Newsletter Archive – Doug Candelaria
The Quiet Drama of the Living West
Doug Candelaria (born 1939) is a contemporary Southwestern oil painter known for his evocative depictions of the American West. Raised in southern Colorado near Durango, he developed an early love of drawing and later served in the U.S. Air Force before working as a cartographer for the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Geological Survey.
Largely self-taught, Candelaria paints with disciplined focus… often six or more hours a day he’s creating scenes of Navajo riders on horseback, golden aspen groves, desert vistas, and especially luminous night landscapes under star-filled skies. His work carries a quiet sense of reverence for the land and the cultural traditions of the Southwest, blending historical feeling with a contemporary sensibility.
Collectors prize his masterful handling of horses, atmospheric light, and the calm, narrative quality of his compositions. Candelaria’s paintings are regularly shown at Chimayo Trading in Ranchos de Taos and continue to find enthusiastic audiences across the region.
“I’ve been sketching since I was a kid,” Candelaria recalls. “I’d be eagerly awaitng for my mom to come home from grocery shopping and the arrival of the bags just to draw on the brown paper.”
Doug Candelaria Newsletters
Doug Candelaria~ The Quiet Drama Of The Living West
Doug Candelaria~
The Quiet Drama Of The Living West
Doug Candelaria is a contemporary Southwestern artist whose oil paintings resonate with authenticity, reverence, and a deep connection to the landscapes and cultural traditions of the American West. Born in 1939, raised in southern Colorado and choosing to make the Southwest his permanent home, Candelaria creates work that feels lived and remembered rather than simply observed.
New Arrivals have been added to our extensive collection of Doug Candelaria’s heartwarming paintings. We’ve always enjoyed his visits to the gallery over all these years, generously sharing his kindness, warmth and humor. For those who appreciate art that carries both beauty and substance, Candelaria’s paintings are well worth seeking out here at Chimayo Trading in Ranchos de Taos, NM, or online at chimayotrading.com.
The Art of Doug Candelaria ~ Capturing the Soul of the Southwest
The Art of Doug Candelaria ~
Capturing the Soul
of the Southwest
Doug Candelaria has emerged as a distinctive voice in contemporary Native American art. Known for his evocative paintings that blend the majesty of the American Southwest with the cultural depth of Navajo and Pueblo traditions, Candelaria’s work captures the imagination with its vibrant colors, mysterious night scenes, and dynamic depictions of figures on horseback. His art reflects a deep connection to the land and the stories of the Navajo people, offering viewers a window into the timeless beauty of the Southwest.
Doug Candelaria – Pueblo Artist
Doug Candelaria
Pueblo Artist