Connie Falk

Studio #24 | 1821 Meadow View Dr NW | www.conniefalkfineart.com | email Connie | (505) 330-5084

My favorite day of the week is Tuesday when I paint “en plein air” with PALs, a local group of painters. It is a complete joy to share the beautiful morning light and friendship of other artists whose visual interpretations are always exciting. Weekly year-round plein air practice (begun in summer 2018) has taught me a lot about capturing immediate impressions, and how to lay in shape and value quickly before shadows change dramatically. Most recently I have begun using cold wax in my plein air oil paintings, and I apply the cold wax and oil with a knife. The cold wax leaves a matte finish and produces impressionistic effects. I also paint in the studio from photographs but often succumb to flights of fancy rather than strictly reproduce the photographic image. I have lived in Las Cruces, Farmington, and Placitas, NM since 1988, and I have painted scenes from all three regions. During the pandemic I hiked the northern foothills of the Sandias extensively and fell in love with the changing light and colors along the paths. Many of these views have appeared in my paintings. I took drawing and painting for nine years at New Mexico State University until retirement in 2013. I retired as a full professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Business, and also as the first M. Eugene Sundt Endowed Chair in the NMSU Honors College. I am also a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, having served in Honduras, 1982-85.