2015 Artist in Residence

This summer we have been fortunate to host John Beerman, an accomplished artist from North Carolina, at the old Sowell House, the original stone headquarters of the ranch built in 1926.

John’s paintings of the ranch will be exhibited at the LewAllen Gallery in Santa Fe from September 25 – November 1. The opening is Friday, September 25, 5-7 pm.

See his account of his visit to the Ranney Ranch below and visit his website at www.johnbeerman.com.

Words from John:

I was introduced to the beauty of New Mexico via the film “Milagro Beanfield War” in the 1980’s. That movie inspired my first trip to NM. From that trip I made a number of paintings from my Kodachrome slides (in my NY studio) for my first solo show in Manhattan.The show sold out before it opened to the public. I have made it a point to return to NM over the years, but I was only able to do short visits.

Years later when I had the opportunity to spend an extended time on The Ranney Ranch in Corona, NM., I was enthusiastic to return and actually paint there. Now I could paint plein air in the landscape, and not be removed from my subject. For this painter the big open landscape of NM is a huge draw in itself. But to also have the quiet afforded by spacious rangeland (and only one sparsely traveled road), the solitude and lack of diversions, has allowed me to focus on the work at a depth not possible in my “normal” life back east (even as a full time artist). Time to sit with the challenges in my work, time to have a sustained focus on these issues, and time to work out these inner promptings and relate them through the lens of the awe inspiring landscape of this area. Time to slow down and connect to the rhythms of nature. This is what my visit here at the Ranney Ranch has given me and for an artist I can think of no greater gift.