Historic Santa Fe Foundation is pleased to announce Desert Drift, an exhibition of acrylic and watercolor skyscapes by Santa Fe-based painter, educator, and writer Elaine Ritchel. The exhibition will be on view at the Gallery at El Zaguán on Canyon Road.

Exhibition Statement Desert Drift explores ephemerality, the subtle thresholds between states of being, and the experience of being held in liminality. The work centers on three elemental subjects—clouds, the moon, and the horizon—that embody both continuity and flux.

"In New Mexico, the horizon is a constant presence," says Ritchel. "I find it fascinating that although we can always see it, we can never reach it. But in that endless quest, that perpetual drift, we are always accompanied by the sky above and the ground below."

This body of work emerged from a deeply personal period of transition for the artist. Through soft layering and loose rendering, Ritchel captures a sense of "shimmering ether" and shifting light, allowing her painted clouds to undulate, breathe, and dissipate. The result is a series of images that feel soft, ethereal, and alive, inviting viewers to feel immersed and held by the presence of the desert sky.

Watercolor Workshop: Atmospheric Desert Landscapes

On May 9, join Elaine Ritchel for a two-hour watercolor workshop inspired by the desert skies explored in her exhibition Desert Drift. In this beginner-friendly session, we will practice creating expressive clouds and atmospheric washes while painting abstract desert landscapes. Participants will complete two 5×7-inch watercolor paintings as a mini series to take home with them, and all materials will be provided—no prior experience necessary.

$115 per person | materials are included.

SIGN UP FOR THE WORKSHOP HERE

Contact: Anne Kelly at anne@historicsantafe.org or call 505.983.2567 for more information.

About the Artist:

Elaine Ritchel is a Santa Fe-based painter, educator, and writer. She is currently an artist in residence at El Zaguan. She holds an MA in Art History and has worked as a gallery teacher and guest educator with arts institutions in the US and abroad, including the UNM Art Museum, the Blanton Museum of Art, the New Mexico Museum of Art, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Zagreb. Her arts writing has been published in Southwest Contemporary and New Mexico Magazine. In 2015, Elaine founded Santa Fe Art Tours to provide interactive, guided explorations of the local art scene. Her tours usher participants into landmark galleries and unexpected art spaces, introduce them to artists and gallerists, and encourage them to personally connect with the work on view. Her highly rated Canyon Road Art & History tour has been featured on CNN Travel.

Contact: Anne Kelly at anne@historicsantafe.org or call 505.983.2567 for more information.