Cochiti Lake - Desert Area - NM

Cochiti Lake is in the Pena Blanco area of New Mexico - the lake itself is within the boundaries of the Pueblo de Cochiti Indian reservation.  This area is half-way between Santa Fe and Albuquerque.

This was done very quickly - 15 minutes total time.  The purpose of this painting was twofold:

1.  A study for a larger painting

2.  Further development of my brush strokes - one brush was used for the painting

This painting is 8 x 24 on heavy linen paper.

The first thing I always do is get a straight horizon line.  I do this by measuring from the top of the paper down with a measuring tape.

Next I throw in the sky and any clutter along the horizon line

Next I throw in the ground from the horizon line forward

Next I build up the foreground with indications of bushes etc.  This is where I make the most of my brush work so that the bushes etc have some texture to them as well as depth.  In this case the brush strokes where all made very quickly with an upward motion (as that is how bushes grow),

This is a very simple landscape but will provide a good model for a larger painting (18 X 24) where I will spend more time developing the flow and textures of the landscape.

HOME DEPOT AND THE VETERAN DISCOUNT

HOME DEPOT AND THE VETERAN DISCOUNT

HOME DEPOT IMPLIES THAT IT GIVES A 10% VETERAN DISCOUNT TO THOSE FOLKS WHO SERVED IN THE MILITARY.  THEY MAKE THEMSELVES SOUND LIKE SUCH A VETERAN CARING ORGANIZATION.

TRUTH IS THE HOME DEPOT VETERAN DISCOUNT POLICY IS A FARCE!!  HOME DEPOT SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES!

THE POLICY FOR "INACTIVE" VETERANS (THOSE WHO SERVED AND ARE NO LONGER ACTIVE) IN MANY STORES INCLUDING THE ONE HERE IN PUNTA GORDA FLORIDA ONLY GIVES A 10% DISCOUNT 4 TIMES A YEAR.  THE 10% IS GIVEN ON THOSE DAYS RELATED TO VETERANS SUCH AS MEMORIAL DAY - 4TH OF JULY AND 2 OTHER SUCH HOLIDAYS.

HOWEVER IF ON THE ABOVE GIVEN DAYS THE ITEM A VETERAN IS BUYING IS "ON SALE" THE DISCOUNT IS NOT GIVEN!!  LET'S FACE IT - JUST ABOUT EVERYDAY OF THE YEAR MOST ITEMS IN HOME DEPOT ARE ON SALE!!!!!

THEREFORE ON AVERAGE THE PERSON COMING INTO HOME DEPOT TO MAKE A PURCHASE AND HAS NEVER SERVED IN THE MILITARY GETS A DISCOUNT.  THE MILITARY PERSON COMING IN ON THE SAME DAY BUYING THE SAME PRODUCT PAYS THE SAME PRICE AS THE NON MILITARY PERSON.  THE 10 % MILITARY DISCOUNT DOES NOT GET APPLIED BECAUSE THE ITEM IS "ON SALE"!!!!

THE MILITARY DISCOUNT POLICY OF HOME DEPOT IS NOT ONLY A FARCE BUT IT IS IMHO AN INSULT TO THE MILITARY VETERANS.

I BOUGHT A LAWN MOWER OVER MEMORIAL DAY AND BECAUSE IT WAS ON SALE AT A DISCOUNTED PRICE THEY WOULD NOT GIVE ME MY 10% MILITARY DISCOUNT.  THE 10% MILITARY DISCOUNT WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE THAN THE DISCOUNTED "SALE PRICE"!!!!!!

HOME DEPOT SEEMS TO TAKE PRIDE IN STATING THEY GIVE A 10% DISCOUNT TO MILITARY VETERANS - BUT WHEN YOU TRY TO USE IT - THEY MAKE SURE IT IS NOT USABLE.

SHAME ON THEM!!!!

I SERVED IN THE VIETNAM ERA AND AS A VETERAN I WILL NO LONGER SHOP AT HOME DEPOT!!!!