Reflections from New Mexico trip July 2016...

   We are back in Texas from an awesome week in New Mexico that included walks among pines soaking up the mountain air, making new friends and fans at the Ruidoso Arts Festival and reconnecting with a new collector.

RETURNING TO RUIDOSO AND THE ART FESTIVAL...
   Anytime David and I can find an excuse to head to the mountains we try to make it happen. Ever since being juried in for the 46th annual Ruidoso Art Festival several months ago, we've been looking forward to spending several days in and around the area.
   We arrived on Wednesday evening so we could be there for set up on Thursday. The show opened on Friday and continued through Sunday. Each morning we woke up to those cool mountain temperatures...cool enough for a light jacket some mornings! David and I took early morning walks in the pines and along the river before getting ready for the show each day. If you've never been to the Ruidoso and Cloudcroft area of New Mexico, you need to put it on your list! For people living in Central Texas like we do, it's a full day's drive but worth it!
   The show was just wonderful! It was our second time to exhibit and, again, the show organizers and crowds did not disappoint us! Buyers loved and took home  my wildflower purses and note cards and we made several contacts for future art collectors for my wildflowers, aspen and poppy paintings! At the end of the day on Sunday we packed out and spent our last night in Ruidoso, knowing that we'll be back again!

HEADING NORTH TO ALBUQUERQUE...
   On Monday morning we left the pine tree covered mountains of Ruidoso and made our way up to Albuquerque. I had  an appointment to keep with one of our newest collectors from the Rio Grande Arts and Crafts Festival that we did there back in March.
   One of the best things about doing a road trip is getting to enjoy the changes in scenery along the way! We opted to avoid the Interstates when possible and chose instead the "roads less traveled" where we could take our time and enjoy the drive and the scenery.
   By Monday afternoon we were at our appointment with Roann, owner of A Love for Life, a wonderful assisted living facility in Albuquerque. We met Roann and Ron at the March show when they were looking for art to brighten up there training/meeting room at the facility. They fell in love with two paintings, "Garden Delight," from my signature wildflowers series, and "Evening Romance," one of my newest poppy paintings, and purchased both as the start of their new collection.
   Since they were looking at adding another painting and since we were going to be  "in the area," we arranged to bring the some work to them for an in-business viewing. Both David and I just love providing this personal service whenever possible! After unpacking and trying several different paintings in several areas to see how they looked along side the two paintings they already had, they choose to add "A Sunny Meadow," a similar-but-different style painting of wildflowers, and "Delightfully Red," another poppy painting. I'm posting photos of how the first two paintings look on the walls and another of Roann and I with the two new works.
   Since this is a space where they meet with staff to not only train but also coach them on the importance of providing loving care to the residents, creating a joyful setting becomes an important part of the mission...and my "happy" art certainly does just that! I'm so honored to have my art be a part of this "family" and this worthwhile endeavor of making the world a more loving place for seniors!

HOME AGAIN...
   After a layover Monday night in Tucumcari, we made our way across eastern New Mexico and across the border to  West Texas to make it home by that evening. It's always good to get home but we really do love our trips westward, getting to spend some time in the mountains...whether they are covered in pine and aspen trees or hunks of rock and only dotted of cactus and cedars. It's all beautiful and inspiring! I'm already looking forward to our next trip that direction when we make the drive to northern California in early November for the Sacramento Arts Fest.

   Thanks for sharing these travels with us!