Buildings at El Rancho de las Golondrinas
where we painted en plein air

A value study with color, painted on site
(moving the church around like Charles was doing)

During my stay in Santa Fe for Charles Reid’s workshop we visited and painted at El Rancho de las Golondrinas (“The Ranch of the Swallows”), a historic ranch dating from the early 1700s. It’s now a living history museum “dedicated to the history, heritage and culture of 18th and 19th century New Mexico.”

First attempt, after washing out the left side.
I saw many colors in the adobe.

Completed first painting,
better after the bath!

Above:  During my first attempt at painting the scene I decided the left side was way too busy, so I took a sponge and washed out that section and then painted over it. Because of the strength of the 140 lb. watercolor paper, we can remove insufficient areas.

Below:  A new value study prepares for a second painting, adding the figure of a museum guide to feed the chickens.

A new value study adds the figure of the guide
   

I imagined the chickens into the scene but was told they were there last year