Pintura Fresca

I love that I live in the Texas Hill Country, and even more so, that I am in Boerne, and one only has to drive a short distance to have a decent place to paint. My favorite place by far is the Cibolo Nature Center. It's always quiet and peaceful, and gives me a great place to go paint. Mornings are especially nice, because even in the summer, one can find a cool, shady place.

I went out to one of my favorite spots, where two branches of the Cibolo Creek converge. There is a steady stream of water over the rocks, and the banks are lined with some very old, very tall cypress trees. Few people make it out there, but occasionally, a wandering couple will come by and spend a moment watching or talking to me. I can spend a few hours out there, and create some pretty nice art.

I just completed this in the studio this morning - the paint is still fresh and wet. I'll have it framed as soon as it's ready.

"Twin Sentinels on the Cibolo" Oil on Canvas Panel, 8" x 10"

Newsletter Mailing list

I've finished another step toward positioning myself to make this a full time occupation down the road... My website is getting closer to reality. I'm meeting with the web designer again today to finalize the new website. Stand by for an announcement to follow in the next couple of weeks when I launch the new website.

In the meantime, some of you have expressed that you would be interested in being on my email list. I now have a link over in the right column to sign up for future mailings. I plan on a periodic (maybe once a month) newsletter that will include what I am working on, what I have sold, what's new, and provide some insight, links to other artists, and events. I may even throw in an occassional short instructional video. At any rate, I promise I wil not bombard anyone with daily emails, or blow up your email box with junk.  just want to have another way to stay in touch other than Facebook.

Please take a moment to sign up for my email list. Again, the link is at the top of the right column... all you have to do is share your email with me.

More to follow soon. Inthe meantime, Nigel will be standing by.

What's going on

After resisting doing this again, I reopened a profile on Facebook, and will be posting things from this blog on my page, "Pauly Tamez Art." I thought it was just part of something I need to do in order to promote my art. I do this somewhat reluctantly because I have a lot of concerns about Facebook in general. But if it's a piece of my art marketing, where everyone else is, I guess I couldn't find another place just as hot to do that.

I'll have a website soon, until then, I'll be testing Facebook for a while.

Would you please take time to "Like" my page "Pauly Tamez Art?"

Here is a new painting from last weekend. It is a smaller version of another painting I previously posted.
Also, the other 2 are completed works of the "Wette Painte" below.

"Spring Verbena" Oil on canvas, 4" x 5"

"Spring Verbena near Sisterdale, TX" Oil on Canvas board, 8" x 10" 

"Oak in the morning" Oil on canvas panel, 8" x 8"

If you are on my email list

Please let me know. I am going to be changing up my outreach soon. I am going to get my own website, and want to include anyone who reads this. So please send me an email so I can notify you as soon as that happens.

Wette Painte

Just finished a 2-day, 2-event art display. Yesterday I participated in the Best of BoerneFest Art show, which was well attended, and I had a great time meeting folks and getting my name out. Today I did the first ever Boerne Art Waddle - an event that highlighted some of the artist who live in the "Flats" and several other artists that were hosted in different homes. It was a blast - I finished 1 painting Saturday, and completed 2 on Sunday. I took my easel to both events and painted and talked to people.

I am coming to understand art is a lot about joy. It brings me joy ( and satisfaction, peace, and relaxation) to paint. I enjoy it, other people enjoy it, and sometimes they buy it. I was able to let a few people take the pallet knife, and contribute to my painting. Whenever someone asks how difficult it is to paint with a knife, I hand them the knife and let them put paint on the surface...it's that easy, and I get to show someone they can do it too.

I'm happy, they're happy - Er-body's happy.

Here's my unsigned paintings from the weekend - still drying...

Oak on a hill, Oil on board, 8" x 8"

Spring Verbena, oil on canvas board, 8" x 10"

Spring Verbena #2, oil on canvas, 4" x 5"

Boerne Art Waddle

Coming up. I will be participating, with some new knife paintings. Come out and see some great art!

Terlingua Sunrise

One of the joys of having some time off and relaxing in Terlingua is waking up, pouring myself a cup of coffee, spiking it up with some bourbon, and sitting out on the front porch will Bill Zaner watching the sunrise over the mountains. The day starts quietly, usually with me and Bill on the deck, no one saying a word, and we are soon joined by David, then the rest of the group starts stirring.
It's a kind of Zen moment. No one says a word, because no words are necessary. It's a sacred time to sit, reflect, and observe. As the sun rises, the day awakens the little town of Terlingua, and one can see people moving about. I get up to fix breakfast as people begin arriving, and we talk about where we'll go paint that day. Plans are made, breakfast is eaten, showers are done, and everyone get ready within a short time, and we're off. It's a blessed time, and one I miss, as I frequently think  about it. Sometimes, when the time is right, I escape my desk, and go watch the sunrise at work before I begin my day - coffee in hand (without the bourbon), and I think about being out west, watching Terlingua awaken.



Terlingua Sunrise, Illuminating Maverick Mountain and Pulliam Bluff. Oil on Panel, 11" x 14"

"Morning on the Cibolo Creek"

Painted en plein aire. That's French for "I painted outside."
The Cibolo Creek runs through Boerne, and a private foundation has set up an area of land called the Cibolo Nature Center. (www.cibolo.org/) It is pretty much untouched, and with a short hike from the parking area, there are several places along the creek where one can sit for hours and enjoy the peace and quiet, and paint, write, reflect, or just be still. I was out there yesterday for about 2 1/2 hours and saw a total of 2 couples that walked by to see what I was doing. My dog, Nigel, had a great time romping through the shallow creek and greeting those that came by.
The morning lights create some interesting shadows and reflections on the water. This is at the end of one of the trails where 2 branches of the creek converge.

"Morning on the Cibolo Creek" Boerne, TX. Oil on panel, 9" x 12"

Completed paintings

I had fun this week thinking about and then completing the paintings I started at Big Bend. I learned a few things too. While I usually paint wet-on-wet, I found out that if I let the paint dry for a week, I then have a new surface to work on, and I can bring out the lights, apply some atmosphere, and make some nice details happen.

It's been a great weekend to work in my studio, and think about color, depth, values... and then apply the new paint to the surface. I got all fired up, and not only finished the paintings, but also framed and hung them. I love seeing something through to completion.

Here are the finished works

Christmas Mountains, Big Bend, TX, 8" x 10", oil on board

Big Bend hills with View of Santa Elena in the back, 4" x 6", oil on board

Maverick Mountain with Pulliam Bluff int he background, 11" x 14", oil on board

Maverick Mountain # 2, Pulliam Bluff in the background, 2.5" x 3", oil on canvas board

Pulliam Bluff in the morning, Big Bend, TX, 9" x 12", oil on board

Some pretty good art

I just finished my 2nd painting trip to Big Bend, and had another opportunity to paint with Bill Zaner and David Caton. There were a total of 6 artists and 1 photographer on the trip. We ate, drank, and painted. At night we partied, told a lot of stories, and laughed. I got to watch the sunset, sunrise, and moonrise every day. I did 5 paintings there, and completed 3 more when I got home. I am still painting... I wanted to post these, even though I think some of them still need finishing touches in the studio.

Big Bend has been a rewarding and educational experience for me. I could never pay enough to have the opportunity to sit with 2 of the finest artists I know, and learn what I do just being on site painting with them. It is a bit intimidating at first, but after the first few colors go on the surface, things just flow. I did some of the best art I've ever done, and learned some valuable things there. I got to see a part of the world that few people ever see, since it is so remote. And spending 4 days out there is just not enough. I look forward to our next trip in October - fall is a wonderful time to be there.

Ocotillo #1, Oil on canvas, 4" x 5"

Ocotillo with Santa Elena in the background, oil on panel, 4" x 6"

Pulliam Bluff, oil on board, 4" x 11"

Pullium Bluff, oil on board, 9" x 12"

Pullium Bluff, oil on canvas, 4" x 5"

Christmas Mountains, oil on board, 8" x 10"

Ocotillo #2, oil on canvas, 4" x 5"