Landscapes to Love

From blazing orange sunsets and quiet, leafy groves to busy marketplaces and rural New Mexican cemeteries, the world is full of diverse landscapes. These 12 scenes explore nature’s bounty—offering a creative lens on the beauty that surrounds us every day.

Chris Morel - Spring Creek, oil on canvas, 16 x 20 in.

Trees reflect off the crystalline waters of a mountain stream in this quintessential Chris Morel scene. Its beauty is beyond description—captured best by the skillful brushstrokes of such an accomplished landscape artist as Morel.

Cynthia Inson - Peace Is Where You Find It, oil, 18 x 36 in.

The land glows orange beneath a vibrant sunset in this colorful piece by Cynthia Inson. Known for painting in plein air, Inson is well acquainted with the way light changes a landscape; skills on display in Peace Is Where You Find It.

Gary Niblett - Streets of Cerrillos (Los Cerrillos, NM) (with sketch), oil/canvas/board, 12 x 24 in.

The adobe façade of St. Joseph Catholic Church—and the New Mexico sunshine—shine in this classic Southwestern landscape by Gary Niblett. It’s a picturesque yet authentic scene; one that the artist has become known for in the latter part of his career.

Walt Gonske - Campo Santo at Embudo, N.M., oil on linen, 30 x 34 in.

Famed Taos painter Walt Gonske is at his best in this rugged yet grandiose Southwestern landscape. A rural cemetery seems uniquely lovely and inviting in Gonske’s dynamic, Impressionistic style. 

Alice Schille - Market Scene, Le Puy, watercolor, 10 ⅝ x 14 ½ in.

Known for her bold watercolors painted throughout her world travels, Alice Schille’s works never fail to bring a sense of wonder and awe. This busy marketplace in the south of France feels energetic and alive, despite the fact that it was painted 75+ years ago.

Carl Von Hassler - Untitled (Stream Along an Aspen Grove), oil on canvas, 24 x 30 in.

Carl Von Hassler was often called Albuquerque’s landscape painter, famous for his frequent painting in plein air and his utter fidelity to light and color.

Wilson Hurley - Lone Pine Mesa, oil on board, 23 x 36 in.

One of the giants of landscape painting in the 20th century, Wilson Hurley was meticulous with every aspect of his work. He often created studies on site, plotting out each color with an engineer’s eye for detail. The final pieces—often breathtakingly enormous in scale—were completed in his studio, feats of artistry in every sense of the word.

Hans Paap - Penasco, New Mexico, oil on canvas, 17 x 17 in.

Hans Paap’s work is easy to spot for those with a discerning eye. With a consistent style of broad brushstrokes and a fascinating palette that feels fresh and modern still today, Paap’s art was ahead of its time.

Willard Nash - Adobe Houses with Barn, watercolor, 10 ½ x 14 ⅛ in.

Modernist artist Willard Nash was a member of Los Cinco Pintores, which formed in the early Santa Fe art colony in the 1920s. He creatively explored nearly every medium, working in watercolor, lithography, and more—a propensity that extended to his other interests, including boxing, singing, and acting.

Rod Goebel - Flowing Water (Untitled), oil on canvas, 28 x 26 in.

Texas-born artist Rod Goebel is known for his post-impressionist works and innovative palettes. Goebel eventually settled in Taos and was a founding member of the “Taos Six”, along with Walt Gonske—a group that helped revitalize the art market in the city.

Doug Higgins - Mountain Study, oil/board, 14 x 18 in.

This stirring mountain study is one of Doug Higgins’ many works that center on the beauty of nature. The loose brushwork and voluminous clouds pull the viewer in, bringing energy and intrigue to the composition.

Carl Rungius - Alarmed, drypoint etching, 6 ¼ x 8 ½ in.

German artist Carl Rungius was one of the early greats of Western art. His works largely focused on animals, notably the big game of the West. A hunting trip in Wyoming convinced the young artist that his future and his fortunes lay in the United States—a decision that would ultimately launch his legendary career.