Pink & Blue In Santa Fe

Watercolor Painting by Dennis Pendleton. Santa Fe has always been a mecca for artists, art lovers and art collectors. The legendary high desert sunlight, mountains, and colorful desert landscapes are just some of the attractions. The famous Canyon Road is lined with art galleries, restaurants and it is the perfect place to stroll away a sunny afternoon. This beautiful little pink adobe house is just off Canyon Road in a little area with flower gardens and other old adobe homes.

I was there with another artist and, when we were standing out front, the owner came out and asked what we were doing. I told him we were admiring his beautiful home and he laughed and invited us inside. It was neat as a pin, sparsely decorated with a wooden stove, a few pieces of antique furniture, small kitchen and 1 bedroom. He was a charming host and told us the history of the house. That experience made painting the house even more meaningful.

The fall colors on the trees were painted with yellow, yellow ochre, and cobalt violet and the fallen leaves created a blanket of rich color in front of the white fence. The blue gate is the traditional "Taos blue" used to ward off evil spirits and I painted it with cerulean blue and ultramarine blue and then used the same blues for the cast shadows on the white fence. The house is a mixture of yellow ochre and cobalt violet with cast shadows mixed with mineral violet and yellow ochre. My main concern was all the rich colors and how to harmonize them into a painting of a sunny afternoon. Most of the painting is composed of warm colors, yellows, oranges, pinks, and the blue gate, being a cool color, stands out nicely as a focal point. Every time I am in Santa Fe I stop by to see this little adobe house and I have painted it in all the different seasons. Scenes like this abound in New Mexico and it is one of my favorite places for plein air painting. Happy Painting! Dennis Pendleton

This painting is 6 x 8 inches and 14 x 16 framed. It has a warm white mat and a natural blond wood frame. The price is $500. Contact pendletonstudio@gmail.com