The main inspiration for Debbie Carroll’s upcoming show, Enchanted: A Love of the Land,was her artist residency at the storied Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, New Mexico, this past summer. Carroll says, “I have long been drawn to this area and love to paint the high desert landscapes, brilliant blue skies with their monsoon clouds, and the flora and fauna so abundant in this area despite it being such an arid climate.”
The Road Beckons, acrylic, 60 x 48 in.
Her new paintings capture Northern New Mexico sites, including Kitchen Mesa and Cerro Pedernal, the Painted Desert and vistas in and around Taos. Worrell Gallery in Santa Fe will be showing the series from October 10 through 31, with a reception on opening day from 5 to 7 p.m.
“I have a tendency to romanticize my subjects, and wish for others to love and appreciate the Southwest as much as I do,” says Carroll. “There is such beauty here in even the mundane and it is the combination of light, the distinctive adobe architecture, the lushness of blooming hollyhocks, and the influence of both Native American and Hispanic cultures that make this area so appealing to me. My intent in painting this area is to illustrate what makes this place special to me.”
Scattered Clouds and Cholla Blooms, acrylic, 20 x 16 in.
The Road Beckons highlights the allure that roads and paths leading into the unknown hold for the artist. Carroll happened to be at Ghost Ranch while cacti were in full bloom, popping bursts of color against the purest blue skies, leading to works like Scattered Clouds and Cholla Blooms, which gave the artist “an opportunity to employ pattern by using stylized cloud shapes and simplified land forms in the background.” —
Worrell Gallery 103 Washington Avenue » Santa Fe, NM 87501 » (505) 989-4900 » www.worrellgallery.com
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