A Different Touch

A “Coyote” fence lines the courtyard. These fences, made of closely placed cedar posts, are very common in Santa Fe. Their unusual name comes from the fact they keep “Coyotes” out of areas they aren’t wanted! If you would like to enlarge this or any of the other images in my blog, just click on the picture.

A mailbox is added on the wall to the right of the door. If you’ll go back to my reference photo in the previous post, you’ll notice I moved it from the left side. It’s almost completely hidden behind the Russian Sage in the photograph. The weathered wood is made of several combinations of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Cadmium Orange + Ultramarine Blue + White. The same mixtures were used for the vigas and coyote fence.

This piece has a little different touch, I’ve decided NOT to make the window and door a bright color! Painting them in just wood tones is a HUGE stretch for me. But I felt it was fun to step out and try something unexpected! The rich mahogany color is made of MUD + Cadmium Orange + Cadmium Red Light + Alizarin Crimson + White. Long before refrigerators, small doors were sometimes incorporated into a shutter as a pass-through for delivering blocks of ice. I’m adding a typical Southwestern motif to dress this one up.

The house number is “carved” into the wet paint of the door with a fine brush dipped in a mix of MUD + Liquin.

The courtyard floor is first covered entirely, establishing the sunlight and shadows streaming across the pavers. Mixes of MUD + Cadmium Orange, MUD + Cadmium Orange + White, Ultramarine Blue + White and Cadmium Orange + Pthalo Blue + White are used.

Next, the horizontal lines separating the tiles are drawn into the wet floor with the same brush and MUD mix that I used for the house number on the door.

After drawing the perspective lines coming forward, the final step in completing the Saltillo Tile floor is to highlight the front edge of the pavers.

The large ceramic flower pots will be various hues of Turquoise. Those on the window sill are combinations of Pthalo Blue + White. The one on the rock wall is painted with Pthalo Turquoise Blue + White. The leaves of Sweet Potato Vine, cascading out of this container, will cast heart shaped shadows on its curved surface. It’s always fun to add a little bit of romance in my “Billboards of Happiness”!

The same mixes are used for the containers to the right of the door. That’s all for this session. Why don’t you grab some gardening gloves and come back to help me plant the flowers? See you then! With Colorful Hugs,

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