a few field sketches

The

Jemez Monument

This is a 12x16 plein air sketch  of the Jemez Monument, down in "the village". (That's what we call Jemez Springs, which is where our address is listed, but which is actually about 15 miles away.)  Its just that, a sketch, and might serve as reference for a more completed painting some day.

here's a little history of the place, which contains the ruins of an old Catholic mission, built in the 1600's, and the ruins (not visible in my painting) of an ancient pueblo called Giusewa.

The mission was built by the Spanish in 1621 and called the San Jose de los Jemez.  The Jemez people living at Giusewa did not want to convert to Catholicism and eventually all the pueblos united in 1680 and revolted, driving the Spanish completely out of New Mexico. This Mission was burned during the crisis.  This pueblo revolt is still celebrated to this day.
The Jemez people rebuilt their pueblo further down the valley in a place called Walatowa, which is where they live to this day.  

Here's the inside of the Mission. Steve and I attended Easter Sunrise service here. That was pretty awesome actually with the light coming in over the ruins...

I was going to post another plein air sketch.

OOPS!!! I can't find the photo right now, and it's late and I gotta go to bed. Oh well, maybe next time.

Here's the scene anyway...

And for good measure, here's one of the "girls".  She is a Sicilian Buttercup by breed. Sicilian?Hmmmm... I had to name her after the Sopranos.  Meet Carmella. She's small, but bossy. Figures.....

 Tomorrow and Saturday I am joining PAPNM (Plein Air Painters of New Mexico) for a weekend of painting at Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu, NM, and the Chama River Wilderness.  I'm looking forward to getting to meet a few fellow painters, and painting in some awesome locations!!