Painting the Colors, Light, & Feel of the Southwest
Mike Mahon-Artist, Author, Teacher, Inventor
Experience Art Beyond the Canvas
As featured in…
Patreon
As featured in…
Southwest and New Mexico Landscape Paintings
That Bring Stories, Emotions, and Timeless Aesthetics into Your World.
Some collectors buy art. You're about to inherit a story.
There is a moment — and if you've ever stood in front of a painting that stopped you cold, you know exactly the one — when a piece of art stops being something you're looking at and becomes something you're standing inside.
The light on the adobe wall seems warm enough to touch. The sage-scrubbed mesa pulls at something in your chest you couldn't name even if you tried. You don't know why this particular painting, painted on this particular afternoon somewhere in the high desert of New Mexico, feels like a memory you carry but can't place.
That feeling is not an accident.
It has a history. A long one.
The year was 1913.
The Taos painters were already there.
When K.W. Hopkins — Mike Mahon's maternal grandfather — arrived in Taos, New Mexico to become the town's only pharmacist, the American Southwest was still largely unknown to the art world. The men who would become the founding masters of American Western painting had come by wagon into a high desert valley they could barely believe existed, and they were still broke, still unknown, still trying to convince the rest of civilization that this land was worth looking at.
Raising his family next door to the residence of Kit Carson, steps from what would become the Stables Gallery — K.W. Hopkins sometimes accepted something other than cash for his prescriptions from behind the counter of his drugstore on the Taos plaza.
He accepted paintings.
The struggling artists of the early Taos Art Colony traded their canvases for medicine. And so a pharmacist on a dusty New Mexico plaza became one of the first people in America to recognize that what these men were doing with paint and canvas was worth keeping.
His brother Benjamin Hopkins had already blazed an artistic trail to Taos. Disowned by his East Texas father for wanting to become an artist, Ben had followed his compass west, found Taos, and never looked back. When Ben's older brother, K.W., needed to move to a high and dry climate for his son's health, Ben invited him to Taos.
K.W. Hopkins-Taos's Only Pharmacist
His soda fountain became a gathering place. The artists came in, argued, laughed, traded gossip about the light and the land. K.W. poured drinks and listened and quietly believed in them.
Taos Drug Store - 1914
K.W. was responsible for the store's “Prescription Department” and famously managed the store's soda fountain, which was a major social hub for the art colony artists during those years. The artists came in, argued, laughed, traded gossip about the light and the land. K.W. poured drinks and listened and quietly believed in them.
K.W. Hopkin's Children
Mike's mother, Margaret, with her brother, Glenn, are sitting on their front steps next to the home of Kit Carson in Taos, New Mexico.
Ben, meanwhile, built exactly the life his father had tried to prevent. He became a working artist, musician, and art gallery owner — and found in Taos everything he had been told to give up.
His daughter, Dolores Hopkins Glanz, carried the tradition forward as a well-known Taos artist who for decades operated the Broken-Wheel Gallery in the heart of the Taos Historic District — its name a tribute to the famous 1898 broken wagon wheel incident that had stranded two painters on the road into town and, in doing so, accidentally gave birth to the Taos Art Colony itself.
The Hopkins family tradition in Taos art is considered one of the longest-running in the region — from the early 1900s to the present day.
Mike Mahon is the present day.
Dolorez Hopkins Glanz
She was a prominent local artist known for her detailed paintings of Taos Pueblo scenes, kachinas, petroglyphs, and the San Francisco de Asís Mission Church in Ranchos de Taos.
But there's another side of this story — one that began not on the Taos plaza but on a dirt-poor West Texas cotton farm, where my father's mother painted on flattened paper bags.
MEET THE ARTIST
–MIKE MAHON
Welcome to My Studio!
Feel free to contact me when you’ve had a chance to explore.
When you bring one of Mike's original oil or pastel landscapes into your home, you are not decorating a wall.
You are extending a lineage.
You are picking up a thread that began over a century ago, when an unknown pharmacist in a remote New Mexico town looked across his counter at a struggling painter and decided: this is worth something.
The collectors who came before you felt it too. Don and Susan Chapman of Texas put it plainly:
“We have several of his original paintings — not to simply decorate our home, but to enrich it with fine art images of places that we sense are present and a part of us, though far away.”
That is what Taos art has always done. It reaches into people who have never set foot in New Mexico and makes them feel like they already belong there.
“As an impressionist landscape artist, I find that the spontaneous, loose, and lively characteristics of plein air painting is what I try to replicate in all my work, whether in the studio or on location.”
Many of my oil and pastel landscapes are painted en plein air around Taos and Northern New Mexico — battling time, weather, insects, dogs, and the occasional curious tourist. Nothing compares to the raw adrenaline of painting in nature, where the light changes faster than you can mix the color. Northern New Mexico is my passion, my subject, and by blood and by heritage, my home.
“Plein Air painting is an extreme sport!“
The early Taos painters arrived by wagon to explore this landscape. The least I can do is show up in my Ford Explorer.
Step into a world where every piece tells a story.
Caprock Canyon Triptych 30"x120"
An 18"x72" Canvas Giclee Print of this Triptych is Available in the Fine Art Prints Collection.
Southwestern Landscape paintings that Speak.
Collections that Inspire.
ORIGINAL PAINTINGS COLLECTIONS
Every oil and pastel landscape or figure painting tells a story—inviting you to see, feel, and explore beyond the canvas.
This month's featured painting includes special offers!
Originals Collection
FINE ART PRINT COLLECTIONS
Artwork that transforms your environment and resonates for years to come.
Fine Art Prints for the Discerning Collector
Set a mood of elegance that reflects your love of New Mexico landscape paintings and the people that make a life in that Southwestern landscape. Mike's fine art prints are crafted to spark conversation and captivate the imagination. Each piece is available in small, exclusive, limited editions—ensuring your collection remains unique and timeless.
From private residences to corporate installations, Mike’s creations grace walls around the country, bringing depth, emotion, and refined elegance to every space.
Mike has selected a few of his favorite and most popular images to make available as high quality giclée limited edition prints. The prints are in editions of only 50 prints, signed and numbered.
Limited Edition Prints
COLLECTOR REVIEWS
Words from those who’ve welcomed art into their lives.
“The detail Mike puts into his work is unmatched. So many collectors have said many times they can't believe his pastel work! Clients, customers and collectors swoon over his vibrant color choices.’’
Mike's work definitely strikes a cord with our Texas residents! The canyons and landscapes are always the collectors favorites. They see the sentiment in the space seem to spark a personal memory for them.
The New Mexico pieces are equally as gorgeous and many clients associate it with a vacation spot they have been to or a road they have traveled along in their life's journey.
We believe Mike’s work will be passed down for many generations to come!
— Reece Beddington,
Reserve Gallery, Amarillo, Texas
“Mike's work represents both exceptional artistic skill and that rare quality of emotional resonance that makes a piece truly unforgettable.”
“I was immediately struck by Mike Mahon's extraordinary mastery of light when I first encountered his work in a gallery in Taos, New Mexico.
What sets Mike apart is his intuitive understanding of how light transforms throughout the day - his palettes shift naturally with the conditions he's capturing, whether it's the soft, gentle colors of early morning or the dramatic warmth of sunset reflecting off mountains and fences.”
— Andrea Matus-Magee, Artist/collector, Santa Fe, NM
“Mike's paintings are a vibrant celebration of Southwestern culture, infused with the rich, colorful influences of Taos, Santa Fe and the New Mexico countryside.”
— Dennis & Kim Garvey,
Collectors, Amarillo, Tx
“[Mike] is a master of design and he is one of the best of the best in the New Mexico art scene..”
{Mike] is the consummate professional in the way he approaches the design and process of creating a painting. We are fortunate to own a lovely painting I purchased from him years ago and it has become not only one of our favorite pieces, but also evokes special memories of a week in Taos painting with Mike. His paintings just say “New Mexico” with his beautiful colors, skillful composition, and his mastery of his medium, both in pastel and oil. His deep roots in New Mexico are evident in the historic locations he choses to paint. He is a master of design and he is one of the best of the best in the New Mexico art scene. I am blessed not only to be a collector but to call him a friend and a teacher.
— Elizabeth Cooper,
Owner Operator BlueBird Studios, Santa Fe, NM
“Susan & I have several of his original paintings, not to simply decorate our home but to enrich it with fine art images of places that we sense are present and a part of us though far away.”
Mike Mahon shares our love of New Mexico and captures its unique light & beauty by taking his pastels and easel outside to the sites where he paints what his expert eye sees and what his soul feels, thus capturing the essence of the place as well as anyone possibly can.
That’s why Susan & I have several of his original paintings, not to simply decorate our home but to enrich it with fine art images of places that we sense are present and a part of us though far away.
— Don and Susan Chapman
Elgin, TX
THE PROCESS
Bringing an idea to life through art begins long before the first stroke is made.
Inspiration can strike in the smallest of moments—a shadow dancing across a wall, the texture of weathered stone, or the quiet stillness of dawn. For Mike Mahon, the process is one of observation and patience, waiting for the right alignment of light, emotion, and space. In the case of a portrait, there are three key predictors of success: Pose, Lighting, and Design.
Every composition is a deliberate act, balancing form and feeling. Whether behind the lens or standing before a canvas, Mike crafts pieces that invite reflection and connection. These works become more than visual—they become experiences that resonate deeply, offering viewers a chance to pause, feel, and rediscover the beauty hidden in the everyday.
Mike’s portrait and landscape workshops include many live painting demonstrations. Whether in oil or pastel a live demo imparts the process and highly skilled application of art principles that Mike utilizes himself and teaches his workshop students. His process is thoroughly taught in his recent book, “Art Principles: Control Your Painting Process & Conquer Your Fear of Failure”.
“I'm honored to be an instructor/demonstrator at the 2026 Convention of the International Association of Pastel Societies in Albuquerque, NM”.
Mike will also be a featured artist in the 2026 “Pastel a Celebration III ” book published by IAPS and available at this Convention.
Learn how eight master pastelists work their magic! Join me as I compete on June, 18, 2026 from 1-4 pm for "DUELING DEMOS" IAPS Pastel - International Association of Pastel Societies Convention! Four sets of two artists each will compete for the best painting of the same reference photo per set. The concept of the Dueling Demos is four sets of two artists painting from a shared reference. The audience can walk around each pair, watch them demonstrate and engage with the artists. A fun event!Register for IAPS and register for this event. Space is limited and this is not open to the public, so be sure to register for it.
VIP INSIDER
Mike Mahon | Southwest impressionist painter
Become a VIP Insider to be notified about exclusive new collections, events, exhibitions, openings, and other news about fine artist, art workshop instructor, author, and inventor, Mike Mahon.
Sign up today and receive a 20 page PDF sample of Mike’s recently published book on art principles and his unique artist’s journey (see below).
Your email address will never be shared with a third party without your written permission.
By entering you agree to the MikeMahonArt.com Privacy Policy and to receive MikeMahonArt.com email marketing. No purchase necessary. Unsubscribe at any time by replying STOP or clicking the unsubscribe link (where available).
What does VIP INSIDER Access include?
Whether artist or art collector, you will learn how to understand, remember, and apply the most critical art principles to create better paintings and judge the quality of fine art.
• A 20 page PDF clickable sample of Mike’s recently published book on art principles and his unique artist’s journey
• First access to new Fine Art releases
• Early access to Special Art Announcements and Premiums.
• Invitations to in-person gallery events
• Notifications that fine art limited editions are about to increase in price, giving you a chance to acquire the art at the current price
• Plus, you'll learn about the stories behind Mike’s body of work, get behind-the-scenes video exclusive to VIP Insiders and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the artworks available in different sizes or formats?
Yes! Many of our pieces are offered in a variety of sizes. Whether you’re looking for a statement piece or something more intimate, we can help you find the perfect fit for your space.
Are these artworks part of a limited collection?
Absolutely. Our collections feature exclusive, carefully curated works—many offered in small editions or as one-of-a-kind originals to maintain their uniqueness and value.
Do you charge for shipping?
Shipping is free for standard shipping within the continental United States. Expedited, outside the USA, and/or custom shipping request are handled on a case by case basis.
Can I schedule a private viewing or consultation?
Of course! We offer personalized consultations to help you select the ideal artwork for your home, office, or collection. Contact us to arrange a private gallery viewing, virtual tour, or design consultation. Whether you are interested in a particular painting or print or a collection of pieces, we can use pictures of your room and show you exactly what the piece would look like in your environment.
Painting the Colors, Light, & Feel of the Southwest
