Binford-Bell Studio & Gallery Says, “I Know Jo, Do You?”

By Jo Mixon

This week’s featured “I Know Jo” business is Binford-Bell Studio & Gallery.

Tuesday my sister D.J. and I had the privilege of taking a full 2-1/2 hour painting class from outstanding local artist, Jacqui Binford-Bell. We braved the blowing snow to get to her studio in Black Lake because I was not going to miss this opportunity!

We were greeted with a freshly-shoveled path to the door of the studio. Jacqui welcomed us inside, offered us warm drinks, introduced us to her gallery pets; and immediately we began our watercolor lesson. I felt like a kid in a candy store. The first thing we learned is that Jacqui is an excellent teacher. She explained the details of what we were to do, the supplies we were using; and then by example, showed us how she accomplishes the creative masterpieces of her craft. Before noon both D.J. and I had each begun work on three separate paintings. Time seemed to stand still as we allowed our creative juices to dictate what would appear on the blank slates before us. Jacqui taught us secret details that would enhance our paintings and ways to make them reflections of our own personalities. She even treated us to delicious homemade muffins in a mid-morning break.

A fine arts graduate from the University of New Mexico, Jacqui has been in her studio in Black Lake, just south of Angel Fire, for several years now. As her web site states, “Her work is the visionary expression of the landscape in fauve colors that delight the senses.” She travels around New Mexico photographing churches and canyons that become the enchanted subjects in her work. She says, “Arches, Canyon lands, Bryce, Escalante, Glen Canyon, and
Kodachrome live within me and my work. Every time I sit down with a photograph to translate it into a painting I am revisiting these magical landscapes.” And for her efforts she has received many awards. Currently she is perfecting the photographs themselves as another way of her artistic expression.

If you would like to experience the fun we had, leave your inhibitions behind for a few hours and book a painting class with Jacqui. Learn something new while she is running this special. The cost is $50.00 for a half-day session and you can bring a friend for that price. For groups of three or more the cost is only $30.00 each. You’ll learn to pour watercolors, increase depth in paintings with the color and perspective, composition and drawing tricks, and much more. You choose the subject you want to explore. And you’ll take a break and watch the snow outside the studio windows.

Call Jacqui at 575-377-3602 or visit her studio located at 11 Llano Vista Rd. Black Lake or visit www.binford-bellstudio.com.