Loose to Tight

So tonight I played around with my approach to painting. I did a super rough sketch and then worked on filling it in with loose color instead of doing a detailed sketch. I continued with the loose watercolor approach and slowly made it tighter. You can check out the in progress images on my Facebook Page. 

This is it so far. I think I'm going to wait a day to work on it more… keep it fresh.

Calling It A Night

I was able to work on some paintings even though I have a distracting head cold … well, many people at work have been getting sick, so I guess it's my turn.

I started a new painting from the adventures I had with my hubby on the Brightenbush as he fished and I took photos on Saturday. And I was able to put more time on the one on the right after starting it the other day.

My goal is to finish both of these ASAP so that I can add them to my selection for my show in October. If you'd like to see more photos of my finished and in progress paintings, check out my Facebook Page!

Commission - "Charlotte's Pride & Joy"

It's done and sent off!

I learned that Charlotte's dogs are Abbott (left) and Arthur (right). Aren't they cute pups?

"Charlotte's Pride & Joy"

2012, Watercolor

16" x 20"

Filling in the Details

This one is near the end … just a couple more little details to add.

Horse(s) With No Name?

I've been through a desert on a horse with no name …

Hmmm ... so here's another painting I've done featuring CL Bar horses from Butte Creek/Camp Baldwin and I'm not sure what to name this painting. I can have the hardest time thinking of creative names, so I'd love to hear your ideas!!!

This one will also be donated to help the horses at Butte Creek.

2012, Watercolor (10 ¾" x 32 ¼")

"Charles Greenbird"

"Charles Greenbird"

2012, Watercolor

5 ¾" x 11 ½"

This weekend one of my friend's bird, Charles Greenbird, passed away. I've been meaning to do a painting of him for awhile and I started this one right after I got the email about his passing.

Charles was a picky/sexist bird. He only let men hold him, that is, until I came to visit one Sunday evening in 2010. He surprised his entire family by cautiously clawing his way up my arm to perch with his head cocked eyeing me. I was the only women that he ever let hold him …. and he might be the only parrot that I'll ever paint (unless some one commissions me to paint their pretty polly).

Building Up The Layers

9/11

Sandy Oktoberfest 2012

Well, this last weekend in Sandy, Oregon was the Sandy Oktoberfest. I've gone there for a couple years now helping my husband's family with the parking lot and the church's taco and sausage booths. But this year (since I don't have any more homework to do!), I had my art in the Art Show. There was a slow trickle of people most of the time, and bouts of none and then lots of people here and there.

I sold a lot of my moo-tastic note cards and my best seller was the little fox note cards. I never knew cute foxes were so irresistible for people! 

I also sold two originals:

"Duel"

2008, watercolor

11" x 14"

"Picking One Out"

2010, watercolor and colored pencil

8" x 10"

"Harnessed Belgian" at the end of the first day after a couple hours of work.

I also started and finished two little drawings of some draft horses I photographed at the Oregon State Fair this year.

"Harnessed Belgian"

2012, colored pencil

7" x 9"

"Waiting for the Bridle"

2012, graphite

7" x 9"

Commission (WIP) - "Charlotte's Pride & Joy"

Alright, folks … hang on to your hats!

I started my first Christmas holiday painting and it's never too early to ask me about doing one for you!

If you know this person I'm painting, then please keep it on the DL (down low), because it's a present! Thanks.

I was commissioned by a man, John, who liked my art after seeing it on my website and then he contacted me to do this painting as a gift to his daughter, Charlotte. This house is in a historic neighborhood in St. Louis, MO. It was built in 1890 and has some amazing brick work (from what I can see in my reference photos) and I look forward to capturing it in the painting.

As of now, I'm done with the most important part of my paintings (and a house for that matter), a sturdy, accurate foundation. I always want to perfect my pencil outlines because it's easier to correct them than after I've started painting. I start with a generalized scribbling of where things will be and then I work out the kinks and add all the little details.

Note: I understand that the figure is a little on the large side, but otherwise she would be quite a bit smaller. And this painting is about her, her dogs, and her house. So why not highlight what's important?