Phish House – Sketch & Paint
Tuesday morning workshop participants gathered at a private home, the Martinez House, to sketch and photograph the unique characteristics of the adobe built in the 1920s.
Windows, doors, vigas, stairway and landscape features – each artist found different details to place in their paintings. You can see where Bob drew his inspiration for the day.
Adapting his own style and whimsy there’s more details to be added before Bob considers this a completed work.
Hidden Taos
For the fourth consecutive year Bob is attending one of the watercolor workshops given by Taos artist and potter Stephen Kilborn. The theme Bob selected this year is Hidden Taos, little known locations in the Taos area. This would seem to b a perfect fit since Bob’s favorite subject matter is adobe architecture.
The Kilborn workshops focus on abstracting the landscape. Bob doesn’t approach his paintings with a great deal of abstraction but the weeklong workshops have proven to be great inspiration and motivation. Through these experiences he has found his own style and technique.
The basic format for the workshops is on location sketching in the morning before arriving at the Kilborn studio in Pilar, New Mexico. After a delicious lunch prepared by Stephen’s wife, LaVerne, participants spend the afternoon painting in the studio. Nearing 4:00pm it’s time for margaritas and a critique of the days work. Participants come from multiple states and art experience ranging from novices to art teachers, a comfortable environment for all.
On Monday, the first day of class, the group sketched and gained inspiration from Pilar’s surrounding vistas of mesas, pinon pines and the Rio Grande. Bob never finishes a painting in one afternoon but he got a great start, even having time to incorporate hundreds of his tiny squares. We’ll see the finished painting sometime in the future.
Summertime on Canyon Road
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Bob completed this watercolor some time ago and I’ve been slow to get it on the website. The scene recalls many walks along Santa Fe’s well loved Canyon Road, a narrow, curving street bordered by galleries, restaurants, shops and adobe abodes.
We’ve found that Sunday mornings are a favorite time for us to explore Canyon Road, when all is quiet. An ideal time for photos or just to enjoy the sense of place. Peeking into gallery windows we make a list of which ones we’ll return to visit.
The watercolor Summertime on Canyon Road is 11”x15”, matted for a 16”x20” frame.
Saguaro Home
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Bob returns to the Sonoran desert in his latest completed watercolor. Two Elf Owls peek out from their nest in a giant saguaro. Woodpeckers punch out the holes that are later inhabited by a large variety of wildlife. The painting reminds me of the Tucson area with the nearby Catalina Mountains.
The watercolor Saguaro Home is 11”x15”, matted for a 16”x20” frame.
New Mexico Adobe Churches
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Drawing from dozens of sketches of the historic adobe churches found in Northern New Mexico Bob combined nine of his favorites into one painting. He’s featured each of these subjects in his works over the years – from the much visited Santuario de Chimayo to the private chapel in Pilar. This time they come together in a montage tour of New Mexico Adobe Churches.
The watercolor and ink New Mexico Adobe Churches is 11”x15”, matted for a 16”x20” frame.
Sunrise on the Sonoran Desert
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As snow continues to accumulate in the Colorado Rockies Bob’s latest painting brings us a bright sunrise on the Sonoran Desert of southeastern Arizona. I especially like the back lighting affect he achieved on the majestic saguaros. I wish I could head down that desert path tomorrow morning.
The watercolor and ink Sunrise on the Sonoran Desert is 11”x15”, matted for a 16”x20” frame.
Apples, Apples, Apples III
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Bob’s spent the last month working on a number of very different pieces, depending on his mood and motivation. Several people have asked when he was going to paint more fruit. Apples, Apples, Apples II is the first to be completed. A few of Bob’s signature squares subtly appear and create depth.
Apple trees in the Denver area produced a hearty crop this year. We’re still enjoying homemade applesauce, fresh apple pies and crunchy apple salads.
Apples, Apples, Apples II measures 8.5×11” and will be matted for an 11×14” frame
Aspens and Cottonwoods Workshop Opening
Friday – Oct. 1, 2010
The culmination of each Stephen Kilborn workshop is a showing of the students’ paintings on Friday evening. Each participant selects one work from the week’s painting effort. The Kilborn studio mats and frames the selections. The art work is hung in the Kilborn Gallery in Taos with an evening opening reception.
The Aspens and Cottonwoods Opening drew a large crowd this evening, a combination of local artists and residents, friends and Taos tourists. Shedding their painting attire for dressier duds the participants end the week in near giddy gaiety. Paintings were sold and many of us stocked up on Kilborn pottery.
Early in the week the four ladies who had never painted before were dubbed “The Taos Four.” Their spirit and willingness to explore new experiences brought joy for all those involved. Plus, they each proved they could pick up a paint brush with winning results. I guess that makes Stephen the Founding Father. Fun was had by all!
Bob’s entry in the show was “Aspen Lollipops”, an almost whimsical depiction of autumn’s changing colors combined with “Bobism” – a multitude of small squares which add shading and depth.
New friendships were made, creative inspiration and techniques shared, and great food and comradery enjoyed. Before the evening is over several of the students discuss a return for one of the 2011 workshops.
While workshop days can be long and intense Bob and LaVerne Kilborn found time for fun and frivolity.
Stephen Kilborn painting workshops scheduled for 2011.
Hidden Taos – July 17-22 – Little known locations in the Taos Area
Aspens and Cottonwoods – September 25-30 – Maybe the most beautiful time to be in Taos.
View all the participants and their painting.
Workshop Day Five – Friday
Friday is a shortened day. Some, like Bob work hard to finished projects stated during the class. Others use the day to experiment with new ideas and techniques.
A delicious final lunch by LaVerne is applauded and appreciated. Note – several of LaVerne’s popular recipes are available on the Kilborn website.
Painting winds up around 2pm. Holly heads to the Gallery to hang the evening show. During the final critique it’s always interesting to see the evolution of each participant’s style over the five days. Especially so for those who had never painted before such as this session’s “Taos Four”.
Everyone heads to their lodging with a couple of hours to spruce up for the workshop finale, the evening show.
Workshop Day Four – Thursday
Thursday is always decision day. Each participant must select the painting they want to present at the Friday night Art Show opening at the Kilborn Gallery in Taos. For some this is not an easy decision. During the critique session there are a number of group votes. It’s not surprising that rarely is the choice unanimous.
After class hours Stephen and Holly mat and frame the paintings. For the first time they are using colored frames for this workshop. Always before it’s been a standard silver metal frame. Earlier in the week there was a drawing for colors – brick, blue, hot pink, lime green, orange. Some of the artists painted with frame color in mind while others negotiated trades.
Bob selected the bright and cheerful “Aspen Lollipops” for his show entry.
Art by Robert Yackel 