Last month we went with some friends on a wonderful trip to Northern New Mexico to explore and relax. And to sketch, of course. I pulled out my sketchbook on a number of occasions in Taos; I could happily draw there for days. [continued below]
I have been to New Mexico several times and I love it. There is something unique and captivating about the colors, shapes, and light of the high desert and the towns there. And the food: oh my!
On our way out of Albuquerque we had the most amazing green chile cornbread at the Gruet Grill. The restaurant does not look memorable from the outside, but all our food was wonderful. I’m still dreaming about that cornbread.
Then we headed up to Taos for a couple of days. There the sky churned with alternating sun and dark storm clouds, adding drama to the views of the mountains beyond. We got caught in two torrential downpours: the biggest I’ve ever seen. Luckily for us they didn’t last long as we had no umbrellas. And, I managed to keep my sketchbook nice and dry.
The little sketch of the Chama River, carving it’s way through the valley, was drawn from the car. I noted the colors in ink right on the drawing for painting later. I rather like the effect: similar to what I did in the museum on my New York trip.
My standard paint colors covered most of my needs in New Mexico (for adobe walls and buildings: various combos of Perm. Rose, Burnt Sienna, and Raw Sienna, with sometimes a bit of Ultramarine or Perm. Alizerin Crimson). But trim and other details on adobe buildings is often a warm bright blue so I took along some Manganese Blue as well.
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