Foggy Mornings and Pretty Horses

Chloe in Fog 5x3 oil

To days little daily is one of my mare lounging about in her pasture in the early pre dawn morning. Living so close to the Cobequid Bay we are subject to a fair amount of fog in the morning and this morning was no exception.

The actual painting is not quite as blue as depicted here but the computer and I had some minor disagreements about how it should preform its duties. I figure it should work on brain waves by now and it generally believes that I am an inferior being which should be ignored! So before I gave in to the urge to take a hammer to it I figured retreat was the best option. My husband has a tendency to get a little cranky when I physically damage his "baby".

As a Sci Fi fan I am ever hopeful that the reality of technology will catch up to the television portrayal of computers aiding the human race in easy and non stressful manners! LOL

Lots of Colour

Brilliant Sunrise 5x3 oil

This is a painting of what I get to see from my front doorsteps on those rare gorgeous mornings when the heavens do not show restraint. The colour looks too brilliant to be true but trust me when I say it really was that vibrant. You will probably see more of this in the future as it lets me use some of those little used tubes of paint in my box.

Landscapes can be nice...

3 Trees 3x5 oil

Here's the deal, I hate painting landscapes. I won't even pretend that I enjoy it. I Love to see what a true landscape artist can do and admire their ability to create stunning pieces of art within that genre.

People ask me, can you paint my cow standing in a bed of fallen autumn leaves? Ummm,No.
Can you paint my horse in front of my house with all my beautiful flowers? Ummm, No.

I finally gave up a few years back and decided if they REALLY wanted their house, home farm, laundry , dog and kids included in the background of their painting I would acquiesce for a fee. It usually involved an additional 5 - 6 figure price tag and usually people very politely decided to leave me to what I do best. Minimal, non obstructive background fillers.

The aggravation to this portrait painter is that in my mind is a finished product. The job is for my eyes, fingers and grey matter to translate that mental image onto a canvas. Give me a horse, toad or cow and I can to it. For some reason ask me to paint a blade of grass, replicate a cloud or grow a tree my brain goes on vacation. Apparently if it isn't furry or covered in feathers my brain cells will not participate in the process what so ever.

For some reason unknown to me, occasionally I attempt to educate myself and try to convey a mental image in to an oily representation of what landscape is in my noggin. Todays painting is my attempt to make it a bit more fun and less stressful for my neurons. I actually like how it turned out.

Maybe it was that fact that I did not have a photo reference, or I did not sit out in the open tediously trying to capture every tidbit of bark and maybe it was the use of non tradition "earth" colours but on a whole I liked the outcome.

So maybe this was a bit like playing golf...now that I have had one good shot I'll keep trying landscapes with the belief that I can sink that hole in one!!

Blast from the Past

I'm Beautiful Damn It 5x7 oil portrait

I have been busy working on larger pieces and so I thought maybe a little glimpse of the past might be in order.

This fellow, or lady depending at your ability to sex toads, lived out side my garage and every time I worked in there last summer he/she would come in and visit me. I personally would like to think it was my charming personality that transcended the species gap but in reality I accept the fact that my lights might have been luring some late night summer feasts into my work area.

That confirms it, this must be a GUY toad as the best way to attract a man (human or otherwise!) is through his stomach!

Anyways, I finally grabbed my camera one night took some shots and this past winter painted the little fellow. I loved his arrogant attitude and I could not resist showing him off again.
I think Toads are beautiful. What is wrong with me??? LOL

Early Mornings are beautiful

Early Morning Splendor 8x10 oil sold

I love this time of year and I love the mornings. Everything is so beautiful and I never feel like I should have stayed in bed.

Today's painting is the last in the trio of pasture cows I was working on and I think I caught that fresh colour that an early morning light will give. If you look closely you will see the butterfly and if I am lucky I will find a real one today. Anything beats the visits I get from those wretched June Bugs. Yuck.

I think that has got to be one of the most disgusting creepy critters God ever created. They have the steering ability of a 2 year old on a trike, hit you like a homerun baseball and stick like gum to our favorite dress shoes. Even ducks don't like to eat them! Something is wrong when a duck does not find you appetizing! I am quite sure that in the grand scheme of things the fates did not create June bugs JUST to annoy me. ;)

June 24th

Sometimes you get to do nice things for others and sometimes you get to do nice things in conjunction with others.

Last weekend was the Cobequid Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers Charity Auction where I had a trio paintings up for grabs. The deal was the highest bidder was able to chose the painting of their choice. The bidding was fierce and in the end the Peregrine Falcon went home with someone new. The other bidder was interested in The Boreal Owl. So I decided to be brave and contact the other bidder and tell her if she wanted the painting I would donate 100% of the proceeds to the CWRC. Turns out she loved the idea.

I guess great minds think alike!

The Boreal Owl 7x5 oil sold

June 23rd

It is very interesting for me to look at these photos of the progress on the Prowly Cougar. Although there has been a great deal of work put into this most recent stage of the painting it is hard to tell when comparing it to the last entry. Hopefully you can now see a definite form and structure on this cat as well as feel a presence from him.

It is also interesting to me that I never noticed the white "stick" I had attached to his front leg until I posted it today. You can sit in front of a painting all day long and fall in love with the way the paint lays on the canvas to the point where you become blind to glaringly obvious faults. I guess it is kinda like falling in love... you don't see the faults!

There are a few here I will be fixing!!

I am looking forward to the application of fur and detail work. I am very pleased with the look of this piece as a whole and getting excited about the finishing touches.