Santa Fe 2004/2005

Cathy Carey

Aug 15, 20142 min read

Here is and older sketchbook done in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 2004-2005. As with all the sketchbooks, they are a place to gather ideas and feelings of a place at the time I am there and to later go back and relive in the studio.

This scene is the old Artisan store when it was on Canyon Road. I was teaching in their back room. I did an oil painting from this sketch, called “Let the Sun Shine In”.

Santa Fe 2004/2005 p1

This painting is at the garden on Canyon road built by Bandolier.

Santa Fe 2004/2005 p2

The many gardens of Santa Fe are always uppermost on the list of subject matter because they are so stunning and abundant. They bring a sense of clam and relaxation, especially placing chairs or a chase lounge in the mix.

Santa Fe 2004/2005 p3

To me, a chair in a painting is like a person, it is observing the scene, and the posture of the chair may express an attitude. For instance the chair on the left is talking and the one on the right is listening.

Santa Fe 2004/2005 p4

Santa Fe 2004/2005 p5

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Casa Del Zorro

Usually I take my sketchbook with me wherever I go. I may just start with pencil and finish in watercolor on site or perhaps once I’m back in the studio. The next few paintings are from Casa Del Zorro out in Anza Borrego desert, outside San Diego. We used to go there for my birthday for a few years in a row.

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Santa Fe 2004/2005 p8

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Santa Fe 2004/2005 p11

The Casa del Zorro had tents you could get inside to escape the sun, and at night it was so nice to be in the pool and watch the sky and then snuggle up in the tent for a moon nap. I did a painting from this sketch called “Solitude”.