Since moving to Placitas in 2016, Connie Falk has found endless inspiration in the Sandia Mountains, the wildlife that wanders through her property, and the quiet beauty of the high desert. Long before oil paints and canvases, Connie was collecting stories. 

Before she ever picked up a paintbrush, Connie worked as a journalist before becoming a professor of agricultural economics at New Mexico State University. Along the way, she served in the Peace Corps in Honduras and traveled extensively, documenting life throughout the world through her camera lens. 

Ironically, painting entered her life unexpectedly. While teaching at NMSU, she began taking art classes to improve her quilting. Instead, she discovered something entirely new.

"Once I started oil painting, I fell in love with mixing colors and expressing myself in paint rather than fabric," Connie said.

After retiring in 2013, she devoted herself fully to painting. In Placitas, she found endless inspiration in the changing light and landscapes of the high desert. 

Today, Connie paints primarily in oils and regularly joins fellow members of PALs, a group of plein air painters who travel throughout the Albuquerque area painting outdoors together. While landscapes remain her favorite subject, she is equally drawn to plants, animals, people, and the fascinating shadow patterns that can transform an ordinary scene into something unforgettable.

Connie's work eventually caught the attention of a filmmaker preparing to shoot Miss You, Love You in Placitas. The set designer rented fourteen of her paintings and commissioned four additional pieces specifically for the film. One commissioned landscape became part of a key scene featuring Academy Award-winning actress Allison Janney. The film began streaming on HBO on May 29, 2026, and quickly earned a place among the platform's Top 10 titles. 

The recognition did not stop there. The film's art director has since continued purchasing Connie's work for additional television and film projects, including the upcoming season of Flip on Peacock.

"I am proud of the varied paintings of the Sandias I have painted over the years, in different light and using different color palettes," Connie shared.

Connie also remains active in the local arts community, serving in leadership roles with both the Rio Grande Art Association and the North Valley Studio Tour. 

Neighbors can view Connie's work at www.ConnieFalkFineArt.com or schedule an appointment to visit her home studio. 

When asked what she hopes people take away from her work, her answer is refreshingly simple.

"I hope my work makes people happy and provides beautiful additions to their art collections."

For anyone who has stood in front of one of Connie's paintings, that mission feels accomplished.