"When dawn spreads its paintbrush on the plain, spilling purple... ," Sons of the Pioneers theme for TV show "Wagon Train." Dawn on the mythic Santa Fe Trail, New Mexico, looking toward Raton from Cimarron. -- Clarkphoto. A curmudgeon artist's musings melding metaphors and journalism, for readers in more than 150 countries.

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Franciscan star, of earth and faith--8 days 'til Christmas

St. Francis Mission, Ranchos de Taos, 5 x 7 watercolor card 
St. Francis is everywhere in Northern New Mexico, settled, not always peacefully, almost 500 years ago by Spanish conquerers and Franciscan priests.
An icon of that time, when missions were built by faith from earth, looking to the heavens, is the church of St. Francis in Ranchos de Taos. It's been painted and photographed innumerable times by innumerable people, including me, in watercolor and oil.
My attempts, in these cards, remembers the continuing faith of the followers of St. Francis, still very much alive as the holy season  nears its climax...under the bright stars over the Sangre de Christo Mountains.

The iconic buttresses of the church, facing west, 5 x 7 card

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