Page 72 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL FALL 2021 DISCOVERING SANTA FE

nspired by the incredible art on our tour to first minute we stepped into the large sunlit stu-
Canyon Road, it was time for Ron’s art lesson. dio. Lauren immediately put him at ease as we sat
Next to wining, dining and traveling with Mary, and chatted about our adventure in Santa Fe.
I Ron’s passion is creating abstract art. An art Lauren explains her artistic approach to art. “In
lesson by a well-know Santa Fe artist would not painting I search out, hold space and wait for the in
only fit nicely with this feature, but fulfill his between places-the relational glimpses of
dream of creating art in Santa Fe. ephemeral frequencies that sometimes imagines
He did a web search for artist studios that might it’s way through me. Mutating form and color into
offer studio time for Ron to get a little paint on his boundaries and tension points is what informs the
hands. He was disappointed. Most studios and process.”
classes were closed suspended because of covid. “Sometimes the paintings happen quickly, the
There was one artist’s website that really piqued initial spark of a gesture and completed narration
his interest. He was immediately drawn to the found in a playful juxtaposition of textures and
dreamy abstracts. Lauren Mantecón’s studio in minimal hues of contrast. Emotional frequencies
Santa Fe offered open studio and lessons, but the can transport us into multi-dimensional places-
site showed that her open studio sessions were these spaces found through paint is my belief that
full. can uplift us into healing.”
Ron sent Lauren an e-mail with his request, and Her experience as an artist and teacher became
to his surprise, Lauren suggested a private lesson apparent as Lauren guided Ron through the nearly
at her studio. So after our Canyon Road tour, we two-hour session. Each of us taped a large art pa-
made our way to her studio home in a residential per on the wall and she began showing, demon-
area made up of sizeable adobe homes. Ron was strating how she first approaches a painting. Using
getting a little nervous — afraid he would artfully paint, chalk, pencil, and pastels, we began working
embarrass himself. He felt a rush of relief after the on our masterpieces.

72 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE FALL 2021