This has been a tough one to write. Words don’t really express the profound experience of Ghost Ranch, but I will attempt to lay it down here. In June I travelled to Ghost Ranch, New Mexico for a 6 day Oil Painting intensive. It has been one of the most liberating and genuinely awe inspiring experiences of my life. I travelled alone but found friends every step of the way. I camped; I cabined; I moteled. I laughed hysterically and cried hysterically. I had aha moments and moments where I knew nothing.
Of course a trip to Ghost Ranch started with a visit to Santa Fe, New Mexico. I camped for two nights at Hyde Memorial State Park (about 5 miles outside of Santa Fe). I visited the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum and the New Mexico Museum of Art. I bought enough art supplies to last a lifetime at Artisans in Santa Fe (swoon).
On day three I headed to Ghost Ranch. Ghost Ranch has been a working dude, and now art, ranch for a hundred years or so. Now it’s a glorious retreat and camp. The campers stay in cabins and meals are in a dining hall. I stayed “up on the mesa” for six nights. Days were filled with a full day of oil painting in a glorious rounded wall studio with some of the most beautiful womennI have ever met.
Evenings were filled with hiking in the valleys and mountains of Northern New Mexico. I had no idea.
On the fourth afternoon at Ghost Ranch I took a field trip to Georgia’s house in Abiquiu.
On the final day I cried in class. I mean I really cried. It just all came pouring out. And then it turned to laughter. We all laughed and laughed and laughed and then I left class early to ride a horse named Nacho. That night we had an art show and experienced Native American hoop dancers.
I’m not sure what was my favorite or most profound part of Ghost Ranch: the personal reflection, the learning, the friends. But I had the longest drive of my life home to think about it all.
It doesn’t matter, because I will be back. Ghost Ranch is calling me.