Painting the Southwest--picking up the thread

"Chimney Rock Morning (Study), Oil on Panel, 11x14 inchesJerry Lebo, 2007

I have decided to focus on southwest landscapes in my next series of paintings. The above is the first of a series of studies--which will culminate in a larger painting (I hope). The above study was painted over the Labor Day weekend--as a first salvo towards that larger work. We recently completed a three week painting vaction in the Santa Fe area--where I primarily did small paintings. I have a lot of memories and pictures, but that is not the main reason that I have decided to do this series. In fact, the reason is based on what I call the "thread".



The "thread" is what I call the core elements of a painting--the sense of space, mass, and color. In my mind, when you start a landscape, you are basically trying to play, and hopefully make a statement, about one of more of these. The other day I noticed the last painting I did last year with a southwest theme sitting in the corner of my studio, and realized that there was a statement in there that I felt I was ready to pick up and try to push in a new series of paintings. In this case, it is all three of these elements that I am going to try and push in this new series.




Here is the painting from last year which is where I am taking as a starting point.

"North of Espanola", Oil on Canvas, 30x28 inches

So stay tuned. I am about to travel for business, so progress may slow a bit. But this is my thread.

all the best, sixtyminuteartist.