From the Top of Tom Holder Road

There’s a road in Taos County off of State Road 240 called Tom Holder Road. It connects the highway with West Romero Road and the views from the road are something I’ve wanted to paint for a long time.

“From the Top of Tom Holder Road,” oil on canvas by Melwell, 11×14

The patchwork of patureland stretches out, rimmed with houses and trees and stretches all the way to the mountains.

In early spring, the colors are muted yet rich. I would say it’s my favorite time of year, but I say that about each season, except for winter. I’m even beginning to appreciate the minimal palette of the cold season.

I took one of my pochade boxes out on the site to get the lines of the valley right. It was too windy to spend much time there, but my husband took a few reference photographs and I was able to complete it at home.

"From the Top of Tom Holder Road," oil on canvas by Melwell, 11x14
“From the Top of Tom Holder Road,” oil on canvas by Melwell, 11×14

I am a terrible plein air painter, but I would like to think I am able to capture a certain part of the character of a place without actually capturing how it looks.