"Nebraska Sketchbook:
January 4, 1994 Noon"
Pastel Size 9.75 x 12.75"  MB#420
 

Mary Louise Tejeda loves to paint outdoors and most of her work has been done on location, or in artist terms "en plein aire." She paints to capture the rapidly shifting moods of the day and tries to show everyday scenes in an uncommon light. Because of her age, now 80 years old, she often sits in her car and paints from the roadside. This is of course necessary in Nebraska's cold winter days not to mention the winds that tend to whip around throughout the year. Her favorite location is Dawes County. She frequently selects locations in the Pine Ridge National Forest as well as the farms surrounding it. Old homesteads, especially ones near her home, are favorite sites. One which is often seen is that near her mailbox, the Lang homestead, where there is now only a windmill, a few Chinese elms and some yellow roses.

Tejeda includes in her sketchbook series a few items done in other locations, such as Kansas and California.

"Kansas Sketchbook
August 1, 1998 11AM
Koester House, Marysville"
Pastel Size: 9.5 x 13" MB#2177
A summer trip to Kansas in 1998 resulted in a set of fine sketches. They were given by a private patron to the community library and may be seen there.

"Nebraska Sketchbook
April 20, 1994 4PM"
Pastel 9.5 x 12.75" MB#492
Storm passing near Alliance, NE

"Nebraska Sketchbook
December 21, 1993 4PM"
Pastel 9.75 x 12.75" MB#498
Snowy road with Crow Butte,
Dawes County