Small Oil Commission - Oak Forest In Fall

 

    

"Fox In The Oaks"- Commisiioned oil on copper 6 x 8" copyright 2018 www.kathipeters.com

First commission of the year is finished and framed, ready to ship out next week to its new home. Usually a commission portray a clients favorite equine friend, a four legged fur-kid, canine or feline, or a person. Yes, and  I have even painted an osprey with his nest for a repeat client......but painting an oil of an oak forest, that was out of the client imagination, was a first! We worked together , virtually 'putting our heads together" and this is the forest that she envisioned and I captured. She wanted an oil on copper and so that is what I went with. A sneaky fox was added into the mix. The painting came together and we are all happy.

 

Our winter has been hard so far. The older I get, the harder it is to maintain a horse farm and pursue my art endeavors. I've been dibbing and dabbing at work.....painting more works in my head than what have been actually put to canvas or paper. I've painted a lot in my sleep too. But I imagine that doesn't count in one's actual body of work.  I know spring is coming. So stay tuned.

I will paint!

 

And if you are so inclined as to pursue my producing a commissioned work for your walls.......your vision.....let's talk. I am easy to work with.

Lady Whip

 

"Lady Whip" , oil on canvas on board, 12 x 12" Sold

Watching horses being harnessed and hitched to their carriage always fascinates me. One can tell a lot about  people around  horses, by just watching how they handle their horses. This lovely scene of a lady whip as she hitches her handsome pair of hackney horses on a hot summer day captured my muse and had to be painted. I worked on this painting over time, working on it a bit, then putting it face to the wall, as I worked on other paintings. It is now done. As soon as I had it done and posted on line, it was “sold”. I am very pleased with that.

 

Fall has arrived on our farm. Much needed rain has come and quenched the thirsty ground and fall color has exploded in the forest around our fields. Each afternoon I take my JRT, Nell, for a long walk around our fields and through our woods.

Our gardens lay waiting on cleaning before winter sets in. Until that time our resident gleaners are harvesting the drops in garden and orchard. I love fall and all it brings. It brings hint of winter…….

 

AND It is that time of year when folks ask about commission work. Yes, I do accept commissions. If wanted for Christmas, time is getting close.Don't miss out. And I do give gift certificates, so that someone special can pick out that special painting to grace their walls....or get a painting of their horse or driving turnout.

Christmas IS coming!!  

 

But for now I wish everyone a happy and blessed Thanksgiving day!

 

Until then I will paint.

Studio Time Yields New Painting Of Gentle Giants

 

First posted on 11/11/2013 

"Salt and Pepper"  casein on paper     9 x 12"    ©2013 www.kathipeters.com

Two New Polo Paintings

"Polo 1"   casein on board   6 x 6"

"Polo 2"    Casein on Board      6 x 6"

Two small caseins done and ready to be framed .But what am I doing? I am cleaning out... sort of. I am taking paintings of mine out of the office, off the walls and down to the studio. Having a real need to simplify and get rid of.....clean!!! Maybe a garage sale?.....if I had a garage! I am keeping a few of my favourite works hanging....but for the most part, the walls are bare and white. Looks good!

The white outside...the winter snow....is leaving. Looks good!!! Yes, it is being replaced by mud, brown and deep in places....but this also heralds in the coming of green..Spring! [No, I wasn't thinking about St Patty's day!!! ] I am sure I am not alone in thinking that this was the longest hardest winter. Maybe it is because we are not getting any younger....but the snow came fast and furious all December and January and then in February we were buried in over 34" of white. It will take a while to get rid of this winter's white, which actually is gray and brown now.....Spring.

The horses are shedding, the JRT is shedding.....and Mittens, the Maine Coon Kitty is "molting' all over our bed. Spring!!

Mittens, shedding on our bed!

So I am carrying paintings down to the studio, and picking what works go where...........

All We Need Is Love

Nellie wishes everyone Happy St.Valentine's Day!

And we have lots of it here at Cob Cottage! ...hugs and kisses from dog,cat,horses,even hubby!

We are in the middle of February and today it feels a bit warm at 44 degrees F. The snow and ice built up upon our roof is melting, making riverlets producing icicles that hang like swords along the front of our house. Rites of spring. It must be getting near!!

I have painted two small works.....casein on board.....a Jack Russell in snow is one......"Follow The Path".....a quick depiction of our Nell .

"Follow The Path"        Casein    6 x 6"         copyright 2011

And the second painting is of a handsome rooster gent who I met a while ago on a local farm where they raise organic eggs and goat cheese. He was a handsome rooster and he knew it!  I hope I did him justice!

"Randy Rooster"     casein        6x6"          copyright 2011

I titled  this rooster portait "Randy Rooster"....I don't know if this strutting guy had a name, [Randolph maybe?]....but he fits that name, I think!!  Both these small paintings are available om my website.

It is time for our afternoon walk..... Nell and I wish you a day with Love......!!!!

Gypsies....I LOVE THEM

"The Gypsy"      Casein on board             8 x 10"  

Consider this painting done. Now it needs to dry a few days. Then I will will varnish it. This Gypsy is one I saw on my Kentucky trip last September. She was at Gala Driving Center in Georgetown, KY. where we were given a tour of their wonderful grounds and carriage driving facility. I captured some other shots of this gypsy and also a lovely Irish Draught there.....more inspiration for future works.

A big box sits at our front door waiting for the FedEx driver. Packing and shipping is a time consuming evil when you make your living as an artist. [Or should that read 'try to make a living as an artist' !??]  This  box of paintings is heading to Cazenovia ,New York, where my work will be hanging in the Reisman Hall Art Gallery's invitational show  "Le Cheval". This  exhibit opens Nov.3rd with a reception from 4 - 5:30 pm and it will be there until Dec. 9th .

Life has been exciting lately...my heavens... I was picked by Blogger as a BLOG OF NOTE !! I am not sure what the criteria is for receiving such an honor, but it certainly has increased the hits on my blog!! I can't believe it was picked for the world shaking posts I make!! Now I am haunted by the specter of witty dialogue. Appropriate for the season, I suppose.....it being Halloween and all!!    

Which reminds me.....I need candy.  

Docent For A Day



Yesterday morning on Cob Cottage Farm

This past weekend the fall color was brilliant. Every year that we have been here on our small Maine farm, we marvel at the beauty surrounding us and feel so blessed to have this spot to call our own.

So having in mind that the driving scenery would be lovely this past weekend, we headed down to Skyline Farm and Carriage Museum in North Yarmouth, Maine to work as docents for the art and crafts show that is taking place there this fall. My art is hanging there, along with some absolutely beautiful pottery, glass work,quilting, jewelry and hand crafted furniture. There is art work from other Maine artists too.....a great show to be in or to see! Our dogs came with us. We had a busy day, but it was fun to talk to folks about the paintings and carriages that highlight Skyline Farm. I enjoyed be a "docent for a day"!



Skyline Farm's Art Exhibit has something for everyone!

One of the many interesting carriages at Skyline.

Now back at home today, I am working on commission paintings and some new ideas I have brewing, The wind is whipping the color off the trees out side. But the pups and I are cozy in the studio and will be here for the rest of the day. Galleries are asking me for new work..... I have my paint out on my palette...time to do what I was born to do, here on our small cottage in the woods.

Plein Air Equestrian

"Plein Air Equestrian"                oil on copper                 10 x 10"

When I first saw the reference shot for this painting, I knew it had to be painted. I can relate to so much of it's subject matter. Riding, plein air painting, side saddle.....just so inspiring. The photo that has these images [but not as actually depicted here] was provided by friend Yvonne Kauklija of Coldwell Productions from Sweden. Yvonne is a lady full of novel ideas and she never ceases to amaze me with her myriad of inventions. Yvonne's ideas have spurned me onto several paintings in oil, that needed to be done on their copper substrate...a substrate that lends the finished painting a warm and inner glow."Plein Air Equestrian , a sort of surreal depiction of a moment in time....is available on my website.

The World Equestrian Games ,that are taking place in Lexington,KY, end this week. Lexington was a hopping place to be these past 3 weeks. I was there the week before the 'hopping' started,but did get to see some of the preparations that were going on for the influx of visitors for this equine event. I have heard from so many friends and collectors of my art who are down WEG and who actually went into Lexington city proper to see my artwork hanging at Gallery B and at the AAEA 's Invitational Exhibit at the Lexington History Museum.

Maybe I wasn't there physically ...but it's best sometimes to let my paintings speak for their selves!!

Carriage Driving Painting Done

"Driving With A Friend"     Casein on board               12 x 12"

Over the years of our having horses, we have made so many wonderful friends and hold them all dear. One of those friends used to have a tack shop. I was there at her tack shop often as we collected horse paraphernalia. [ I bought my still much loved endurance from Mary ] We still have horses, but the buying 'stuff' and that "I need that" feeling is no longer part of our lives. Maybe because we have bought it all.....bought much more than we need... or use. The friend who had the tack shop, no longer has a tack show...but she does still play a part in the Maine horse scene. Mary was at this year's Maine Carriage Day, where she captured some lovely shots of drivers and their turnouts in carriage. She shared those images and this shot of a lady whip and her Cardigan Corgi captured my heart. I had to paint it. Mary was quick to give me an OK on the use of her photo...... and I asked for and received the go ahead from the lady whip and her Corgi. It was a go! I enjoyed painting it.....no horses really, just a happy lady and her wonderful Corgi...all smiling!
I hope the painting makes a lot of people smile too! I will be putting it up on my website soon.

Fall Is Here

The sky at sunset from our deck last night.

Last week was hot and summer like. Yesterday the weather turned towards fall. And the end of the day blessed us with this lovely evening sky....pink, purple and promising a bright day today.

There is the usual fall scrabble to get things cleaned up and put away for the season. The garden needs cutting back, fall tilling and garlic bulbs planted for next year's yield. I will take it all one day at a time. That is the best I can do. I have to paint....seasonal commissions need doing and the passing days press me to get them done. I always look forward to the new year, freeing me up for more "me" time...to actually get the original works done that I so want to do. But for now I will work on the the work that needs doing.

Addie sleeps on the couch,waiting for a walk.

The dogs seem to know that this a busy time for me....that walks and play time has to be done around my schedule.....that I can't be bothered when I am in the studio and when I am in the middle of some important part of a painting. They sit and wait....sleep and snore..... just being  good dogs.

Nellie and her cleaned and bushy baby.

Nellie sits and waits for me, her baby [an unstuffed fox?] always by her side. The "baby" keeps her happy while I work. With the 'baby" washed and sweet smelling, she waits for a chance to play, throw that baby around and " shake it silly "......there is a time to play and a time to work.  To work!

Small New Painting & Big News

"Belted Cow # 4"               casein on board                 5 x 7"

In between working on bigger paintings, this little Belted Galloway painting was done and is now available and up on my website, easily bought through secure Pay Pal. I have a few of these small casein works that I will be putting up soon.

I also have some exciting news...my work is now exhibited and available at the Freeport  Edgecomb Potters store. I am happy to have this Maine connection ...bringing my work back home to familiar ground! My work depicts one of Maine's highlights...Acadia National Park, is now showcased in this Freeport, Maine store. I just might have to get off the farm a bit more often and get some plein air work done now!! Good excuse, I say!

"Acadia - Duck Brook Birches"   casein on board    16 x 8"

Quick Little Landscape Oil Painting

"Duck Brook Bridge Again"      O/C                5 x 7"

I like doing small quick oil paintings... sometimes just to capture a scene and see if I want to go further with the idea. I have so many Acadia scenes that sing to me....this is one of them. I think I will pursue this scene in more detail....but it may take me a while to get to it. I have work I need to finish, both originals and commission works. I am still looking through photos taken while in Lexington and Georgetown, Kentucky. And I have winter scenes I need to get painted now.I have put this small oil on my website.
Fall is starting to show its colors around the farm. The horses are starting to sport the beginnings of their winter coats. I am so not looking forward to the Corgi's shedding [blowing] her summer coat for her winter' woollies'.....and WHO told me that JRT's don't shed???