Deer and Antelope Sierra Morena ranch

WHERE THE DEER & THE ANTELOPE PLAY

Dates: Sep 28 - Oct 1, 2026

Status: upcoming

Instructor(s): Lorenzo Chavez

The Sierra Morena is an historic ranch in a rugged 18,000 acre landscape north-west of Taos, New Mexico. It has never before been opened to painters. 12-15 artists will be welcome to spend quality painting time immersed in this spectacular Land & Sky with: Supportive teaching, great Food; Evening entertainment, Transport and tents for shade.

Sierra Morena historic ranch

Register Catalog

The SIERRA MORENA is an Historic Ranch dating to the 1800's in a rugged landscape located 1½ hours North-West of Taos, New Mexico, at an elevation of 7,000'. Covering over 18,000 acres, it has been left wild for generations with only the Elk and the Antelope as residents. It is now adjacent to the newest National Park: The Rio Grande del Norte National Park. Access is only thru a gated private road.
https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/
documents/files/NM_RioGrandDelNorte_NM.pdf
Occasional hunting permits are given to manage the health of the herds, but up until now - no Artists! Well, the TAOS ART SCHOOL is about to change that!
This Fall, for the first time, 12-15 Plein Air Painters will be invited to spend a week in this beautiful place, roaming over the untouched land to find the perfect painting site during the day, lunch brought to you, and returning at night to a welcoming campsite with great food, a shady large tent with tables and chairs, campfire and evening entertainment. Some wine too.

FACULTY: We are delighted to welcome LORENZO CHAVEZ to be our Plein Air painting guide for the week. Born and raised in the Rockies, Mr Chavez has achieved international renown for his Art. He is well known as an excellent Fine Art instructor, and he tells us he is especially delighted to join us on this trip because he feels so at home in this ‘big-sky’ country with an unspoiled landscape of sage, piñon and aspen.
Check out his website : www.lorenzochavez.com/about/

  • Signature member of PLEIN AIR PAINTERS OF AMERICA
  • Feature Articles: SOUTHWEST ART; ART OF THE WEST; AMERICAN ARTIST MAGAZINE; PLEIN AIR MAGAZINE; WESTERN ART REVIEW; AMERICAN ART REVIEW; PASTEL JOURNAL
  • 8 new books feature his art: LES MITRES DE ART FRANCE; PAINTED SKY; ART JOURNEY AMERICA LANDSCAPES; COLORADO LANDSCAPES; PURE COLOR: THE BEST OF PASTEL 1 & 2 ; PLEIN AIR NEW MEXICO.
  • Notable representation and exhibition locations include: Pastel Society of Spain; Pastel Society of France; Artists of America show in Denver; Plein Air Painters of America; 100 Gold Medal Exhibition - Pasadena Art Museum; Butler Art Museum; Gilcrease Museum; Laguna Art Museum; Cape Cod Art Museum; Blue Rain Gallery, Santa Fe.
Antelopes

CLASS DESCRIPTION

DATES: The first week of October, 2020. Sunday evening, 9/30 - Sat morning, 10/6. We plan for 5 full days of painting, 6 nights camping, 17 meals, evening entertainment.

MEDIUM: We welcome painters in all mediums. There will be instruction in both Oil and Pastel. Watercolor painters may join us simply for the inimitable access to this great landscape, but there will be no instruction in this medium.

ENTERTAINMENT: The stories of this place are woven into the Light & the Land, and we will arrange encouragement to include this inspiration in your paintings. Our evenings will offer immersion thru storytellers, poets and musicians. The people who lived here long ago knew the land intimately, with names and stories for every mountain & gully, bird & animal, and local characters. This place will come alive for you !

WILDLIFE: The beautiful and graceful Pronghorn Antelope are native to North America and herds have been been here in New Mexico even prior to the arrival of people. Not technically an antelope, they are actually members of the superfamily Giraffoidea. We might occasionally see wild herds of them, but only at a great distance. Photography with powerful lenses is a possibility. Other wildlife commonly seen include herds of Elk. Since this is wilderness territory, adjacent to the new Rio Grande Del Norte National Monument, there are many other species of birds and animals possible, including snakes and coyotes.

AMENITIES: The site is rustic in most ways, and, what we consider very comfortable in many other ways. This ‘safari style’ experience is not suitable for everyone, so we want to ensure that everyone knows exactly what you are getting into. Access is by a private gated road only.

This is the old sheepherder's cabin with original logs and chinking. Now preserved.
Ranch cabin with wood pile ready for our evening circle.
This is the old sheepherder's cabin with original logs and chinking. Now preserved.

Accommodations & Meals

  • FOOD: We will have great food. The Taos Art School has prided ourselves on offering wonderful meals for over 20 years in our long experience with primitive locations including Canyon De Chelly and Chaco Canyon. There is a cook with an assistant taking care of us full time. Breakfasts are hearty, lunch can be delivered to the day’s painting site, and Dinner will be varied and delicious, with nightly campfires, weather permitting. The full menu will be available before final registration. Most food preferences can be accommodated.
  • WATER: We will provide ample bottled water for those who prefer. The ranch has its own sweet well and this will be provided daily in containers - this may be the purest you will ever drink. There is not enough of this precious resource for everyone to use showers, so please do not plan on bringing a ‘solar shower’. PLUMBING: there are two outhouses, each with spectacular views. No other plumbing is available. In Lieu of showers, you may employ abundant use of your own ‘wet-wipes’, as well as dry shampoo for your hair. We will haul out all waste, including your used wipes, towels, turpentine or other medium. We truly will ‘leave only footprints’.
  • TRANSPORTATION: Since the roads are primitive, and access only permitted thru private, gated roads; you will be transported to the ranch with our van and truck. Cars can be left in a safe site in Taos. PETS: No dogs or other pets will be permitted. However, if this includes a horse, let’s talk.
  • MEDICAL SUPPORT; Taos has a local hospital with 24 hr emergency services. All participants need to understand that, in the event of an emergency, you are located 1½ - 2 hours away from medical care. Check out the hospital to see about their services. taoshospital.org.
Map of Rio Grande del Norte National Monument
Map of Rio Grande del Norte National Monument

Click for PDF map

For further information:

PLEIN AIR PAINTERS OF AMERICA: http://ppapa.faso.com/page/14159/
member-directory
SOUTHWEST ART: 4/15/11; http://www.southwestart.com/featured/
lorenzo-chavez-below-the-surface
ART OF THE WEST: Featured in 2017 March/April Issue; https://www.aotw.com/#/issue/ 2017/3
in 2015 July/August Issue - https://www.aotw.com/#/issue/2015/7

PASTEL JOURNAL; December, 2011, cover artist:
FINE ART CONNOISSEUR : 9/14/17: a Wyoming Point of View:
https://fineartconnoisseur.com/2017/09/
a-wyoming-point-of-view/
VIDEO LESSONS:
https://www.lorenzochavez.com/video-painting-lessons/
Seeing Color - Art Tutorial with Lorenzo Chavez (trailer)
https://www.youtube.com/channel/
UC53cBkUj5B0pSDaINjWinKQ

Gallery

Instructors

Lorenzo Chavez

Lorenzo Chavez

Painting instructor

Born and raised in the Rockies, Mr Chavez has achieved international renown for his Art. He is well known as an excellent Fine Art instructor, and he tells us he is especially delighted to join us on this trip because he feels so at home in this ‘big-sky’ country with an unspoiled landscape of sage, piñon and aspen.

Instructor profile