Donna Clair

Southwest Contemporary Artist

Category: Art Journal

MY NEIGHBOR’S HOUSE – 8″x16″ Original Oil, Framed

MY NEIGHBOR’S HOUSE (Truchas, New Mexico) – 8″x16″ Original Oil, framed (available – Preview Painting) – Don Eusavio was my next door neighbor when I lived in Truchas and by observing him each day, he taught me how to live. He had lived in the same house for most of his life and there was […]

CAPILLA DE PLACITAS – 10″x10″ Original Oil, framed

CAPILLA DE PLACITAS -10″x10″ Original Oil on Canvas, framed (available – Preview painting)  Still remember the first time I saw this little church years and years ago on one of my many trips back home to Truchas.  Had my camera with me – parked near the gas statiion across the road and climbed part way […]

SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO 1967 – THE ADVENTURE BEGINS….

THE ROAD HOME – 8″x16″ Original Oil, framed – available – Preview Painting.    SEPTEMBER 1967 – We rented a small adobe house on Alegre St. from an old cowboy named Les Langley – across our backyard fence was Rosario Cemetary.  The babies were still in diapers and crawling and the only heat was with floor […]

TUCUMCARI, NEW MEXICO -AND THE YEAR IS 1967…..

A HAPPY LITTLE CLOUD (Taos, New Mexico) – 36″x40 Original Oil on Belgian Linen- available – Preview Painting………Sometime in the middle of September in 1967 husband Jack and I had watched the moving van leave our house on Riegel Rd. in Homewood, Ill. My son John was two and my twins, Mary and Sarah, were […]

GRATEFUL…….

TAOS MOUNTAIN DREAMING (Taos, New Mexico – 8″x16″ Original Oil, framed – now available – Preview Painting. “At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person.  Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted that flame within us” – Albert Schweitzer….This […]

HONEST CONVERSATION….

Studio No. 417 – TAOS SUMMER STORM – 24″x30″ Original Oil on Belgian Linen, framed – Preview Painting.  It took weeks of self-arguing to finally post the truth about losing my son.  Looked back on my life for the last 2-1/2 years today – I sat in a big brown recliner for a year and […]

UNA SENDA DESCONOCIDO – A PATH UNKNOWN

UNA SENDA DESCONOCIDO –  A Path Unknown.  Just waking up from a long nap and finally admitting to myself that I don’t know what I don’t know.  Each Saturday morning when I was a little girl, there was a radio program called “Let’s Pretend” – “Hi, I’m Buster Brown, I live in a shoe!  That’s […]

Losing John……12/25/2014

Santa Fe, New Mexico – In the early minutes of Christmas morning 2014, my beautiful 49 year old son, John, died.  Parts of me died with him and life was forever changed.  Deep grief is a dangerous adventure – a hostile and treacherous landscape with no visible escape route.  Stumbling through most of 2015, I […]

PLACITAS – 40″x30″ Original Oil, Framed

CAPILLA DE PLACITAS (Placitas, New Mexico) – 40″x30″ Original Oil, framed. Now available for purchase at our 3 Artists of Taos Open Studio exhibit – 27th, 28th and 29th from 12 to 5PM – Preview Studio Inventory.

3 ARTISTS OF TAOS OPEN STUDIO EXHIBIT – MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

SURPRISE! Little did I know when I landed here six months ago that I would meet up with two very talented gentlemen artists as Doug Yeager and Seamus Berkeley!  Sometime in January or February we began to collaborate on an art event – and here is the result.  We have “planning” meetings often over coffee […]

MARGARET JAMISON….

Margaret Jamison – art dealer, mentor, role model, best friend – still missed. Portrait by Julian Robles, Taos artist.

3 ARTISTS OF TAOS – MEMORIAL DAY STUDIO EXHIBITS!

3 ARTISTS OF TAOS – VISTAS DEL NORTE – Doug Yeager, Seamus Berkeley and I getting together to plan for our Studio Exhibits over the Memorial Day Weekend – May 27,28 and 29th. Have really been enjoying planning this event so far…..

Ready, Set, PAINT!!!

Working on fine tuning my website this morning (yes, that is an essential to being an artist now) with master tech, Dan Kuehn of Questa, New Mexico.  Still painting for our studio exhibit 3 ARTISTS OF TAOS – Vistas del Norte which takes place here in Taos over the Memorial Day weekend – 27, 28 […]

CAMINITO DE TESUQUE….

10 May 2017 – Framing paintings today in preparation for our studio shows here in Taos over the Memorial Day weekend.  CAMINITO DE TESUQUE (Tesuque, New Mexico) – 28″x22″ Original Oil on Belgian Linen, framed, will be featured in my studio.  You are invited!  Ordered three 30″x40″ canvases yesterday and more turpentine.  I see a […]

IN THE STUDIO TODAY…

5/3/2017 – Varnishing, signing and framing paintings all the rest of this week in preparation for our 3 Artists of Taos studio exhibits – Vistas Del Norte – Memorial Day Weekend.  The studio walls should come to life with all this new work!

FINDING MY WAY…..

1 May 2017 – PASSING STORM – 8″x10″ Original Oil on Italian gessoed panel, framed – now available through Collector’s Gallery on my website.  Today marks six months after my huge move to this new studio in Taos.  Am still adjusting to all the changes.  The pace has definitely picked up!  Am again working with […]

OVERNIGHT DRYING GLAZING MEDIUM

OVERNIGHT DRYING GLAZING MEDIUM – 6 Ounces of Distilled Turpentine (Winsor-Newton), one ounce Stand Oil, one ounce damar varnish, 1/4 teaspoon Cobalt Dryer.  Caution: Mix in glass container with cap or seal.  This recipe was given to me almost fifty years ago by well-known California painter, Bob Clark.  I use this medium for oils the […]

OVERLOOK (Truchas, N.M.) 48″x12 Work In Prog. Glazes

Studio No. 717 – OVERLOOK (Truchas, New Mexico) – 48″x12″ Work in Progress (Glazes) – Glazes are applied with painting medium.  The fast-drying medium has turpentine in it, so it is well to let this phase of the painting sit until the color is dry to the touch.  Color notes:   Trees: Prussian Blue, Burnt […]

48″x12″ Work in Progress (underpainting) – OVERLOOK (Truchas, N.M.)

 Studio No. 717 – OVERLOOK (Truchas, New Mexico) – New 48″x12″ Original Work in Progress (Underpainting).  Color Notes: Using Grumbacher MG Fast Drying Underpainting White and Distilled Turpentine –  Sky and Snow: Paynes Grey, small amounts of Prussian Blue.  Trees:  Combinations of Prussian Blue, Burnt Sienna, Chrome Oxide Green Opaque.  Stay tuned!

CALLE DE TRUCHAS – NEW 22″X28″ Work in Progress (Glazes)

STUDIO NO. 317 – CALLE DE TRUCHAS – 22″x28″ Work in Progress (Glazes) – This phase of the painting is where I lay in the dark transparent or semi-transparent colors with fast drying oil painting medium which I mix myself.  Foreground road and adobe buildings – Burnt umber, ultramarine blue, prussian blue, burnt sienna, some […]

EL CALLE DE TRUCHAS – 22″x28″ Work in Progress (Underpainting)

Studio No. 317 – EL CALLE DE TRUCHAS (Truchas, New Mexico) – New 22″x28″ Work in Progress (Underpainting) – Oil colors are mixed with MG Fast Drying Underpainting White and Distilled Turpentine.  Sky: Payne’s Grey.  Trees: burnt sienna and mars orange.  Main building: Cadmium Yellow, Yellow Ochre.  Road: Burnt Sienna, Prussian Blue, Burnt Umber, Yellow […]

TAOS SUMMER STORM – 24″x30″ Work in Progress (Glazes)

Studio No. 417 – TAOS SUMMER STORM – 24″x30″ Work in Progress (Glazes) – Glazes are the dark transparent/semi-transparent oil colors applied over the underpainting with Overnight Glazing Medium (six ounces distilled turp., 1 oz. each of damar varnish and stand oil and 1/4 tsp. cobalt drier)  This phase of the painting sets up the […]

TAOS SUMMER STORM – 24″x30″ Work in Progress (Underpainting)

Studio No. 417 – TAOS SUMMER STORM (Taos, New Mexico) – New 24″x30″ Work in Progress (Underpainting).  Colors are mixed with MG Underpainting White and Distilled Turpentine.  Color Notes:  Sky:  Prussian Blue and Paynes Grey.  Mountains:  Payne’s Grey and dirty brush.  Trees:  Cadmium Yellow, Mars Orange, Chrome Oxide Green Opaque.  Foreground:  Cadmium Yellow, Yellow Ochre.  […]

ON BEING PEACE…..

“The images of peace are ephemeral. The language of peace is subtle. The reasons for peace, the definitions of peace, the very idea of peace have to be invented, and invented again. Children, everybody, here’s what to do during war: In a time of destruction, create something. A poem. A parade. A community. A school. […]

A BEGINNER’S MIND….

6 January 2017 –  This morning while still in bed with all my papers and magazines around me, propped up by several lovely pillows, I called my website tech/good friend and fellow dreamer, Dan Kuehn, to make an appointment for the middle of this month to overhaul the way I do my business. As we […]

WINTER GIFTS…..

To Art Friends Everywhere!  Many of you have been with me a long time and know I love to send this greeting every year.  The original of this painting was “adopted” by some great friends and very prolific art collectors years ago and still resides in a lovely home in Taos.  The street in this […]

READY, AIM – PAINT!!!!

7 December 2016 – It was exciting to set up my first palette in my new Taos studio this morning!  Am not at all settled yet – most of the basics have been handled, but the “everything in its place thing” will take me until spring.  Have decided that I need to start painting – […]

11/13/16 – NEW TAOS STUDIO

Moved back “home” to Taos on the first of Nov.  Thirteen days later I am still unpacking boxes – books today.  Progress, not perfection……. yet!  Stay tuned. 

GERAINT SMITH FINE ART GALLERY, Arroyo Seco, N.M.

Announcing my new creative association with well-known photographer and good friend Geraint Smith.  His gallery is located in the lovely northern New Mexico village of Arroyo Seco – on the road to Taos Ski Valley – (505)501-5880.  Just in case you aren’t yet acquainted with Geraint’s amazing photography and his photo tours, take a tour […]

ASSEMBLA DE DIOS – 40″x40″ Original Oll, framed

ASSEMBLA DE DIOS (The old Assembly of God Church – Truchas, New Mexico – PS: I had my studio in the little house to the left of the church) – 40″x40″ Original Oil on Canvas, framed – Preview/Purchase.

CORAZON SAGRADO – Original Painting, Prints, Greeting Cards…..

NEW! CORAZON SAGRADO (Tesuque, New Mexico) – Fine Art Prints, posters, greeting cards and other great items now available at Fine Art America –  The original of this painting can be purchased from my Tesuque studio – 18″x18″ Original Oil on Belgian Linen (gallery-wrap) $600.00 – PM or call (505)983-8306.

RIO PUEBLO – New 24″x30″ Original Oil

Studio No. 716 – RIO PUEBLO – New 24″x30″ Original Oil on Belgian Linen.  Completed 4/15/16.  Sold (Process and color notes – underpainting and glazes –  have been posted to this Art Journal earlier.

RIO PUEBLO – 24″x30″ Work in Progress (Glazes)

Studio No. 716 – RIO PUEBLO (Placita, New Mexico) – 24″X30 Work in Progress (Glazes)  Applied with oil color and Overnight Drying Painting Medium (recipe is on FB page – DonnaClairArt) – Color Notes:  Hills:  Prussian Blue, Burnt Sienna, Yellow Ochre, Chrome Oxide Green Opaque.  Trees:  Cadmium Red, Yellow Ochre, Cadmium Yellow, Chrome Oxide Green […]

RIO PUEBLO – 23″x30″ Work in Progress (Underpainting)

Studio No. 716 – RIO PUEBLO – New 24″x30″ Work in Progress (Underpainting) – Oils mixed with distilled turpentine and MG Underpainting White – applied with a bristle brush.  Color Notes:  Cerulean Blue.  Mountain:  Chrome Oxide Green Opaque, Yellow Ochre.  Trees:  Cadmium Yellow, Yellow Ochre, Burnt Sienna.  Brush:  Combinations of Yellow Ochre, Dioxazine Purple, Chrome […]