Painting the Season

Bosque Cottonwoods, 2016. Original painting, oil on panel, 6" x 8"

Autumn is my favorite season, no matter where I live. Perhaps it's the cooler weather, the quality of the air, the color changes in the foliage...probably, it's all three.

So, two weeks ago when the Monday Plein Air Painters gathered at the Gutierrez-Hubbell House to paint, I grabbed my outdoor painting gear and joined them. What a lovely morning! And what a lovely location to paint.

Located in the South Valley of Albuquerque the Gutierrez-Hubbell homesite goes back to the 1850's, when it was the home of Julianna Gutierrez and James Hubbell. They had 8 children and their property also served as a farm, ranch, mercantile and trading post for the family business. Having been restored in recent years by Bernalillo County, the house and 10 acres is a historical and cultural site, one of six New Mexico sites named to the Register of Historic Places.

I wandered down to the acequia (the man-made water channel that the Spanish hand-dug for irrigation purposes) to paint the cottonwood trees that were just beginning to take on their yellow tinge of autumn. 

It's been quite awhile since I've painted en plein air. But it was good to refresh my efforts and a wonderful place and day to do so.

FYI: The Gutierrez-Hubbell House is located at 6029 Isleta Blvd SW, Albuquerque. Open Tu - Sat, 10-2pm.

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Image and text ©2016 Carol L Adamec. All rights reserved.