Kaia Thomas - A path with ART

"Twisted"                               8" x 6" oil on canvas panel Contact me for pricing and availability This old Juniper tree was located right next to our campsite while staying near Escalante, Utah. It really struck me with it's twisted, almost braided looking trunk. It had a very old and magical presence, like it had witnessed much in it's day. A definite must paint subject!

"Northern Arizona Hillside" 6" x 6" oil on canvas panel Up for auction! Sold! Yet another in a series of small paintings of Northern Arizona and Southern Utah.  I don't think I am ever going to tire of the beautiful colors and contrast of this area. This scene is from the Navajo Reservation just before sundown.                          (Underpainting)

"Early Morning" 6" x 12" oil on canvas panel       I got back to work on the horse series yesterday, and I have to say I got a little excited about this one. Everything seemed to just fall into place as I painted, which believe me, is not a common occurrence!    The Block-in   This is another scene taken from my adventures in New Mexico .  I think I may have years worth of reference photos from my time spent there:) No complaints about that! Beginning to add color       I took the reference photo during the early morning. The air was crisp and heavy with dew. You could even see it glistening on the barb wire fence. The light was amazing, with lots of inspirational interplays happening to spark the creative spirit. I'm glad to finally come around to painting this moment...  

"Grazing Trio"  6 x 12  oil on canvas panel  $100 Up for auction with a buy it now option! Click Here to see auction. Well, Happy New Year everyone! A little late, I know. I hope it's off to a rip roarin' start for all. I recently became obsessed with painting horses! Yep, and I couldn't have picked a more difficult subject to paint, I might add.  It seems it takes a very tiny flick of the brush, to go from horse to dog. It's magic really...a very frustrating magic!  Anyway, I'm having fun with it anyway. I have collected a great deal of horse reference photos over the years from my outings, and in the case of the painting above, from right here in my home town. They are a very beautiful and majestic creature, and fascinating to paint. I also recently discovered that at the end of this month is the Chinese New Year, and lo and behold, it's the year of the horse! How fitting. Perhaps explains my new obsession. For those interested, this...

"Peace in Peñasco" 6" x 8" oil on canvas panel Starting bid $25 Click Here to see auction! This was a beautiful scene I came across while traveling through northern New Mexico near Taos, and near a tiny town called Peñasco. I loved how the red barn was nestled amongst the vibrant greens.  This painting is up for auction through DailyPaintworks.com . The underpainting and laying in the darks.

"Creek Reflections" 10" x 8" oil on stretched canvas  Starting bid $75 Click Here to see the auction This is a painting of The Gila Box area, near Safford, Arizona. An oasis, and welcome escape from the relentless heat of the summer. Also an endless source of inspiration for the painters spirit. I really loved the way the three trees were casting their reflection on the water in this particular scene. This painting is up for auction on DailyPaintworks.com.

So I finally put together a Plein Air Paintings section in my Etsy shop and now have some available pieces! I will continue to add work but for now this is what's available... "Rustic Barn" 9" x 12" oil on linen board $150.00   purchase here "San Jose de Gracia" 12" x 9" oil on linen board  $150.00 purchase here "Morning Light" 9" x 12" oil on linen board $150.00 purchase here

Over the weekend, Luke and I took a camping trip atop Mt. Graham. It's a little piece of heaven for us desert floor dwellers in the middle of the hottest month of the Arizona year.  Mt. Graham is located in Southeastern Arizona just a few miles outside of Safford, AZ. Ascending Mt. Graham takes you through 8 botanical zones before reaching the top. Needless to say, I brought my plein air painting gear with! The beauty was astounding... The vegetation was so powerful, being used to the desert flora . We were fortunate to find a camp spot right next to a creek. Another treat for us - water!! There was much inspiration here, I was seeing the colors in nature so differently and I did my best to absorb all that I was seeing in hopes to bring it to future paintings. I did manage to produce a plein air painting and some sketches in pencil and watercolor. I still feel I am very much in the learning phase with this style of painting but it is such a pleasure to do!