New Mexico’s a vastly different landscape, yet has the
same long views and limpid light that so captivate me about Maine.
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| Dry Wash, by Carol L. Douglas |
It takes a lot to get me to teach anywhere but Maine these
days. But there’s another place I love to paint. I haven’t taught in New Mexico
in more than a decade, and it’s time to go back.
The village of Pecos, NM lies along the Pecos River, which
flows out of the
Santa Fe National
Forest. Nearby,
Pecos National Historical Park,
Glorieta
Pass, and
Pecos Benedictine
Monastery provide superb mountain views. Ranches and small adobe settlements
dot the landscape. This is a landscape of colorful skies,
hoodoos, dry washes,
pine wildernesses, horses, and pickup trucks. Yet it’s within commuting
distance of Santa Fe, so accommodations, necessities and world-class galleries are
just a short drive away.
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| Horses at a ranch in Pecos, NM. Photo courtesy Jane Chapin. |
I first painted in the Pecos area during a
plein air
event in 2018. I was supposed to range all over the state, but I loved Pecos so
much I stayed right there. Then I came back the following winter. I’ve explored
the ridges and canyons, the river valley, horse pastures, fallow bottomlands,
and I think I have a great itinerary planned for you.
 |
| Old farmyard, Pecos, NM, by Carol L. Douglas. If I were going to buy a second home, this would be it. |
I’m delighted to offer this opportunity in conjunction with the
brand-new Pecos Art Center (about which I’ll be telling you more soon). This
organization was founded to bring arts and culture to the local community. Each
workshop instructor is asked to present a program for local school students before
or after their workshop. This augments local art education and gives back to
the local community. “In Pecos, we believe we live in a unique and authentic
place and want to give something back to the community who has welcomed us to
paint there,” said organizer Jane Chapin. “We want to preserve its character
while leaving a footprint of opportunities for the next generation.”
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| Adobe and beautiful mountains. Photo courtesy Jane Chapin. |
This workshop is aimed at helping painters refine their
personal technique in plein air. All media are welcome: watercolor, pastel,
oils and acrylics. This is an intensive class, with morning and afternoon on-site
painting sessions and lunch-time demos. Classes are kept small so every student
gets the attention they deserve.
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| My friend Jimmy Stewart critiquing my painting along the river bottom. Photo courtesy Jane Chapin. |
Opportunities for accommodations are varied. There are seasonal
rentals in the area, or commute up from Santa Fe if you want a more urban
setting.
The workshop fee is $600. That includes five days of
highly-personalized instruction and a social gathering on Sunday evening, where
you’ll meet your classmates. Email me
here for
more information.
 |
| Snow at higher elevations (downdraft), by Carol L. Douglas |
Carol Douglas has 20 years’ experience teaching students of
all levels in watercolor, oils, acrylics and pastels. “Some teachers are good
artists, and some artists are good teachers, but it is rare to find a good
artist who is also a good teacher. Carol is one of them. She will teach you the
fundamentals you need to know, which a lot of teachers gloss over without
explanation, but she also takes you to the next level, wherever you are on the
learning curve.” (David Blanchard)
