Dos Volcanos, a treat from Albuquerque

This is a recent painting I completed on location on the west side of Albuquerque, NM. I have done a lot of work in this part of New Mexico, but this is second time I did this volcano painting. You see, there are 3 cool volcanos in the west side, and you can see them from just about anywhere in ABQ. I drove to the fields and got as close as I could, there was some wire around the fields. I could only fit 2 volcanos in the picture, but that’s all right, it allowed me to focus better. Towards the end of this painting, there were a heard of cows coming into my picture, and I thought, “Well this is meant to be, I must include one of these cows!”. So that’s what I did, and it proved to be the cherry on top.

Here are a few highlights about this painting:

• I used yellow ochre instead of my usual lemon yellow. Yes it made the landscape darker, but it also made for interesting green colors too. I was more concerned about keeping the values in check.
• When painting the cow, I wanted to keep it simple, just a few strokes and that’s it. It’s good to provide a little mystery.
• Be loyal to your subjects. Even volcanos need love and respect. Thought painted abstract, it’s quite realistic. I’ve heard somewhere that realism is made of abstract components.
• Paint the hell out of it, no seriously. Paint until you can’t do it no more. Like a symphony, there are quiet parts and noisy parts. All deserve your attention. Give it your full effort.
• It may be a 6×8′ painting, but it should deserve your best effort like a larger painting. The difference of a larger painting is that you can include details a smaller painting doesn’t have.

So there’s my two cents, even if it makes sense or not. If you’re in Albuquerque, you must see these volcanos!

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