Original artwork for sale now at
Chimayo Trading Del Norte

Capturing the beauty of the Rio Chama Valley in Summer Light.

Artist Brad Teare emphasizes the crucial role of light in the scene’s beauty, revealing hidden features and transforming colors. Through his art, Teare shares his love for the natural world, inviting viewers to experience its wonder and energy.

Summer Light: The Beauty of Rocky Cliffs

In a recent interview, artist Brad Teare discussed his painting Summer Light, a 30″ x 30″ piece that captures the beauty of the Rio Chama valley in Northern New Mexico.

The scene is from a vantage point near Ghost Ranch, where Georgia O’Keeffe once lived and painted. The painting showcases the view from a canyon above the Rio Chama, looking southeast towards Ghost Ranch. Teare recalled how he camped on a friend’s property for a week and was struck by the beauty of the rocky cliffs in the area.

Teare emphasized how light plays a critical role in the scene’s beauty. He noted that certain features can remain unnoticed until the right light hits them, revealing the once-hidden beauty. In the case of Summer Light, Teare remarked how the rocks in the area take on warm hues, mainly pink and red, when illuminated by the sun.

Teare’s artistic process often involves creating color sketches before starting a painting. Before starting Summer Light, he did a color sketch of the Rio Chama valley. Teare prefers painting from plein air sketches, as they capture the energy and immediacy of a scene.

While Teare encountered challenges while painting the final piece, particularly in getting the shadows to read correctly, he used glazing to subtly modify the colors and shift them to cooler or warmer tones. Glazing involves applying a thin layer of paint over a dry layer, creating a filter-like effect that adjusts the color and enhances contrasts.

Teare emphasized the importance of color in his work, noting how nature presents many oppositional color patterns that he tries to capture in his paintings. In Summer Light, he focused on the contrast between the warm colors of the rocks in the foreground and the blue shadows in the middle ground. He also brought more pink to the middle ground, which added vibrational color, creating a visually stunning effect.

Teare was pleased with how Summer Light came together, only slightly modifying the original sketch in the larger studio painting. He slightly slanted the clouds to give the painting more energy. The red rocks were particularly challenging to paint. Still, they were also satisfying, as capturing their beauty required skill and attention to detail.

Teare’s love for the beauty of the natural world is evident in his work. He believes that there is something magical about painting outdoors, and he enjoys the challenge of capturing a scene’s beauty and energy on site.

In addition to discussing Summer Light, Teare shared insights into his creative process. He emphasized the importance of working with intention and noted that he often lets his paintings dry for a month or two before making adjustments with glazes. He also mentioned his admiration for the work of Maxfield Parrish, who was an early influence in his use of glazing.

Overall, Teare’s work captures the wonder and energy of the natural world. Through his paintings, he shares his love for the beauty of the world around us and invites viewers to experience that beauty through his art.