Plein-Air Painting in Santa Fe with Niki Gulley, Day 4

SANTA FE ART TREK:  Plein Air Painting / Photography Workshop with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams  

Day 4, morning location - Rio Chama

9" x 12" oil by Niki Gulley

Today we headed back towards Abiquiu and set up our easels at the edge of this scenic overlook to capture the Rio Chama below. While the whole landscape is gorgeous, it is way too much information to capture on a small canvas, not too mention being able to paint the light quick enough before it changes in the afternoon. So we simplified the composition, breaking the hills and foliage into simple shapes and blocks of color. I loved the curving lines the various elevations and river formed, so I focused on that flow and movement, accentuating the energy of nature with my strokes.

Students painting at the Rio Chama.

Visit nikigulley.com/artreks/ for upcoming Art Treks and Workshops or 

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.

For new classes and workshops in Texas this fall, see nikigulley.com/art-classes.

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