Art by Robert Yackel

Workshop Day 5

Stephen Kilborn Studio

Sooner than it seems possible the last day of the Kilborn workshop arrives. The focus is on painting today. Everyone arrives at the studio to either create new paintings or finish up ones started earlier in the week.

Bob works on the painting from yesterday’s trip to Talpa. He proclaims there’s still work to be done but we get a good idea of what it will look like. After a short critique session the workshop breaks up a little early so everyone can spruce up for the show at the Kilborn Gallery in Taos this evening.

Workshop Day 4

Stephen Kilborn Studio

The on-location sketching site this morning was the tiny chapel in Talpa and the surrounding homes and gardens.

Bob wandered off to a nearby property that’s been uninhabited for some years. He found many hand crafted doors, gates, metal works and terraced stonework.

Bob selected one of his photos for his next painting. Most of the afternoon was spent drawing the composition and he only got a start on laying in the base colors. There’s no photo of the painting yet, check back for Workshop Day 5. New subject matter, one of the benefits of the workshop week.

Workshop Day 3

Stephen Kilborn Studio

The village of Arroyo Seco was the destination of choice for the workshop class this morning. Even though Seco offers many interesting buildings and settings most everyone focused on La Santisima Trinidad Church.

Bathed in morning light, Bob chose a side view for his painting, highlighting the buttresses on the sacristy, the stone slabs along the foundation and the varying roof lines.

Bob has some fence stringing to do on today’s effort, cloud work and other details before he considers it complete.

Bob’s painted La Santisima Trinidad about a dozen times, styles from fairly realistic to very angular and abstracted.  View the Arroyo Seco page on this website to see the variety.

 Workshop Day 2

Stephen Kilborn Studio

Workshop participants gather at the Kilborn home in Taos Tuesday morning. Historic La Loma Plaza, the location for the day’s sketching, is a short walk down the street. Established as a fortress by 63 Spanish families in 1796, some of the La Loma adobe structures date from that time.

Returning to the Kilborn studio in Pilar many interpretations of La Loma Plaza ppeared for the critique session. There was much enthusiasm because Bob nearly finish his painting.

Workshop Day 1

Stephen Kilborn Studio

Workshop day 1 begin with a morning of sketching/photographing around Pilar, New Mexico. A visit to the Pilar cemetery with overviews of the Rio Grande and the Pilar chapel give artists numerous ideas for the afternoon’s painting.

Bob’s participating in a week-long workshop given by artist/potter Stephen Kilborn who has a studio in the village of Pilar and a gallery in Taos, New Mexico.

Everyone, including Kilborn, spends the afternoon with brushes in hand. Painting wraps up around 4:00pm in time for a group critique session – accompanied by margaritas. Bob rarely completes a work in one session. He got a good start although he sees much more detail he would like to complete.

Doel Reed Studio III 

Available

Bob revisited the adobe studio of Doel Reed (1894 – 1985) for his latest watercolor. Reed was a master printmaker and an important member of the Taos art community after his retirement as head of the Oklahoma State University art department in 1959. While taking a Stephen Kilborn workshop a few summers ago Bob had the privilege of visiting the Reed property. This is the third rendition he’s painted from his photographs and sketches.

The watercolor and ink Doel Reed Studio III is matted for a 16″ x 20″ frame.

Serena Supplee

During our recent road trip through Utah we noted the art work of Moab resident Serena Supplee. Bob admires her renditions of rocks, canyons, and water. Supplee’s watercolors and oils capture the drama and beauty of the unusual geography of the Colorado Plateau.

We first saw her work at the Powell River Museum in Green River where the gift shop featured glicee prints and cards. Once aware of her style and vivid palette we found Supplee’s art at numerous locations including the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, Twin Rocks Trading Post, Bluff, Utah and the Flying V Restaurant in Kanab, Utah. Several prints, cards and a book of earlier works came home with us.

The Powell Museum in Page, Arizona current is showcasing Supplee’s paintings in a Catchin’ Current exhibit, on display until February 2013.

Check out Supplee’s website for a comprehensive view of past and current works.

Old Adobe Church

Sangre de Cristo – Cuarteles

Available

This small adobe chapel stands on the south side of the road between Espanola and Chimayo, New Mexico. If you’re zipping along you’ll miss this piece of history.