Dear Art Friends,

This is an introduction to my art blog. I have wanted to do this for a long time because between commissions and large gallery paintings I do little oil Sketches of ideas for future paintings or just small things of beauty that strike me at odd moments. Because I paint every day, after a while, these little canvases add up.So I thought I would share them with you. I will be sending them out about every week or two. If you enjoy them, please forward them to friends on your email list. If you do not want to be bothered, no problem just cancel the blog.

Thanks, Nancy Paris Pruden

Shadow and Light

Importance of Strong Value Shapes

I always think of value shapes that are interesting before I start a painting. In other words, is the dark and light pattern pleasing and unique? This little painting has only two values so it is easy to see what I am talking about, but it is a good idea to keep your painting to no more than 3 values. You need to remind yourself that the lightest highlight in the Shadow shape in still darker than the darkest dark in the Light value shape. Another way of saying this is to keep your darks in the dark and your lights in the light.
This little painting was painted in San Miguel de Allende.The Shadow shape is cast from an old tree and the side of a church. The Light shape is the town beyond. If all else fails SQUINT!

Secret Garden

Behind the Walls in San Miguel

San Miguel is full of hidden treasures. From the street you will only see a door and maybe a window that faces onto the cobblestone street, but open that door and a whole new world unfolds. This 400 year old colonial town in Mexico is built on the side of a mountain so you might get a glimpse of these hidden treasures if your balcony happens to be above their property. This was my happy situation last summer when I painted this “Secret Garden”. I don’t know where the path goes and never saw anyone so the property must be huge which only adds to the mystery of the place. Hope I don’t get arrested for snooping when I go again this year.

Mountain Sunrise

Good Friends

Call me crazy but sometimes while painting objects I feel the personalities of the shapes. These three trees struck me as three good friends. They are planted close to each other, but each tree is very different and unique and they give each other room to grow. I painted this last summer on a ranch near San Miguel de Allende. Our painting group got up early that morning to see the sun rise over the mountains spilling pink and yellow rays over the landscape. While Houston is boiling hot, San Miguel is cool and lovely in July and August. So, I am looking forward to spending time again this summer painting the gardens and ranches in this charming colonial Mexican town.