Cowboy Talk

Cowboy Talk
Acrylic on masonite, 6x6

Today finds me painting a couple of men from the reenactment, one on a horse.  These reference photos are full of timeless charm - it is just like stepping back in time to paint them!  Using my limited palette of heavy body acrylics, I block in with my filberts, and finish with a little palette knife (or in my case - my Princeton catalyst, have I told you how much I love them?)  Making this a quick post - we’re about to watch a movie!  Painting number 1184 in 1184 days.

Gathering the Horses

Gathering the Horses
Oil on panel, 7x5
bid here

Another reference photo from the pasture is my reference work for today.  Working on a small scale again - only 7x5, makes these figures very small!  Using the brush for gestural strokes, I did not use my palette knife at all on this one. With a smaller brush than usual, I pulled the foliage loosely back and forth, lifting the brush up to indicate the movement of leaves.  It is important to follow form with the brushwork - especially at this scale!  I think I will go ahead and sketch out some new paintings, so when my painting windows open up - I will already have a leg up on the painting!  Painting number 774 in 774 days.

Standing at Kill Creek

Standing at Kill Creek
Oil on wood panel, 18x14
purchase here

Mondays are busy days now that I am teaching two classes - so I have to plan ahead when it comes to my own painting.  I am working on a larger scale today - 18x14.  Starting this one yesterday between breakfast and family bowling, I got back to my easel twice today to get it painted.  The landscape reference came from a MVIS paint-out we had some time back by Kill Creek in Kansas.  Such a beautiful place with this rambling wide creek.  I used some of my own reenactment reference for the figures - since that is my focus for the month!  I'm not quite sure it is done.  I am going to leave it on the easel and look with fresh eyes tomorrow, and see how I feel about it then.  This is painting number 772 in 772 days.

Two Riders in the Snow

Two Riders in the Snow
Oil on wood panel, 8x10
purchase here

Since "figures" are my theme for February, I decided to bump up the number and include four figures in this painting!  Well, that definitely takes more time!  I have started and stopped this painting several times today - once for family bowling time, along with the countless chores in a day's work.  New on the palette today, Grumbacher green earth and greenish umber.  Their umber is the darkest one I've used, I almost always have to mix in another color to lighten it.  The green earth I used on a whim, not expecting to like it, but it has it's merits in the landscape.  It feels transparent in the way it handles, and these old paints also include some of the toxins the new ones don't.  Which is bad, and means I should only use them outside.  I have used several blues here, Rembrandt's ultramarine blue deep - which I LOVE, ultramarine violet and prussian blue.  I like the way they play together in the snow and pushing the warms and cools in this landscape adds to the energy.  This is painting number 769 in 769 days.

Adjusting the Bridle

Adjusting the Bridle
Oil on panel, 16x12
Civil War Reenactment on the farm

This is my fifth painting of the week, painted from our reenactment this past weekend.  What I really like about this one is that our milk barn is in the background.  When I was younger, I wished this barn looked more like the big red ones dotting the countryside.  As the years go by, I truly appreciate the unique design and color of this barn.  In all these years, I have not seen another one like it!  With each horse I paint, they get easier.  I really enjoy capturing the line and form of each one in paint!  This painting is number 231 in 231 days :)

Almost Home

Almost Home
Oil on panel, 16x12
Quantrill's Raiders Reenactment
Cass County, Missouri

Sometimes, I get excited about just starting a painting.  I was able to give this a solid two hours before I was interrupted to pick up Michaela from TSA.  I was really in the zone - and it is SO hard to lay down the brushes at such a time!  Then, an unexpected trip carved out another 2 hours from my painting time.  That drive to paint that lies at my core was chomping at the bit to get back to it!  When nearing completion, another unexpected trip with an hour delay.  I should have been done by 6:00, but it was not to be.  I think I am finished with this one - painting number 228 in 228 days.  I hope tomorrow runs more smoothly than today :)