soaking it in

I was reminded by someone at home that today is Cinco de Mayo, which I thought might be a wild day here, given its proximity to Mexico. But it was relatively quiet, as it's been all week. However, this Saturday is the big Fiesta! This is a grand annual event held in Truth or Consequences every May and I am lucky enough to be here for it. The town is plastered with fliers, and I had learned about the Fiesta's history, as well as the story behind the town's name, at www.torcfiesta.com/past-fiestas. So I may not get much work done this weekend, but I have been rather productive this first week. In addition to a couple of gouaches, I finished a few very small collage-paintings (2-3 inches mostly), I've been messing around with these for a while and now have enough for a milk-crate gallery show. Transportable and affordable.
I'm now working on two 9x12" canvases of what I've seen while riding around, including this one, nearly finished. My first New Mexico truck painting, a baby-blue International with the plates to prove it. Still feels like a luxury to be able to paint/draw for hours with no distractions, I may be overstating this extraordinary sensation, but I'm not taking a single moment for granted. Plus I expect that when fall comes I'll be exchanging my paintbrushes for work gloves once more. Then I will be posting photos of my wood stacks (stay tuned!), which should seal the deal on this being the most fascinating blog out there. The Log Blog. But for now, I get to do polar-opposite things like submerge my entire self in a pool of hot artesian mineral water, resting on smooth stones.