Reina

Reina’s strong, intense compositions in colored pencil unfold a landscape of blazing mountains set against an azure blue sky and eroded hills of melting color. Her vivid, ultra-realistic colors cut the edge between reality and fantasy. The timelessness of the desert is captured in her unique portrayal of the Southwest’s earth, sky, animals and spirit.

Since 1979, Reina has made her home in Taos, New Mexico. Surrounded by deep canyons, rocky cliffs and high mesas, much of her inspiration and personal strength come from this landscape. Over the years, Reina has developed a very recognizable style and imagery that is all her own.

The process she uses begins with the initial sketch on 100% rag paper. Every line must be true since nothing can be erased or altered once the pencil is applied. The first layer of color is applied in a heavy manner. Then, slowly, each layer of color is drawn in to create the vibrance, color and depth desired. Afer four or five layers of color, the drawing is finished with several coats of a spray fixative to insure color stability.