new mexico sky musing no. 24 ~ magic of the mesas


New Mexico Sky Musing 24 - Magic of the Mesas original contemporary New Mexico landscape painting by Santa Fe artist Dawn Chandler.

new mexico sky musing no. 24 ~ magic of the mesas
by dawn chandler

8" x 8" ~ mixed media on panel ~ private collection

Magic of the Mesas is one of my favorites of the whole New Mexico Sky Musings series. I just love the energy of the brushstrokes in the the sky. I was working quickly to apply the paint, and hadn't planned on leaving the brushstrokes so apparent. Yet when I paused after adding the light blue on the left, and then that darker blue on the right, those brush strokes just seemed to channel the power and energy of a New Mexico storm — so I left it as is.

I also love the way the blue paint started to dribble down the side of the mesa — like a rushing arroyo after a summer storm. Summer storms are part of the magic of the mesas.