Roadmap Or Hike To a Painting™

Have you ever seen a painting, or a scene in a movie, and wondered where is that place?

An enduring pursuit of the vista

As a Plein Air landscape painter, I am truly inspired by the American West.  In creating paintings, I embrace the wide ranging study that has been done regarding painting composition, to define images, but it all starts with the vista.  In a perfect world,  the finished work will tug at the your heartstrings.  Finding that vista is not just about setting up your easel by the side of the road.  To find it, plein air painters often assemble light weight, compact, painting kits so they can get off the beaten path in search of a view.  Take my painting below, painted in Las Trampas. 

High Point on the High Road

Las Trampas is a picturesque village on the High Road to Taos, and I have always loved taking that ride. I've also painted that church more than once, from different perspectives, but a few years ago I had an interesting conversation about it.  A fellow painter said that she found a way to hike up the ridge, South of the village, and discovered a great vantage point to paint from. Last Fall I decided to see if I could find that spot.  After parking on a Forest Road, I shouldered my back pack painting kit and took a short hike up the ridge to a utility easement.  There was a clearing with a great view down on the village, you can actually see the power lines in the upper left of the photo below. It was a crystal clear day and the Fall colors were brilliant. Quite simply, I knew I had arrived.  After setting up my easel, I made a few sketches, and some small painting studies, to identify the center of interest and lay out what I wanted to accomplish with the painting.  One embellishment I added was Wheeler Peak in the background, though it is actually about 50 miles North and East of Las Trampas.  Wheeler was obscured from my view by a ridge line, but I believed it would frame the image in a dramatic way.  Before setting brush to canvas, I also took some reference photos for use later, when I was back in the studio putting finishing touches on the painting.  

Roadmap To A Painting or Landscape Travelogue 

An integral part of my BLOG, is this idea of a travelogue. This is not just about how I got there, but if you take this ride; what else should you see along the way, and where should you eat.  The High Road to Taos is one of the most iconic drives in New Mexico. It blends mountains, villages, winding roads, breathtaking vistas, and enduring images like San Jose Church in Las Trampas.  Your journey to get there begins on US 285 North of Santa Fe.  Continue on to New Mexico 503 and turn right toward Nambe, this is one entry point on the High Road to Taos.  Be on the lookout 7 1/2 miles on, for a left turn onto Juan Medina Road that drops down into Chimayo.  Two stops worth making here are: The Sanctuario de Chimayo, a historic destination for thousands of pilgrims each Easter, and Rancho de Chimayo.  This restaurant is a wonderful spot for Northern New Mexican cuisine, and the historic structure, it resides in, has been in the same family for hundreds of years.  From Chimayo take a right on Highway 76 and head up toward Truchas, the village where Robert Redford filmed The Milagro Beanfield War.  Follow this route on North to Las Trampas.  Feel free to get out and walk around the church or, for the more adventurous, you might try to find my painting spot. All along the way there are truly memorable vistas, with the ultimate destination being Taos. Follow the signs and you will end up Taos and be able to explore its shops, galleries, restaurants and wonderful places to stay a night or two.   Have fun!

For More About Jack Mc Gowan, please visit  www.jackmcgowan-artist.com