Wednesday, September 17, 2008

o'keeffe's blue river

(5x7)

I think this river is the same one O'Keeffe painted in Blue River; it could be the Rio Chama River, but I'm not sure.
During the Jan Hart workshop I attended in New Mexico last October, we visited many of the places O'Keeffe painted, including Plaza Blanca, which was astounding; I want to paint that scene someday. Jan will be moving to Cosat Rica in December--I wish I could get back to NM before she goes!

I love the colors in my New Mexico photos--pinks, purples, oranges! And the pinons--I get carried away with the pinons.

When I first began painting, after grad school, O'Keeffe was my inspiration. And, just as she sent drawings and paintings to her friend Anita Pollitzer for critique, I used to send mine to Robin, who lived in Key West at the time (I lived in Jersey City, NJ). My attention, and devotion, went elsewhere the more I looked, but the trip to NM brought me back to O'Keeffe.


Below are two O'Keeffe watercolors, Red Mesa and Canyon with Crows, from the book Georgia O'Keeffe: Art and Letters (National Gallery of Art, 1987). I love the light on the pink mountain, the Pedernal, and the way space is simply divided into overlapping triangles. And the pinons!




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17 comments:

Ruth said...

What are pinions, besides bird wings?

laura said...

Pinon, or pinyons, are those scrubby, roundish pines that dot the hills--they're wonderful for painting!

laura said...

(I should have a tilde over the first "n" in pinon)

A Brush with Color said...

Oh, I just LOVE this--absolutely stunning, beautiful colors here--this is maybe my all-time favorite of your works, Laura--so lovely.

Gail Bartel said...

Great color in this one Laura.I love it!
gail

Cathy Gatland said...

This is so beautiful - I love the way you've done those pinons (now that I know what they are!) and the colours are gorgeous - all colours I associate with you, somehow!

Cathy Gatland said...

P.S. O'Keeffe is one of my absolute favourites

Annelein said...

WOW, WOW, WOW, the colors are stunning and how delicate is this little gem! I love it.

Nancy Van Blaricom said...

I love your blue river painting. It has such beautiful colors. The loose-ness is inspiring.

Sharon said...

I love these Laura - gorgeous bright colors. Beautiful!

Sharon said...

I love these Laura - gorgeous bright colors. Beautiful!

Vivienne said...

Beautiful, stunning, worthy of O'Keefe.

Melanie said...

gorgeous painting... just gorgeous. i love the colors too.
funny you should be talking about Georgia O'Keefe - i have had this urge to paint her... the woman. I have this great picture of her, and i have always wanted to paint it... perhaps i will!
Happy weekend!

Carol said...

This is so beautiful, Laura!

Gwen Buchanan said...

Beautiful Laura.. The river just flows in the image and the painting.. Love the way you applied the colors!!!!!so watery... it's a perfect translation...

Jennifer Lawson said...

These are just beautiful. Great colors and I love those pinion pines.

Judybec said...

I love your watercolor of the blue river! So many lovely colors. And, so interesting to see the O'Keefe paintings... I've never seen any of her watercolor work in this style. thank YOU!