Santa Fe Ranchette

This painting was painted in Santa Fe, NM plein air. It was painted on a very slick surface gesso panel. I used alkyd oils.
There was a group of us painting at a friends ranch. I loved the distant clouds, blue mountain and the adobe home on the hill. The afternoon light was just right to give the warmth to the painting I wanted. I enjoy basically making a record of the time I spend standing in nature, trying to catch the light and mood of the moment. As a native of New Mexico, the state is one of my favorite places to paint. In this painting I began by sketching the view, Painting around the clouds, dropping in the shadows, moving to the far distant mountain and working up to the backyard gate. Holding the light on the trees and the adobe was the goal. Basically trying to give information as to what I enjoyed about the scene.