a close-up of the eyes.

Here are the hands from a portrait of General MacArthur.