The 3 Incarnations of St. Anthony's, Dixon NM, 2010 oil, 20" x 30"
That's John Prescott with Judy Ekstrom in the picture. I originally underpainted it very thickly with oils, which took such a long time to dry I set it aside and forgot about it, but as I was compiling these High Road pictures I found it and finished it in a few weeks.
The painting was started after only the briefest sketch. This drawing of St. Anthony's at Dixon wasn't done til a few weeks ago, which helped me greatly get the painting finished. I also made several other drawings of Dixon and views along the High Road. I'm using the High Road as my current school, my training ground as I play with all my oils and my new large set of Derwent watercolor pencils. I view all my drawings as potential paintings, I won't make a painting that I haven't sketched first on the spot.
Now I'm trying to put these classical iconic images into more of a scenic context like my new view of San Jose de Garcia Church at Las Trampas, instead of continuing to make the bold, in-your face thick oils that have been my mode.
I love the colors, textures, patterns and light all along the High Road. No wonder those early Taos artists painted the way they did, the sunlight is incredible and comes in through my basement studio windows every afternoon.
The oil of St. Anthony's was lots of fun. I started by just boldly laying those shapes out, not trying to draw details at all. The underpainting of the biggest church was bright red. I found myself actually rubbing in some of my new oils with a rag, to bring out the underlying textures and colors.
I doubt I'll ever do another oil like this one, I just can't wait long enough for thick underpainting to dry, and I don't want to try to oil paint on top of thick acrylics. My next posts will be paintings and drawings in Santa Fe, and everything will be new.
