Watercolor artist Arlene J. Tugel is a twenty-year resident of Las Cruces, NM. Bright colors and strong shadows in the landscape inspire her paintings. In 2010, after a 36-year career in soil science, Arlene rekindled a childhood desire to paint. She studied painting and drawing with numerous artists; Jan Hart and Joyce Hicks inspire her use of color. She prefers the luminosity that can be achieved with watercolor and watercolor collage.
She achieved “Signature Member Status”, a lifetime award for painting excellence, with the New Mexico Watercolor Society (NMWS) in 2015 and received several awards at art shows and plein air competitions. Arlene has exhibited in shows of the New Mexico Watercolor Society in Las Cruces and Albuquerque and other juried shows in Santa Fe, Socorro and Pinos Altos since 2008. She painted in plein air (outdoor) competitions in 2011 and 2015-18 in Las Cruces and Deming and in Cuesta, NM in 2019. She displayed her paintings at the Franciscan Festival of Fine Arts for nine years.
Arlene is happiest painting outdoors in the wide-open spaces of the West. She says “the color harmony of each painting reflects my mood and connection to my surroundings. Look for me at nearby parks and trails, you may find me at my easel!”
To see more of Arlene’s art visit the Mesilla Valley Fine Arts Gallery, 2470 Calle de Guadalupe, Mesilla, NM. www.mesillavalleyfinearts.com Or email her at fullersres@msn.com
