Summer Pasture

"Summer Pasture", 16 x 20 oil on canvas
I thought I would post this summer scene to get our minds off the lingering effects of winter this year. Painted from some reference photos I shot over a year ago, I completed this landscape late last year, and only recently got it into a frame and added to the inventory. It depicts Spyder, a dappled grey quarterhorse that was boarded at our barn briefly, and my two mares are in the background. So many of my equine paintings are large, bold close-ups that are deliberately devoid of background elements. Sometimes I enjoy the practice of painting a landscape of trees. The looseness that is forced upon me having to render a complex dense stand of evergreens and deciduous trees is a refreshing change of pace from the controlled detailed work of the horses.

Winter Work

Sleeping Buddies

"Sleeping Buddies", oil on canvas, 11 x 14 in. It's a new year, and I have started it off with a painting of Pixel and Maizy. These two aren't always so close and cuddly, but occasionally, they put differences aside and share the warmth. There are several new paintings in progress, nearly finished. Some works, like the cats, seem to come together quickly without much fuss. Others I can't stop fiddling with. I would like to start a new painting every day--starting a painting is the most exciting part. Finishing one can almost seem anti-climactic, since it is the process of conceiving and creating a painting that brings me the most joy.
I am not one to make New Year's resolutions, but it is the time of year to start planning the year's schedule of shows, and I must tear myself away from the easel to take care of that business.
Those almost finished equine paintings will be posted soon, but in the meantime, a recently completed panel painting:

Golden-Laced Wyadotte, oil on oval panel, 11 x 14 in.

A Day in the Life...

"Siberian Iris" 11 x 14 oil on canvas
If you are wondering what a day in the life of an artist is like...my list for today was pretty typical. The entire morning was spent at the theater. (Well, okay, I can't say it's typical for me--as I am fairly new to set painting.) Three hours later...faux bricks, faux timbers, cracks in faux plaster walls...By twelve I was famished and called it quits for the morning. Then home to eat a quick lunch and throw the makings of beef stew in the crock pot.
The afternoon in the studio went something like this...place some online orders for printed materials to take advantage of Cyber Monday deals, cut mats for a watercolor house portrait (yes, that's house, not horse), and another watercolor. Put a coat of gesso on a new painting panel, scan a section of a painting that I am still tweaking, after I already scanned the whole thing in eight pieces and knitted it together in Photoshop. Now I was still not happy with one of the horse's eyes, and have reworked it again, only to have to wait for it to dry before re-scanning. Attempt to cut stencils for a faux stone wall on the theater set, only to decide that I'll be better off free-hand painting the stonework. Paint the edges of a deeply cradled gessoboard painting of a chick. Put wire hangers on a couple of finished framed pieces. Decide which pieces of art to take to the RISD Holiday Alumni Art Sale, which is just under two weeks away.
Last on the list is to update the blog. New work has been slow in coming with the theater set work taking up much of my time. Several new works in progress, including the horse with the troublesome eye are taking longer than usual to get to the digitization stage. The Siberian Iris, above, is one of those that sort of fell through the cracks lately. The piece was finished and framed a couple of months ago, when I realized I had never digitized it, and had to take it out of the frame to do so. This is another in the series of flower studies that I will be exhibiting in the spring. So work gets done, eventually, sometimes in fits and starts. Keep an eye out for the latest horse painting...I think I have finally fixed that eye.

"Columbian Wyandotte Hen", oil on 2" deep cradled gessoboard, 8 x 8 in. $200. Here is the little hen painting I wanted to post last week. She is one of the new flock of four Wyandotte hens we started this spring. She was supposed to be a silver-laced Wyandotte, but apparently some mix-up at the hatchery resulted in us being sent Columbian Wyandottes instead. Research revealed that this breed was named for the World Columbian Exposition of 1893, also known as the Chicago World's Fair. They have the patterning of a Brahma, without the leg feathers. This hen is either Georgia or Rosa, but since I honestly can't tell the two apart, we don't call them by their names.

The other two hens are Golden-laced Wyandottes, and I have yet to do a painting of one of those as an adult hen. The lacy feathers are beautiful, but will be a challenge to paint.

"Star Magnolia", oil on cradled gessoboard, 8 x 10 in. $200. I hoped to post my latest oil of one of my hens this week, but realized I hadn't signed the piece yet, and now will have to wait until the signature is dry to varnish and scan it. Other projects are pulling me away from painting lately--at least this kind of painting.
Over the next month I will be busy painting some theater sets for a local production, still creative work, but not the type of work that I am used to, so this is an opportunity to break out of my comfort zone and try something new. I have already been painting some set walls for another theater group, experimenting with techniques for creating faux brick walls. Hurricane Sandy has wreaked havoc with my schedule, and although it has blessed me with two full days of being home, able to do studio work, I would really like nothing more than to get those brick walls finished!
Add to the mix Halloween, and my son's need for a costume. He decided to be Waldo, of Where's Waldo fame, and lacking a red and white hat, I said I could knit one up fairly quickly. I have managed to nearly complete a hat in two days, and I will easily finish it up tonight---I think I deserve mom points for this one!

The Not for Sale Paintings

Liquid Refreshment, oil on board, 16 x 20 in. This is a special piece to me, my mare stopping for a drink during a long trail ride in the Arcadia Management area in Rhode Island. I have fond memories of long hours spent on those beautiful trails. Sometimes I rode alone, sometimes with friends, but together, Niqui and I explored every inch of that state forest. Niqui is 24 now, and our rides are much shorter. I will never have the opportunity to ride her in Arcadia again, but this painting hangs in my living room as a reminder of those good times. Niqui has been my muse for many of my paintings, most of which are for sale, or have sold.

Murphy, oil on canvas, 16 x 20 in. My first dog, a loveable golden/collie mix, who chewed rocks, took off at the least opportunity and would only come back if I got in the car and drove down the road, yet was so sweet and mild-mannered.

"Cheerio, Run!" 18 x 36 in. oil on canvas My beautiful English Shepherd girl, chasing a ball in the spring sun. This one hangs on a wall of my bedroom, where I see it upon waking up in the morning. If you have an animal in your life that means the world to you, don't delay in commissioning a special portrait. Don't wait until it is too late. Photographs are lovely, but a painting can capture a quality in the animal that a photograph may not.