Morning on Sunset Ridge

 

SOLD

It was a lovely afternoon to paint the view from the top of Sunset Ridge. As I was cleaning my brushes, the two horses walked into my scene - and I added them before my last brush was clean!  What a treat to see them in their happy place - and paint them!  On a personal note - I also have a palomino and a black horse, who is a Rocky Mountain horse, so these two reminded me of my own.  It's so much fun to paint a place I feel such an affinity to!  I'm happy this painting has a new home here, too!  Painting number 4912 in 4912 days. 

Horses on the Farm

 

How could I possibly resist painting a horse farm?!!  Well, obviously, I couldn't!  Today was the New Melle Paintout, and after painting St. Paul's Lutheran church, I went to My Half Farm.  So much awaited me - I could hardly settle on just one subject.  As I started this painting, I was longing for my oils.  With very little time, I could hardly afford the time to switch my gear - so I persisted.  A sweet horse kept coming up and getting as close as he could to me, he was adorable! This painting will be available for the Golden Ticket Gala tomorrow night at Harmonie Verein in Augusta! 

Jackson Stables

It brings back fond memories to paint the horses of Jackson Stables!  I'm so fortunate to be the Artist in Residence here at the YMCA of the Rockies, and I an making every moment count!  The family is here and we're planning to take a horseback trail ride through the mountains in the next couple of days. It's great to make the memories and capture them in paint!  Painting number 4551 in 4551 days. 

Clydesdales

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It was so fun to sketch these clydesdales before the paintout, adding watercolor before heading back to town.  I have never gotten the chance to paint clydesdales before, and I know my young 12 year old self would be thrilled at such a thing! I loved finding their forms with ink, and then filling them in with watercolor.  This was rather loose and fresh with my limited time. This painting was snapped up before it ever got a chance to hang - and i love when that happens!  Painting number in days. 

Golden Hour at the Saddle Club

My first ever Quick Paint at a Saddle Club - and it was SUPER FUN!  I could paint here every day and never tire of this!  Tonight we were scheduled at the Wayne County Saddle Club, and cowpokes and their horses were on hand for painting during the 2 hour paint.  The grounds are lovely, the light was perfect, and it was an amazing night for painting! I had so much fun, and finished early to boot!  I've been thinking of painting western art lately - and this confirms that direction! Painting number 3913 in 3913 days, and day 29 of the #stradaeasel challenge. 

Horse Camper!

This may just be the coolest camper I've ever seen - and of course, I HAD to paint it!!  I am drawn to campers and travel trailers - probably because they stir up childhood memories of family camp-outs!  But this one is right out of my childhood book of dreams, full of my love of horses!  I'm losing the light, but still had enough time for an ink sketch and a little watercolor too. I'm staying in the bunkhouse just past this beauty - and it is right our of the pages of Country Living!  How does one artist get so lucky as I am?  I'm thanking my lucky stars tonight - and may just go sit out and enjoy them awhile! Painting number 4298 in 4298 days. 

Golden Meadow

This morning's paint location was the Meramec Adventure Ranch - an equine therapy center.  This place is so big, I hardly got a chance to scout it.  My first paint was down at a creek leading to the lake.  The very next place I saw was the horses in this golden meadow, and I couldn't resist them! The  winding road was just icing on the cake.  Love getting to paint such a great place!  Painting number 4239 in 4239 days 

Sunset at the Horse Trough

Horses have been a favorite muse of mine since I was a little girl.  I love the shape of them - and those manes and tails have endless possibilities!  This scene is an everyday slice of Americana from this working farm in Edward's County, Illinois, where the family dog looks on as the horses have their evening feed.  Love how the process of painting takes me back in time.  Painting number 2832 in 2832 days.  So happy this painting has a new home!  

Wagon Rides on the Prairie

The Party on the Prairie is always a fun paint out!  Not only do they have horse drawn wagon rides, but also prairie walks, live music, a scavenger hunt and more!  I set up where I could see the wagon loading and unloading riders, giving me more time to paint the horses and wagon.  The harp music wafted over as I painted, and walkers stopped to talk to me on their stroll. The weather was perfect, though a little warm in the sun towards the end.  I'm so happy to have painted this horse drawn wagon, it is certainly like stepping into the past. Painting number 2335 in 2335 days.

Almost Ready to Ride

purchase here

Thinking ahead to a Kansas City Parks show at the Buttonwood, I am sketching out this horse team and wagon in ink, thinking of doing it in oils.  Refilling my favorite fountain pen with my favorite ink - Levenger Raven Black - it feels good to play in the ink.  A complicated scene, I also use Pitt pens for light sketching marks before committing to the deep dark ink.  I only do this when I feel the need to keep control of my lines.  I may return to this to wash out the background trees... maybe.  Painting number 2254 in 2254 days.

Farmstead Morning

Morning is my very favorite time to paint on a farm!  Lucky to have my daughter join me, we painted at the Deanna Rose Farm with the Art Mob - which is also part of Stems Plein Air!  We walked over to the original part, drawn to the animals and farm life.  I simply could not pass this scene, complete with horses and goats!  As we painted, one of the girls brought in hay for the goats - and they went crazy!  Practically climbing up the feeder, they all stood together, eating!  I was just ready to paint the goats in, so it was perfect timing!  They were entertaining us the whole time with their funny noises as begging for food!  One even started nibbling on the leg of Michaela's easel!  Painting number 1948 in 1948 days.

oil on panel, 9x12
purchase here

Hauling the Wagon Inked

I think I may be an art supply hoarder. I've been drawing with pen and ink nearly every day for almost 2 years, and just today I find a treasure trove of inking supplies!  Included are several dip pens in multiple sizes, countless nibs in many styles, a dozen large Levenger inks, all in different colors, and a large emerald ink in a fancy bottle. I MUST have a fairy godmother!  How on earth am I to carry on with Thanksgiving as usual with all of these glittering gems calling my name?  This ink is cocoa, and takes on a beautiful cool wine shade when water is applied. It moves well enough with a little persistence.  The golden nib has tiny writing on it, but I forgot to check it before cleaning and putting it away.  The nib is very fine and scratches at my cotton paper a bit. Though it has a deep well, it does not hold the ink as well as my new nibs.  Could this just be the way antique nibs are?  I don't know, but I'm going to have fun finding out.  I may just have 70 other nibs awaiting my attention!  Painting number 1778 in 1778 days.

Mare and Colt

So today I am exploring this new animal, water mixable oils.  They are oil paints, squeeze out like oil, and go down like oil from the brush straight, but add a little water and everything changes.  They behave more like acrylics when thinned with water, and a very thin glaze can be achieved.  I can spray a painted mass with water as the while area separates and runs, if upright.  I can wipe away areas with a cloth, something I've never been able to do with oils because I'm highly allergic to turpentine.  I'd like to get big and sloppy with this medium, but those of you who know me know I can't get sloppy with anything.  Perhaps a little wine is in order...! It is going to be fun exploring the depths of this medium, and I wonder where it will take me!  Painting number 1695 in 1695..... I think.  How's a girl to keep tract?  

oil on panel, 10x8
purchase here

Trotter Farm

What a gorgeous day it was for painting en plein air!   The last full day of the event found me painting like crazy!   This amazing trotter farm was a beautiful place to spend the day painting.  Clay and Buddy Simpson were gracious hosts - even letting us use their gator for hauling our gear and scoutingthe property!  Fairfield rant does have the most friendly people!  This painting is the 1369th in 1369 days, and it sold tonight at the art sale  :)

Follow the Leader

Follow the Leader
Acrylic on masonite, 7x5

With only a small painting window before picking up the boys, I jumped right into this reenactment painting.  Complete with three horses and one man, I treated the horses as one mass.  I have painted quite a few white horses lately, and it is a study in reflective color from their surroundings.  I really could see the greens, blues and even warm reds reflecting off their coats from other surfaces.  I needed to share the color of the chestnut horse with the landscape, to keep him from sticking out like a sore thumb.  My “sta-wet” palette is drying out, I’ve had to keep the ceiling fan running for big red lab - and it is not conducive for keeping the acrylic palette wet!  At this rate, I will have to replace the paper top in a day or two, when it has otherwise lasted me for months!  This painting makes 1169 in 1169 days.

initial color block in

After the Ride

After the Ride
Acrylic on masonite, 7x5

Oh, what a very busy Monday this has been!  I’ve squeezed so much into this day, my head is spinning!  Coming to my easel late (once again), I resist the urge to paint something easy and fast.  Staying on track, I choose another of my reenactment photos, this one with three figures - a man and two horses.  I start with a color block in of the forms, but in my haste I forgot to take a photo of the block in!  The values are always the most important part, so I work them into this first step, making all else that comes after a breeze.  The forms unfold naturally as I dry brush on the acrylics.  I am using a limited palette, and no medium or water to thin down the heavy body paints - which is what makes these paintings so rich with color.  My palette is almost to the stage of replacing the paper layer in my sta-wet palette......but I always stretch this out as long as possible!  Painting number 1167 in 1167 days.

Unpacking the Horses

Unpacking the Horses
Acrylic on masonite, 7x5

Yesterday’s block in was the hardest one yet, but today I’ve turned a corner.  This block in seemed to unfold in such a natural way.  It was another complicated composition, and this time, I started with the mass of the dark horse and rider, and treated them as one.  As their angles came together, I connected the masses of the other two white horses.  I considered changing the color of the right one, since white is a questionable color to have going off the edge, but I liked the color - and kept it.  I simply grayed it down, so the bright white would not lead the eye right off the panel.  The landscapes were also a little awkward in acrylic at first (since I always use oils en plein air), but I am also getting more comfortable with them.  I am trying to paint multiple figures each day, all month long, and then see how far I’ve come by month’s end.  Just imagine if I can squeeze in 100 figures this month - what a long was that will go towards improving my skills!  Painting number 1166 in 1166 days.

block in

Horses by the River

Horses by the River
Oil on wood panel, 24x18
purchase here

Today finds us tearing into a new project on the house!  We are putting in a double window on the west wall of the living room, and are ready to cut the hole in the outside wall.  With that comes all of the moving of furniture, clearing that wall - and cleaning up the little surprises found behind that stuff (and all of you with kids and grandkids know what that means!  This is a large painting, and I had most of it finished yesterday, with only the horses to complete.  With just a few adjustments, and a quick check of my colors in the light of day, since all colors change at night.  Painting number 1067 in 1067 days.  :)

Grazing in the Rhine Valley

Grazing in the Rhine Valley
Oil on wood panel, 12x9 - purchase here

Quite a while ago, one of my European artist friends - Valerie Jael - posted the most amazing photo of these horses grazing along the Rhine.  I knew I had to paint it - and she graciously gave me permission.  I love the composition - and the timeless pastoral mood that exudes peace and tranquility.  Painted mostly with my brush, I have only used the palette knife for a little pop here and there.  Once I get my sky the way I want it, I then make sure those clouds are full of soft and hard edges.  The best tool for softening the edges?  My finger - gently pulled away from the center of the cloud, massaging that paint in the way I feel it should be.  And the giant tree in mid ground - it truly is that size in comparison with those horses. It must be ancient!  This painting makes 917 in 917 days....I think I will paint this one much larger in the future :) 

Letting Out the Horses

Letting Out the Horses
Oil on panel, 12x9
purchase here

Once in a while, we have a "paint-in" at our Tri-County Art League meeting - and that was today!  We all bring a dish to share for lunch, and bring whatever we want to work on, and just paint and visit. This is what I worked on today - one of my reference photos from our reenactment.  I really felt like leaving the strokes loose and impressionistic as I pulled away from the focus of the horses and boy, even softening those edges as I approached the perimeter.  It is a good thing I left this in the trunk while the giant puppy was still out - because he tackled me like a linebacker when I got home - and this painting would have been ALL KINDS of impressionistic! Just another day in paradise - painting number 780 in 780 days :)