Hereford Face

I just love painting these beauties in the pasture!  There is something very soothing about painting out in the countryside, breathing in the fresh air, and listening to birdsong. The very overcast morning cleared long enough for me to paint, with raindrops starting as I headed back to the house.  Within about an hour a hailstorm rolled in, and a couple of tornado warnings rattled off as I watched the skies.  Now the sky is gorgeous, calling me out again to paint!  Painting number 2990 in 2990 days. 

Sweet Kitty

Oh, I love drawing a sweet kitty face after such a busy day!  I've been making and writing cards for hours, so unwinding with a little drawing is so relaxing!  Graphite is my first art love, the first thing my little hands picked up from a child's desk my Grandma Frank had loaded with supplies at a north window in her kitchen.  I remember the color of the light, the smell of the old pencils when I sharpened them, and the way their marks spread across a paper.  I remember the tactile feel of the lead on that thick, yellowed paper.  That desk was tiny and I wasn't in school yet, and those memories are embedded in my soul. I even remember a black and red diamond checkered box that all the writing supplies and antique child's scissors were kept in, inside the desk.  I haven't thought of these things for years, but drawing takes me right back to that joyful time.  Painting number 2901 in 2901 days. 

Oreo!

This little guy has SO MUCH personality!  Just look at that face!  With india ink and my favorite Levenger Raven black, I sketched the outlines before adding watercolor to the masses.  Just painting this little darling puts a smile on my face!  So glad Sharla shared his photo with me!  Painting number 2495 in 2495 days. 

Sunburst

sold

So fun to paint new subjects like this radiating sun!  By special request, I'm painting several miniature round paintings in ink and watercolor, created for a very special frame.  Stepping outside the box is such a great way to keep things fresh!  How lucky am I to get to do this every day?  Painting number 2206 in 2206 days.

First Mate

I love the sound of graphite skimming over paper.  The soft way it glides over the surface with just enough resistance to leave a mark, is so natural, it is a part of me.  I can almost do it with my eyes closed, the very act of drawing is so ingrained.  I'm very particular about my drawing tools.  For graphite, I only like the 8b, water soluble, by Derwent. I have all the various sizes and kinds of pencils, but this is the only one I use except for the rare mechanical pencil.  I only like a pink eraser, though I have many other fancy ones, the 50 cent one is my favorite by far.  I've tried many papers over the years, but for drawing in graphite, I only use vellum bristol board.  I love the torn edges of my handmade papers, so I very carefully applied that edge to the bristol.  A little more trouble, but SO worth it!  My pressed paper blending stubs are also pictured, a must have!  No touching the paper with fingers!  It will not accept the graphite correctly if you do.  This tiny bag of drawing tools has been many places with me, and is like an old friend.  Painting number 2037 in 2037 days.

sold

Augustus!

Little Augustus is SO expressive!  His thoughts are written boldly across his face!  After getting a little baby time this afternoon, I take up the fountain pen to render this little darling in ink!  Though I've done many portraits, I've never done them in ink - something about the permanence of it all!  There are no erasers for fountain pens!  So, I made a few tick marks in pencil (like the top, bottom, sides of the face, eye, nose, lip shadow dots) to give me a visual map to start with.  With these dots, I adjusted accordingly as I lay down the ink.  I think I could have done these ticks in ink, and probably will the next time.  I guess I just needed the crutch to get me going!  Once the drawing was in, I used a wet brush to move the ink a little, softening lines and adding shadow planes.  This is a one shot deal.  If I miss the placement of those planes, there's no going back.  No eraser!  I REALLY love the depth of the black ink - I will definitely be doing this again!  Painting number 1826 inn 1826 days.

Ink Study of David

I have been studying master works, and this ink rendering is from Michaelangelo's David.  This statue has a striking resemblance to my youngest son - right down to the curly locks!  My youngest daughter even asked me if it was Michael!  I'm using a medium black Pitt pen in my natural tan earthbound sketch journal for this one.  I think the dark paper is well suited for this work, and I plan to continue in the same thread for this one.  This drawing is the 1488th in 1488 days.

Chewy

Chewy
Oil on gallery wrapped canvas, 10x8

I started this painting with the intent to use bright and bold colors.  As I started to lay paint, I found myself going to the natural shades of his coat.  He has such wonderful tri color hair, with creamy whites, red oxides and gray pushing to black on his tail - I just had to paint him as he is!  I still want to paint him in bright colors - but I’ll do that another day!  I have been in the watercolors and acrylics these last weeks - and it feels good to be back in the oils!  My brushes need to be cleaned well, as does my palette, before I head to Augusta and the long days of plein air painting!  This painting makes 1189 in 1189 days.

Cat Eyes

Cat Eyes
Acrylic on masonite, 6x6

It looks like this is turning into “cat week”!  I had an afternoon free of commitment, which is rare indeed!  So, I leisurely spent the afternoon getting things done - instead of my “lit on fire” normal pace! How refreshing!  I don’t even feel guilty about not painting large today, which I would do any other time that I had several uninterrupted hours at my disposal!  Today’s subject is one of our black cats, Soco, and boy, it was hard to zoom in so close!  I thought this would be a piece of cake, but the extreme close up made the composition and values difficult.   I need to do more of these, until they become second nature.  This painting makes 1129 in 1129 days.

Thoughtful Santa

Thoughtful Santa
Acrylic on masonite, 5x5
purchase here

Tonight, I am returning to impressionism using only my Mars Black and Titanium White. With a short 30 minute painting window (the time remaining before heading out to see the new Star Wars movie), I blocked in the values.  Working fast, I had this almost finished before I was rushed out the door by my family! Just now coming back to my easel for those finishing touches - I wonder why I don't do more of this?  I do so love portraiture!  It feels SO good to get into the paints in this way - like coming home for Christmas!  I really want to dig deep into portraits in the coming year - I feel them pulling at me even now!  Painting number 1084 in 1084 days.  What will I paint tomorrow?

Sweet Dreams

Sweet Dreams
Acrylic on masonite, 5x5
purchase here

Another late hour at the easel - and it even looked like I might not get it in at all! Painting the grand-daughter of a friend, she is all peace and tranquility as she rests.  These sweet, dreaming faces are a joy to paint!  I have enjoyed concentrating on portraiture this month.  There is nothing like focusing on one subject to get me to hone in on all the specifics.  So fleeting can be the subtle color changes of the planes, sometimes seeing is the most difficult part.  But once that special sight has been achieved, it makes me wonder how I ever missed it.  It is so like the difference between warm and cool colors, and temperature changes make all the difference in a portrait.  Those subtle qualities give life to an otherwise two dimensional painting.   This painting makes 1054 in 1054 days.

Baby Alastair

Baby Alastair
Acrylic on masonite, 5x5
purchase here

I really like painting these portraits using only black and white!  I set my timer for 40 minutes before I start, and when the time is up - I stop!  I mix as I go, and use no water at all until I am done with the painting - and then only to wash out my brush.  No medium is used with the heavy body acrylics, which allows the colors to be quite strong.  I am using short, impressionist strokes throughout - even for small areas like the pupils and iris of the eyes.  This really adds life and energy in a way straight, hard lines do not.  I am trying to do one black and white and one color portrait each day of this month - determined to master this technique quickly.  I am using filbert brushes - which I have never used (unless you count all of the brights and flats that I have worn down to filberts through the years!).  They make soft, rounded edges to the strokes, that flats simply wouldn't do.  Painting number 1043 in 1043 days.

Alan Smiles

Alan Smiles
Acrylic on masonite, 5x5
value study - purchase here

I find that I really love painting these value studies in black and white!  The recommended black is Ivory Black, but I had several tubes of Mars Black - so that is what I am using.  I like the old black and white photo feel these paintings have - and I’m carrying them farther than just value studies.  I want them to stand alone as powerful paintings, with no need for color.  I want to paint one every day - and at 40 minutes each, that should be totally doable!   I do wonder if my strokes are loose enough on this one......This little darling is my oldest grandson, and I hope this painting does justice to his sweet, adorable soul!   Painting number 1042 in 1042 days.  I'm going to need to start photographing everyone I know just to keep up with my new habit.....!

A Pair of Sheep

A Pair of Sheep
Oil on masonite, 10x8

The sheep at the Green Dirt Farm were simply adorable!  Despite growing up with farmers in the family - I was never around them. My great-uncle had every other farm animal, and my grandma did have sheep, but long before I was born!  So, it was a treat to get to spend some time with them!  I love their sweet and gentle nature. In an effort to separate the color of the sheep from their background, I got a little carried away with the red oxide.......so these are "breast cancer awareness" sheep....you know, their pink color........!  I plan to tone them down a bit tomorrow - but as for today, I am already onto other projects!  Painting number 1004 in 1004 days :)

Cow Face

Cow Face
Oil on canvas, 6x4
SOLD

While I was in Augusta, painting on a wonderful cattle farm, I took many photos of the beautiful cows.  This nosy boy strolled right up to the fence to see what I was doing in the tall grass with my easel.  One by one, many came right up to me, before heading back down to the creek for water.  This spot was a hidden treasure, nestled behind old sheds and farm equipment.  I could fill a book with just the reference for this one place.  I sure wish it was close enough to run by and paint en plein air!  This is painting number 11 in the 30 Day Painting Challenge, and 984 in 984 days for me :)

Bright Eyes

Bright Eyes
Graphite on bristol, 12x9

Today, I am counting my blessings.  Dad is making baby steps in the right direction - more lucid today, and he has been moved out of ICU and into the step down unit.  I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  My dad is SO good at beating the odds - I just hope that will always be the case!  This drawing is high key - lots of light with just a bit of dark to delineate the face.  What shows more promise for the future than the bright eyes of a babe?  This is the 417th artwork in as many days :)