A Visit with Walt Gonske

 Walt Gonske & Me

My husband, granddaughter and I visited New Mexico this past June. The highlight of this trip was getting to finally meet one of my very favorite artists, Walt Gonske. After a tour of his beautiful home and studio, we sat down to visit for a little while. I had always wanted to meet him and being able to visit was something really special. It was interesting to learn that we are both of Slavic descent. This may explain why we are both so drawn to the work of Nicolai Fechin, who also once lived in Taos, NM. Walt's work very much reminds me of Fechin's. He has even had the honor of exhibiting his work in Fechin's home, now the Taos Art Museum. 

Plein Air in Taos, New Mexico

Walt Gonske's Garden

It’s always a good time to visit New Mexico so, when I heard that Ron Rencher was offering a plein air workshop in Taos, I signed up! It had been years since I had painted en plein air, a fancy, schmancy way of saying “painting outside”, and boy, was I ever rusty! That’s ok…it was Taos after all!

The above photo is our group and Walt Gonske after painting in his beautiful garden. In the back right of the photo you can see the view poor Walt has to endure…the Sacred Taos Mountain. 

Monochrome Head Study, Drea II

"Drea II", 8"x 10", Study in Oil.

It's a bit of a shock to look into the camera and see a beautiful young woman instead of a little girl. That's what happened when I took a picture of my granddaughter, who was our model for portrait group yesterday. This is a one hour study on Utrecht 100% Cotton Panel, using Rembrandt Burnt Sienna and Gamblin Titanium White. 

(Aint no substitute for painting from life!)

Monochrome Head Study

"Dennis", 8"x 10", Study in Oil

Study using Burnt Sienna and Titanium White. 

Thank you, Dennis, for being such a great model! 

Playing with Acrylics...

...on Arches Oil Paper. Colors used were Ivory Black, Yellow Ochre, Cadmium Red and Titanium White. I love the Zorn palette!