A-Z Challenge Accepted and Met

The April A-Z Challenge was a wild ride, to be sure.
The best part? Getting 26 new pieces done for my "Southwest Sojourn" show at TAG Gallery.
The worst part? Getting those 26 pieces done in a timely manner!

Mid-February, I was considering showing all older pastels for my April-May show at TAG Gallery.
Then a post by Thrift Shop Commando reminded me of the A-Z Challenge and over the course of several mornings' commutes, my concept gelled.

I feel a good sense of accomplishment over getting the new work done and creating blog posts with some of the stories behind the images. Having to work super-fast on the digital paintings kept my technique loose.

As far as the part of the A-Z Challenge where one reads and comments on as many blogs as possible, I failed utterly. For one, the list of 1516 blogs is daunting.
Second, it's all a hodge podge and very hit or miss. Better would be separate link-up sections for genres, so at least all the travel-themed blogs would be together. A "wild card" category could be included, for those that don't want to pigeonhole themselves.  All the linkups could and should still be on one page.
Third, I was way too busy with the day job, the art show, and the other A-Z posting that I was doing on my fashion blog SpyGirl. The A-Z links are all still up, however, so I will be able to explore at my leisure. Yay.

Southwest A to Z Master List

click on the letter to jump to the page

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

Z is for Zzyzx Road, Soda Springs, CA

Anne M Bray, Z is for Zzyzx Road, Soda Springs, CA, 

Digital painting printed on various substrates in various sizes, ©2015 

Last exit on the A to Z Challenge! Have you enjoyed the ride?

Y is for You're Now Beyond Hope

Anne M Bray, You're Now Beyond Hope, 

Digital painting printed on various substrates in various sizes, ©2015 

A desert outpost. Location unknown as of yet. I am beyond hope of finding it in the tsunami of photos that litter my living room. My only clue is that I took the photo in October 2000 -- at least that's what the stickie says on the back.

X is for Cattle X-ing, Deming, NM

Anne M Bray, X is for Cattle X-ing, Deming, NM, 

Digital painting printed on various substrates in various sizes, ©2015 

X was a bit of a stretch in the A to Z Challenge. I fudged it a little here.

The location itself is interesting. It's en route to Rock Hound State Park, outside of Deming, NM. One is allowed to collect rock specimens there (hence the name), which is unusual for a state park. Enshrouded by the fog are the Little Florida Mountains, a major landmark as you drive I-10 between Deming and Las Cruces.

W is for Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, AZ

Anne M Bray, W is for Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, AZ,

Digital painting printed on various substrates in various sizes, ©2015

I'm wondering if sleeping in a wigwam room will give you pyramid power.
The conical topiary is genius.

V is for the Vulture Motel, Van Horn, TX

Anne M Bray, V is for the Vulture Motel, Van Horn, TX, 

Digital painting printed on various substrates in various sizes, ©2015 

Between Frank's (see F) and this abandoned motel, Van Horn wasn't looking so prosperous in 2009. 

This photo was taken from across the street at one of my favorite pit stops in western Texas: Chuy's. My good friend Rafael turned me on to Chuy's, I have not regretted it one moment. I now get my "road" salsa there -- my 2014 On the Edge:US "go cup" lasted me all the way to Ft. Myers, FL (7 days, 2250 miles)!

U is for US93, Mohave County, AZ

Anne M Bray, U is for US93, Mohave County, AZ, 

Digital painting printed on various substrates in various sizes, ©2015 

I was especially giddy when I drove this stretch of highway, the route from Kingman, AZ to Las Vegas. I had been consuming Little Nellie's salsa (see L) for 24 hours and was on a definite chile high.

The image itself has been through several permutations.

Pastel:

Anne M Bray, US93, Mohave County, AZ, 

Pastel on paper, 38 x 29.5", ©1995

As well as in gouache and a digital reproduction of the gouache -- I can't seem to locate either. When I do, I will add them. So disorganized.

Both the digital painting and the pastel are in my current exhibit up at TAG Gallery.
Tomorrow is the opening reception, 5-8pm. Stop on by, if you are in Santa Monica.

T is for Ted's Bull Pen Truck Stop, Ash Fork, AZ

Anne M Bray, T is for Ted's Bull Pen Truck Stop, Ash Fork, AZ, 

Digital painting printed on various substrates in various sizes, ©2015 

Ted's is now abandoned. I may have eaten here in June of 1994.  Or maybe I just rested.
I can't remember.

S is for Stripes Gas in Sanderson, TX

Anne M Bray, S is for Stripes Gas, Sanderson, TX, 

Digital painting printed on various substrates in various sizes, ©2015 

I loved the name of this convenience store chain. I bought some ice here.
This website has some history of Sanderson.

R is for Route 66 Motel, Kingman, AZ

Anne M Bray, R is for Route 66 Motel, Kingman, AZ, 

Digital painting printed on various substrates in various sizes, ©2015

I was operating under the impression that this image was taken in Santa Rosa, NM.
A Google Image search this morning reveals that it's actually in Kingman, AZ.

How on earth did it become so misfiled in my photo album from that trip? 

I hung the piece Sunday in my art exhibition that starts today. It's labeled, the paperwork is printed and for now, I'm not changing it. We'll see if anyone notices my mistake. I'll do a running change and make the correction in the next batch of printing.
I ran out of time to fully vet the A to Z images before hanging the show. Do I have any other mistakes remaining on S through Z? Time (and Google searching for blog links) will tell!

Q is for Dairy Queen

Anne M Bray, Q is for Dairy Queen, Yuma, AZ,

Digital painting printed on various substrates in various sizes, ©2015 

P is for Prada Marfa

Anne M Bray, P is for Prada Marfa, Valentine, TX, 

Digital painting printed on various substrates in various sizes, ©2015 

An art installation set in the middle of nowhere, Prada Marfa is located 36 miles northwest of Marfa on US90. It was in a bedraggled state in 2014 -- graffiti covered the back exterior wall, bits of glue were slathered on the windows. From what I can tell from Instagram, the awnings have been refurbished and things have been cleaned up. Inside is a mock Prada shop with the coveted bags and shoes (the shoes are left foot singles) displayed.

I used this same image for a piece in my On the Edge: US digital watercolor series:

Anne M Bray, Prada Marfa, 

Digital watercolor printed on various substrates in various sizes, ©2014

O is for Ocotillo

Anne M Bray, O is for Ocotillo, 

Digital painting printed on various substrates in various sizes, ©2015  

Ocotillos are an unusual species of desert flora. Until it rains, they look like a fan of spiny sticks wedged into the ground. Give them some water and wonderful red blossoms appear at the tips of the branches. These were shot in April 1983, in California's Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

N is for Newberry Springs, CA

Anne M Bray, N is for Newberry Springs, CA,  

Digital painting printed on various substrates in various sizes, ©2015 

Rest Stops are so important during road trips. I photographed this one in Newberry Springs (on I-40 east of Barstow, CA) in June 1994. I love the Googie-style roof-line on the building.

M is for Monument Valley

Anne M Bray, M is for Monument Valley, UT, 

Digital painting printed on various substrates in various sizes, ©2011  

Why did it take me until 2009 to see Monument Valley? It lives up to the hype.
Truly majestic. I want to go back for a longer stay and deeper explorations.

L is for Little Nellie's in Las Cruces

Anne M Bray, L is for Little Nellie's in Las Cruces, NM, 

Digital painting printed on various substrates in various sizes, ©2015 

Oh Little Nellie's in Las Cruces, NM. I discovered you by accident (it was the flags) on my first post-marital solo expedition in December of 1993. You had [have?] the BEST chile rellenos, huevos rancheros, and NM green chile salsa. I would get a big "go cup" of the salsa, recant it into a glass Mason jar, and nurse it in my cooler for the remainder of my trip. I did this for YEARS! You are the reason I "had" to take I-10 in at least one direction every road trip, and I drove across the US a lot in the 90s.

This is your old location at  939 N. Main Street in Las Cruces.

I don't remember when you relocated to Amador Street, but I managed to track you there.
Then there was the year (2000?) that I pulled into the parking lot and there was a different name on the building. It was not the same. AAAAARGH! So many miles thinking about your salsa to be denied. NOOOOOO!

All along, you've had a second (now your only) location called Nellie's Cafe at 1226 W Hadley. At least I HOPE it's an iteration. The photos on Yelp look the same. It's your hours, Tu-Sat, 8am-2pm, that are the bane of my existence. I can't seem to get my timing synced. Some day... please don't retire until I have at least one more taste of your salsa!

Can you tell that I'm very passionate about NM green chiles? They cause that, it's the endorphins they release when eaten. Now I'm hungry. Sigh.

K is for Kent, TX

Anne M Bray, K is for Kent, TX, 

Digital painting printed on various substrates in various sizes, ©2015 

This abandoned school building is alongside I-10 in Kent, TX. 

It can be seen from the interstate, but it's worth taking the Kent exit to get a closer look.

J is for Joshua Tree

Anne M Bray, J is for Joshua Tree, CA

Digital painting printed on various substrates in various sizes, ©2015

This moody joshua tree was originally photographed at sunset in Joshua Tree National Park in 1993. I camped at one of the sites nestled amidst mounds of huge rounded boulders -- breathtakingly beautiful.

I is for Interstate 10

Anne M Bray, I is for Interstate 10, TX?, 

Digital painting printed on various substrates in various sizes, ©2015 

Interstate 10 is one of the major conduits through the Southwest. I find it continuously inspiring every time I drive it -- AFTER I leave Los Angeles County, that is.

[I'm still cleaning up the chaos that ensued when I had to hit my art exhibition printing deadline at the end of March. I'm so disorganized with photos scattered all over outside of their albums, I'm not sure when or where exactly this photo was shot. As soon as I find the photo and unite it with its album, I'll update the info here].