THE 150 CHALLENGE SHOW

#1

2009-06-03T12:09:00.000-07:00

"ANGEL WALKING"

8"X8"

nfs

#6

2009-06-03T12:04:00.001-07:00

"ASPEN HILLS"

10"X8"

sold

#2

2009-06-02T23:04:00.000-07:00

"SWEET CHURCH"

8"X10"

sold

#3

2009-06-02T10:59:00.001-07:00

"BACKLIT SANDIAS"

8"X10"

available

#4

2009-06-02T10:54:00.001-07:00

"TRANQUILITY"

9"X12"

sold

#5

2009-06-01T22:57:00.001-07:00

"PEACEFUL POPPIES"

10"X10"

sold

#6

2009-06-01T15:50:00.000-07:00

"HIDDEN CROSS"

8"X10"

#76

sold

#7

2009-06-01T15:38:00.000-07:00

"TAOS MAGPIE"

8"X10"

available

#8

2009-05-31T22:16:00.000-07:00

"CHOKECHERRIES IN BLOOM"

9"X12"

sold

#9

2009-05-31T22:10:00.001-07:00

"DANCER IN YELLOW"

10"X8"

sold

#10

2009-05-30T20:57:00.000-07:00

"TAOS SPRING"

8"X10"

#10

available

#11

2009-05-30T20:54:00.000-07:00

"FIELD CLOUDS"

8"X10"

#11

sold

#12

2009-05-30T20:47:00.000-07:00

"HOLLYHOCK WINDOW"

16"X8"

#12

sold

#13

2009-05-30T20:42:00.001-07:00

"COSMOS BY THE FENCE"

8"X16"

#13

sold

#14

2009-05-28T19:13:00.000-07:00

"BLUEBERRY HILL ADOBE"

8"X10"

#14

sold

#15

2009-05-28T17:25:00.000-07:00

"GERANIUMS"

8"X8"

#15

sold

#16

2009-05-28T17:21:00.000-07:00

"HIDDEN"

8"X10"

#16

sold

#17

2009-05-27T20:29:00.000-07:00

"RED SKY AT EVENING"

6"X12"

#17

sold

#18

2009-05-27T20:21:00.000-07:00

"WAKE-UP CALL"
8"x8"
#18

sold

#19

2009-05-26T18:10:00.000-07:00

"THE WATCHER"

10"X8"

#19

sold

#20

2009-05-26T16:54:00.000-07:00

"HARVEST, CORRALES"

10"X8"

#20

#21

2009-05-26T16:50:00.001-07:00

"MULTI-COLORED"

8"X8"

#21

#22

2009-05-25T21:39:00.000-07:00

"ITALIAN SUNFLOWERS"

12"X9"

#22

sold

#23

2009-05-25T21:33:00.000-07:00

"WILD ROSES"

9"X12"

#23

sold

#24

2009-05-21T22:56:00.000-07:00

"SANTA FE CLOUDS"

6"X12"

#24

sold

#25

2009-05-21T22:53:00.000-07:00

"LATE HARVEST"

8"X8"

#25

#26

2009-05-21T22:50:00.001-07:00

"FANCY"

10"X10"

#26

sold

#27

2009-05-20T20:36:00.000-07:00

"POPPIES AND PURPLE"

12"X9"

#27

sold

#28

2009-05-19T20:45:00.000-07:00

"JEMEZ STREAM"

8"X8"

#28

#29

2009-05-19T20:43:00.000-07:00

"THE ROSES"

8"X8"

#29

#30

2009-05-19T20:41:00.001-07:00

"CHIMAYO LIGHT"

8"X8"

#30

#31

2009-05-19T20:39:00.000-07:00

"UNO"

8"X8"

#31

#32

2009-05-19T07:33:00.000-07:00

"TAOS TRUCK"

8"X8"

#32

sold

#33

2009-05-18T21:19:00.001-07:00

"MADRID CHURCH"

8"X8"

#33

sold

#34

2009-05-18T21:17:00.000-07:00

"CHIMAYO CROSS, SHELTERED"

8"X8"

#34

#35

2009-05-18T21:14:00.000-07:00

"LITTLE CASITA"

8"X8"

#35

#36

2009-05-18T21:12:00.000-07:00

"CHICKENS"

8"X8"

#36

#37

2009-05-18T21:06:00.001-07:00

"THE PINKS"

12"X6"

#37

sold

#38

2009-05-16T07:16:00.001-07:00

"THE MAIL"

6"X12"

#38

sold

#39

2009-05-16T07:13:00.000-07:00

"TAOS FLORAL"

8"X10"

#39

sold

#40

2009-05-15T07:56:00.000-07:00

"HARMONY"

10"X10"

#40

sold

#41

2009-05-15T07:52:00.000-07:00

"TURQUOISE TRAIL"

11"X14"

#41

sold

#42

2009-05-14T07:25:00.000-07:00

"IRIS AND ROSES MOSAIC"

16"X12"

#42

sold

#43

2009-05-07T20:09:00.001-07:00

"PLACITAS CHURCH"

8"X10"

#43

#44

2009-05-07T20:04:00.000-07:00

"TAOS HOLLYHOCKS"

12"X9"

#44

#45

2009-05-06T22:07:00.000-07:00

"SUNBURST"

10"X8"

#45

#46

2009-05-06T17:55:00.000-07:00

"POPPIES"

10"X10"

#46

sold

#47

2009-05-04T18:10:00.000-07:00

"LITTLE VINEYARD"

10"X8"

#47

sold

#48

2009-05-04T18:05:00.000-07:00

"HUMMINGBIRD FLOWERS"

10"X8"

#48

sold

#49

2009-05-04T18:01:00.000-07:00

"CLOUDBURST I"

10"X8"

#49

#50

2009-05-02T07:48:00.000-07:00

"SPRING DAYDREAMS"

10"X10"

#50

sold

#51

2009-04-29T21:56:00.000-07:00

"VISTA SUNSET"

12"X9"

#51

#52

2009-04-29T21:53:00.000-07:00

"SUNFLOWER TRIO"

10"X8"

#52

#53

2009-04-28T07:30:00.000-07:00

"THREE VISITING"

8"X10"

#53

#54

2009-04-28T07:25:00.000-07:00

"BELOW THE FLOWERS"

10"X8"

#54

#55

2009-04-28T07:19:00.000-07:00

"ASPENS IN THE JEMEZ"

8"X10"

#55

#56

2009-04-25T14:34:00.001-07:00

"EVENING STORM"

8"X10"

#56

sold

#57

2009-04-25T14:29:00.000-07:00

"SUNSET DESCANSO"

10"X8"

#57

A combination of two of my paintings: a large sunset piece I did as a postcard for one of my shows a while back - and a descanso, a subject I've been working on off and on for some time.

I'm happy with the way the burnt orange in the middle ground relates to the orange in the sunset. Also the pueple in teh descanso flowers to the colors in the top of the sunset.

#58

2009-04-23T21:14:00.000-07:00

"SUNSET RIDGE"

10"X10"

#58

sold

I had another one of those "looking out to the horizon" moments on this one. There are a lot of trees in the foreground, but my eye travels to the horizon beyond where I see the the fading sun and the pinks and oranges of the sunset with the clouds above. This one was mainly out of my head and for fun!

I can't believe I'm already on #57 now - it seems like I just started on painting #150. I still have a lot of subjects I want to paint - I haven't even painted a church yet! Or a rooster...or a lilly pond, dragonflies, Georgia O'Keefe poppies, lightening, pears, the Taos Gorge, more dancers, Jemez, I could go on and on! I will have to sit down and organize the last 50 and make them really count. Because when the show is hanging for two days before opening, I want to look at that wall, and know that I painted ALMOST everything I wanted to.

#59

2009-04-23T21:08:00.000-07:00

"FEELS LIKE RAIN"

10"X10"

#59

sold

This painting feels a little out of character for me - there are a lot of greens and blues in the background below the poppies . I kind of feel like I'm standing on a cliff, overlooking the landscape beyond. And to me, it does feel like it's raining somewhere out there!

#60

2009-04-23T21:05:00.000-07:00

"HOT PINK"

12"X6"

#60

This hollyhock is one of my favorites. It blooms every year at the old Antique Co-op in my neighborhood. The reason for the turquoise - there was an old turquoise pie safe in the background behind the hollyhocks on the front porch. I think it looks better in person!

#61

2009-04-22T14:45:00.000-07:00

"NEW MEXICO ADOBE FLORAL"

8"X10"

#61

sold

A rendition of a photo a friend of mine took at the Heritage Museum at the Albuquerque Botanical Gardens. Tom, correct me if I'm wrong!

#62

2009-04-20T07:34:00.000-07:00

"CHOLLA BLOSSOMS"

6"X12"

#62

sold

Cholla cactus are so fun to paint. To me, these cactus are pretty much ugly all year, and then they get these GORGEOUS blooms that just knock your socks off. I took this photo years ago when I lived up in the mountains and had a few of them on my property. The yellow parts are the old spent bloomheads from the year before. You don't EVER want to get the cactus spines in your skin, and little pieces fall off constantly and stick to your clothes and shoes. Very pricky - but awesome blossoms.

#63

2009-04-19T18:52:00.000-07:00

"MOUNTAIN PATH"

12"X9"

#63

sold

Poppies, daisies, asters, and lots of mountain greenery make this a sweet little meadow. I think I'd like to walk down this path!

#64

2009-04-19T18:49:00.000-07:00

"MOODY BLUES, CORRALES"

9"X12"

#64

Even though this painting is of a moody sky, it's also an orchard in blossom, so those clouds passed over the very next day. I wondered what was at the end of the road. Probably some beautiful old adobe. Maybe next time I'll venture closer.

#65

2009-04-19T07:45:00.000-07:00

"SPRING FLING"

10"X10"

#65

sold

You are viewing this painting in a rectangular format, when it's actually a square and larger than what you see here. This one was fun to paint. I thought it was time for another sunflower, and I love those little "whispies" at the top. To me, this just says spring. I have two more Challenge paintings to finish today, plus I'm still working on a couple of small commissions, a couple of larger commissions, and my Weems big sunflower bouquet, which I can't seem to finish! I may work on dancers, churches, and something totally out of the box this week for my challenge paintings.

#66

2009-04-19T07:41:00.000-07:00

"NOT QUITE SPRING, CORRALES"

10"X8"

#66

sold

I love Corrales. I shot some photos last weekeend and this is a painting of one of those. It almost looks like it's going to snow. The clouds were laying on top of the mountains and the acequia was full of water. We are already starting to irrigate, it was just one of those misty, overcast days. This one makes me want to be inside by the wood stove.

#67

2009-04-19T07:33:00.000-07:00

"ORANGE HILLS"

12"X9"

#67

sold

I've painted a variation of this painting on my daily site a while back and I really liked it - I think it was called "The Sweet Spot." This painting has a bit more "fire" to it, lots of fiery, passionate colors, but still has a serene feel to it. One of my favorites. When I finish, I'm going to pick my top 10 out of all of them!

#68

2009-04-17T20:35:00.000-07:00

"HILLSIDE ASPENS"

9"X12"

#68

sold

I've been working on small commissions this week and 150 Challenge paintings. I actually have six challenge paintings painted, I'm just working on the lines. This is the first. Coming up are: a Corrales acequia, a field of wildflowers, a sunflower meadow, a sunset landscape, and a Corrales treescape with a Sandia cloudcover backdrop. That will take me down to #62. Wow, I don't know if I can get all the subjects in that I want to have for the show. I'm going to have to sit down and plan out the rest of them. The show will start on Friday evening, I believe it's June 5. The paintings will hang for two days prior, so everyone has a chance to see them all together. I should have all of my commissions done and shipped out by the end of next week and then I have to do a fundraiser painting for a Legacy art event, and I'm still working on three large paintings for Weems, although I think I have a LARGE PAINTING BLOCK right now - I just can't sem to focus on those pieces. Enjoy your weekend!

#69

2009-04-15T23:01:00.000-07:00

"ALGODONES SUNSET"

8"X10"

#69

sold

This is painted from a photo I took yesterday of the sunset coming home from Abiquiu. The batteries in my camera were just about dead, so I would take them out, wait about 30 seconds, put them back in, and be able to get one more shot. Finally it just quit altogether. So now, I've decided to always carry a spare set of rechargeable batteries wherever I go. Better to be safe than sorry and miss that perfect scene. I love looking at theoriginal photo and will probably do several more paintings like this.

#70

2009-04-10T07:44:00.000-07:00

"AWAKENING"

6"X12"

#70

This is a pretty dramatic sunset. It's the last light of the day and boy, is it vibrant. I finished this painting and put it on the easel so I could walk in and take a fresh look at it. I thought it needed something, so I added the bright spots of turquoise near the horizon and the highlights of orange in the sky. I think it works!

#71

2009-04-10T07:38:00.000-07:00

"THE LITTLE HILLS OF PLACITAS"

8"X10"

#71

I love painting landscapes like this - lots of rolling hills dotted with small trees and little rabbitbrush bushes. The mountains off in the distance. The photos always look a little washed out, especially if they're shot in the middle of the day when the sun is high overhead. So I improvise and put my own spin on the colors.

#72

2009-04-08T09:15:00.000-07:00

"RHAPSODY"

16"X12"

#72

sold

This is a larger piece that will be available at the 150 Challenge show in June. I love painting these wild masses of flowers. And this one has to be viewed in person,a digital photo just doesn't do it justice - to me, it says "beautiful, controlled chaos."

#73

2009-04-06T08:12:00.000-07:00

"AUTUMN RED CHILE STAND"

14"X11"

#73

sold

I could not photograph this painting to my satisfaction - I may pop it in the scanner later so you can get a detailed close up and a better view. There are red chile ristras, pumpkins, hay, corn stalks, and boxes of fruit underneath the canopy. All against the backdrop of the Sandia Mountains.

#74

2009-04-06T08:09:00.000-07:00

"REDS WITH BLUE"

14"X11"

#74

A red hollyhock (actually, these were doubles), taken against an adobe wall in Taos, New Mexico. The blue is a window frame.

#75

2009-04-04T07:40:00.001-07:00

"CHIMAYO DESCANSO"

12"X9"

#75

sold

I'm no authority, but to me, descansos are beautiful. We have many here in New Mexico. We even have books written about them, along with beautiful photographs. They are crosses made out of wood, metal, etc. Some are beautifully simple and some are very ornate. You'll see them everywhere - by the side of the road, on top of hills. They are memorials to people who are no longer with us. People adorn their crosses with flowers, rosaries, teddy bears, pictures, poems, things that remind them of the person they loved and the place where they took their last breath or a place that had very special meaning for them. There is one on top of Taos Mountain in honor of my nephew Carlos. I think they speak of the celebration of life and I always feel like I should stop and pull over and say a small prayer whenever I see one.

#77

2009-04-03T07:19:00.000-07:00

"TREE OF LIGHT"

12"X9"

#77

sold

A hidden forest glen, you can barely see the mountains. My eye is focused on the bright little tree in the middle ground. It seems to be creating its own little light within the mass of darker foliage. You also have the rusty tree at the top to contrast with the blue of the mountains. This one makes me feel peaceful.

Today I am going to work on something different - I'm thinking about maybe a nude, churches, crosses, santos, or religious figures for a day or two. Just to switch from landscape painting for a few days. Maybe I'll surprise you tonight...

#78

2009-04-01T19:01:00.000-07:00

"THE MEADOW"

10"X8"

#78

This painting is of New Mexico, but looking at it, I think it could be anywhere. The misty trees, the purple flowers, the flatlands. I think it's the sunset that sets it apart from other places - that's one of the things New Mexico is known for. I think that's one of the best reasons we're called "the land of enchantment!"

#79

2009-04-01T18:58:00.000-07:00

"LAVENDER"

10"X8"

#79

Another view of Los Poblanos lavender fields - this time a vertical one. I still feel like I haven't quite mastered the softness of the lavender. I'll keep working on it!

2009-03-31T20:27:00.000-07:00

"FIERY"

8"X10"

#80

Wow, I don't think I'll ever get tired of painting sunsets. I have a million photos and if I don't like the foreground, I just use my head to create something that pleases me.

Tomorrow I start on #79!

I think that means I've painted 71 paintings so far since January 9th. Not counting daily paintings and commissions. I think I need to go take a nap! See you tomorrow....

#81

2009-03-31T16:39:00.001-07:00

"MISTY PURPLE WITH SUNS"
11"X14"

#81

sold

A serene painting, I think. Lots of color, lots of contrast, but misty sky and mountains. The sunflowers are down in a rusty orange canyon, maybe reaching for the light the way sunflowers are wont to do.

#82

2009-03-31T16:35:00.001-07:00

"BABY BLUE"

8"X10"

#82

sold

We always see a lot of this beautiful blue color out towards Los Lunas way, which is south of Albuquerque. It's a change for me, I'm more used to painting more dramatic, intense blues. I love the orange/red peeking through the clouds and the orange contrast in the foreground.

#83

2009-03-30T20:40:00.000-07:00

"HEAVY CLOUDS"

8'X10"

#83

Gosh, I enjoy painting sunsets. As I was looking at this one, thinking about a title, I felt the heaviness of those blue-grey clouds overhead. You could feel that just as soon as the last light of the sun is gone, those clouds are going to descend and they just might be hiding a thunderstorm or two.

#84

2009-03-30T20:32:00.000-07:00

"PASSAGES"

11"X14"

#84

sold

This painting was in the FLOWERS show and I thought it would look nice in the 150 Challenge, so I am adding it to the show in June.

#85

2009-03-29T07:54:00.000-07:00

"LAVENDER AND POPPIES"

10"X10"

#85

sold

This one was a total joy to paint. All of the jumbles of little flowers throughout the painting - love that. I also think that outlining the red negative space throughout the painting was my favorite part. You have to see this one in person!

#86

2009-03-29T07:47:00.000-07:00

"UNO"

10"X8
#86

sold

I think this is one of my favorite paintings in the 150 Challenge so far. I have about 6 that I really want to keep! I love the looseness of the brushstrokes, and it's never easy, getting the iris composition just right on your canvas. This one works for me.

#87

2009-03-26T21:44:00.000-07:00

"SUNLIGHT I"

6"X9"

#87

The first of three sunset paintings with similar colors. I am thinking I need to paint a larger piece like this, maybe with a touch more cadmium yellow near the bottom of the clouds. I do like this one.

Check out the two daily paintings like this at www.deesanchez.blogspot.com

#88

2009-03-26T21:40:00.000-07:00

"NEW MEXICO FLOWER GARDEN"

12"X16"

#88

sold

Aah, it's finally complete. This is another where the photo doesn't really do the painting justice, so you're going to have to come and see it in person.

#89

2009-03-23T21:23:00.000-07:00

"MEADOW FLORAL"

9"X6"

#89

A nice meditation painting.

NEW PAINTINGS

2009-03-23T21:14:00.000-07:00

"LOS ARBOLES"

8"X16"

#90

sold
The photo does now do justice to the richness of the colors in this painting. I guess you'll have to come to the show to see it in person!

"PINK BEAUTIES"

10"X8"

#91

sold

#92

2009-03-21T20:05:00.000-07:00

"ANGELS AMONG US"

10"X8"

#92

sold

This painting is different for me. I've been wanting to paint an angel for some time now. To me, this painting is a tribute all grandmothers and nanas. Especially hispanic ones. I think they are put here on this earth to make everyone feel loved. They babysit all the kids, they always have food when you go to their house, they take care of their family and neighbors, they are always there when you need them. They feel for you when you hurt and they are so happy for you whenever something good happens in your life. Angels on earth, that's what they are.

So Nana Dolly, this is how I feel about you.

I have completed 59 paintings of the 150 Challenge!

#93

2009-03-20T13:47:00.000-07:00

"IRIS FLOATING"

12"X6"

#93

sold

The turquoise background always makes me think of plants floating underwater or just suspended in the turquoise air. I love iris, the way they smell, the way they look, how easy they are to grow. My grandmother had all kinds. I used to play in all those beds when I was little. I would gather bouquets, spend time taking the flower and stem apart to see what was inside. They're just beautiful flowers. You would think I would have some in my yard, huh? Nope, not a one.

#94

2009-03-20T13:42:00.001-07:00

"ORANGE SUNSET"

10"X10
#94

sold

The clouds in this painting are different, I'm going to have to research what they're called. There's a lot of contrast here, the blue sky with the orange sunset, the yellow wisps of clouds with the pink/purple hills. I think I might have to paint some lightening.

#95

2009-03-19T21:43:00.001-07:00

"BITS OF PURPLE"
8"X10"
#95

sold
I hid little color notes of purple in this painting - can you see them? I figured with all of the orange and pink poppies filling up the canvas, we needed something different to rest the eye on. This is a happy spring painting and putting the lines in was extremely time consuming. But worth it.

#96

2009-03-19T21:37:00.000-07:00

"TREELINE SUNSET"

6"X12"

#96

sold

I just LOVE how this painting turned out! The sky holes in the trees with the mountains peeking through. I just finished something a couple of days ago that I wasn't happy with and when you paint something you don't like, you have all kinds of thoughts. Maybe you've lost your touch, maybe you forgot how to create a composition, how to mix colors, etc. I'm happy right now.

#97

2009-03-13T12:36:00.000-07:00

"ADOBE WITH FLOWER FIELD"

10"X8"

#97

sold

This painting took a long time to finish, so many little lines. I have a head cold, so my brain was frazzled by the time the painting was completed. But I'm happy with the way it turned out. See if you can spot the red undertone in all of the flowers.

#98

2009-03-11T08:29:00.000-07:00

"WILD GRASSES"

10"X8"

#98

Field and wild grasses have always intrigued me. I painted a larger painting like this several years ago that I loved. It was one of about 5-6 paintings that I've done that I have thought about keeping for myself. I had a woman tell me that she couldn't get it out of her mind and kept having dreams about it! Anyway, I really like how this one turned out and I could see a huge painting, maybe 40"x30", just full of these grasses, with all their wild and wonderful colors.

#99

2009-03-09T22:16:00.000-07:00

"LOVING THE LAVENDER"

10"X10"

#99

Wow, it is good to be in the double digits now! I really enjoyed painting the lavender and the hummingbird. As I said in my daily painting blog, I think I like the background most of all - the richness of all those warm colors.

#100

2009-03-09T07:33:00.001-07:00

"AUTUMN SUNSET"

8"X8"

#100

I thought I would close out the first 50 paintings of my 150 Challenge with a sunset. I can't believe I have actually completed the first 50 paintings for my show in two months. With June being so close, I realize that I have to step it up a notch to get them all done before the opening. But what fun that will be. For the next 50 paintings, I'm going to try to add a few new things, along with some subjects that people have requested. I might even do some figurative work. Anyway, thanks for watching and stay tuned, because tonight I will have a brand new painting for you, #99!

#101

2009-03-09T07:29:00.000-07:00

"GOLDEN TREES"

8"X10"

#101

You know, the color of these trees looks a little unreal, like nothing could look that "golden." I assure you, I have the photo and the trees do look that color. This is a photo from a little Taos adobe that was taken in autumn when the aspens were changing and all of the trees were at the best.