Artists Evolve - Art Sales Evolve - Galleries Evolve - Collectors Evolve - and so have we.

La Femme en Bleu 2, 36x30 inch Oil on Canvas, ©Nicholas Petrucci, has gone to live happily ever after in a warm and welcoming home in Fort Lauderdale. May she always make everyone around her happy. Femme 1 is still for sale. She is the last of the Mystery of a Woman series which also includes Original Sin, 36x30 inch Oil on Canvas, ©Nicholas Petrucci. Original Sin also resides in a Florida home.

La Femme en Bleu 2, 36”x30” Oil on Canvas ©Nicholas Petrucci

La Femme en Bleu 1, 36”x30” Oil on Canvas ©Nicholas Petrucci

Original Sin, 36”x30” Oil on Canvas ©Nicholas Petrucci

Artists Evolve - Art Sales Evolve - Galleries Evolve - Collectors Evolve - and so have we. Newly southwestern - Nicholas - or southwestern again - Connie - our art and creative expression is infused with the Land of Enchantment. We love our mountain, Sandia (watermelon) pink at sunset, and holding onto its biggest snows at the crest even into mid-March.

Sandia Peak Tram with Man on Top ©Connie Bransilver

Trees and Snow in Infrared ©Connie Bransilver

My precious Sandhill Cranes have flocked and flown north, as have most of the Canada geese. Finches have returned but the hummingbirds, not yet. Roadrunners are running again, and our skunks, raccoons and coyotes are getting fatter.

Sandhill Crane on the Wing ©Connie Bransilver

The acting bug bit us both. We have taken several classes at Sol Acting Academy in anticipation of even more films being made in New Mexico since Netflix HQ will now be in Albuquerque. My current class is a 6 month intensive on all phases of production. Watch this space for a short office comedy. Even better, friend me at facebook.com/Connie-Barrow-Actor-622356901546397 as well as on Twitter, Linked-In and Instagram. Use my legal, acting name, Connie Barrow. Watch for both of us on Chambers, with Uma Thurman, Netflix in 2019, and on Perpetual Grace, Ltd., with Ben Kingsley, MGM/Epix in 2019. A short film is yet to be released with Connie in a fun, small part.

Nicholas Napping on Set ©Connie Bransilver

Sol Acting Academy is hosting several pieces of artwork. All are for sale. Thank you.

Everglades Guardian, 72”x42” Oil on Board ©Nicholas Petrucci

Movements, 30”x25” Ink on Paper ©Nicholas Petrucci

Pink Tutu, 40”x54” Canvas ©Connie Bransilver

Preening Egret, 54”x40” ©Connie Bransilver

Panther Kitten, 24”x36” Gloss on Aluminum ©Connie Bransilver

Peeking Fox, 16”x30” Gloss on Aluminum ©Connie Bransilver

Come visit us in the Land of Enchantment. No passport needed. Mi casa tu casa.

-Connie

VOTE. VOTE NOW. VOTE FOR CONSERVATION.

IT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW.

How did we switch from “Doing” to “Being?” Taking in the gorgeous fall here in New Mexico has been all about just being enchanted.

Maximilian Sunflowers at my cousin’s house. ©Connie Bransilver

Our “doing” was taking two intensive acting classes and signing up for Background, Stand-in and minor acting roles. Connie has two on the acting resume, and Nicholas one. You may know that Netflix has been filming in NM for a number of years. “Chambers” is being filmed now, starring Uma Thurman. We are in Episode 8, and they are still filming so there may be more. The ten episode series will be out next year. Some of you may know that Netflix is buying Albuquerque Studios and pledging millions of dollars in production and local hiring, so . . . stand by! Photography strictly forbidden, so you will have to wait.

To be ready for anything, and just to have fun, Nicholas and I are horseback riding. I was once quite a cowgirl, so for me, it’s a tune up. For Nicholas, it is learning experience, sometimes quite bumpy. This photo was made when my sister, Roberta, and I went on a trail ride in the foothills around Cerrillos.

Two Riders in the Sandia Foothills ©Connie Bransilver

I have not yet latched onto a new conservation project. I believe the right project will appear when the time is right. Agua es Vida calls, but I need to define a goal. Anyone have ideas or suggestions? Nicholas is just getting back to painting and presenting his work to galleries.

Acequias in Color and Light. ©Connie Bransilver

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta has come and gone and will return again next October. Come!

Balloons Ascending ©Connie Bransilver

The New Mexico State Fair with the rodeo and races was a walk through memory lane. The rodeo was spectacular. Obviously, I loved the barrel racing and roping best, but the photos were best on the bucking stock. Emily and Mary Darnell invited me to help give the trophy to the winner of the 6-1/2 Furlong Casey Darnell Futurity, and join them and friends in the Jockey Club. Was that ever a blast, and a wonderful re-entry to the NM rodeo/horse racing world. Friends and their families. For Nicholas, it was seeing the real deal up close. These are not movie cowboys!

Not Connie Barrel Racing ©Connie Bransilver

Come to The Land of Enchantment. Adobe, clean clean air, hot summer days, cool evenings, and now, a piñon fire in the fireplace at night. Magical light.

The View From Acoma Pueblo ©Connie Bransilver

Ballooning Over the Rio Grande River Video ©Connie Bransilver

Buddy Cockatoo enjoying one of the last warm days in his favorite cottonwood. ©Connie Bransilver

Glorious Spring in New Mexico

Sandhill Cranes have long since left our rural neighborhood and rattled north.

Bearded iris in the garden - Mother’s fine, approving of our new digs.

Acoma Pueblo, Sky City, dates back to 1100 AD. View of Katzimo Mesa, the original pueblo site.

Acoma today

Hands of Acoma potter Gary Louis with our new horsehair pot.

From our balloon to another.

Middle Rio Grande, achingly dry this year.  Our house, upper middle.

Gathering of Nations PowWow - 500 US & Canadian nations.

The Land of Enchantment IS:

We have been nesting since January in our new 50-year-old Nat Kaplan adobe house and studio and making it ours. Now it’s time to celebrate the joy of a desert spring and the warmth and friendliness of neighbors and friends. We will continue with direct sales of oil paintings and photos, but Nicholas will also be talking with galleries in Santa Fe and elsewhere to market his work. We will also be marketing the Guardians of the Everglades portraits and accompanying stories. I will find another conservation project, and what is screaming for my attention is the increasing drought and the fights over water. Agua es vida.  Simple as that.