Ruth Soller » Blog

September is our favorite month to drive Gualella Pass from Grant to Georgetown, Colorado to view the changing colors of the quaking aspens from green to yellow-green, bright yellow, golden, orange, even red. I painted this piece after one of our leaf drives and I hope this painting brings happy memories to you. Read More

 

I'm thrilled my oil painting "Bell Dance Taos Pueblo" is chosen for an Award of Excellence in the Manhattan Arts International " Spirit of Resilience " online exhibition featuring eighty outstanding artists worldwide. My painting is available for purchase here: https://www.ruthsoller.com/workszoom/3779663#/

 

"The Puebloan tribes continue to live and work at Taos Pueblo showing the spirit of resilience since 1350 A.D. I painted Bell Dance Taos Pueblo of the pueblo at dusk lit by campfire. Energy and movement are shown by beads and bells on the costumes. The fire crackles and pops as the wafting smoke symbolizes the mystery of the traditional dance."

 

You may view the show here: healing-power-of-art.org/the-spirit-of-resilience-exhibition

 

Inspiration and Process - At Leanin’ Tree Museum of Western Art in Boulder, CO (now closed), I discovered Kenneth Riley’s inspiring 1991 oil painting “Dance Progressions” and began planning my own adventure into painting Native American dancers. My visit to Taos Pueblo and experience of Native American dancers at the motel fire pit gave me ample resources. Painting began with the evening sky, the mountains, and the Taos Pueblo as seen at dusk with a foreground campfire. I painted the darker elements of the elaborate Bell Dance costumes in analogous cool colors and then painted the hair and firelight glow of the skin tones. Several layers of progressively lighter tones built up the swirling skirts. 

 

 

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On a crisp spring morning at Zapata Ranch, a wrangler releases quarter-horses out into green pastures. A chestnut, bay , sorrel, and palomino lead the herd while a white stallion plans his move to win the lead.

This original oil on linen is painted around the edges and is ready to hang unframed. Check out the View in Room feature below to see this painting in a variety of settings. You may purchase directly using PayPal and please contact me if you have questions. Read More

Our cowboy guide Brain led us on the two hour sunset ride up into the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area and along breathtaking views of the changing skies and lengthening shadows of the wild sage. As we neared the rim of Devil’s Canyon I saw ahead that we were planning to traverse a one yard wide ledge jutting out from the red rock cliffs with a sheer drop-off of at least 200 feet into the canyon. As my horse Midnight neared the narrowest point I was sitting straight and very, very still while clutching the saddle-horn with white knuckled hands as my heart stopped. I kept my gaze on Brian up ahead, fearfull to look over the edge of the cliff. My heartbeat resumed as we soon reached more solid ground and Brain stopped to “give Midnight a chance to catch her breath”.

We had spectacular view on the deepening blues, violets, and mauves of the shadows and the brightening reds, corals, and golds of the last rays of the sun hitting the canyon rims. Below us lay the town of Fruita and the Colorado River meandering through the lush green vineyards and fruit orchards carpeting the valley. Beyond the valley were the Little Bookcliffs fading into the distant haze. What a joyful experience!

Next time you are in the Grand Junction, Fruita, or Palisades area, consider spending a few hours on horseback exploring the canyons in an exciting and memorable ride. Read More