Painting On Copper, Drawing On Claybord

The Spruce wood lot at the end of our field.

It has been a bitter cold week, topped off with yet a new blanket of snow to cover the farm. I did have time to get some work done in the studio, but when we are hit with such mean weather, it also means more work caring for the horses, shoveling snow etc etc.......Today we have a break in the cold, but skies have darkened, warning of the coming of a new snow storm. I will take what ever reprieve nature blesses us with. I cannot help but marvel at the beauty of this season and the woods surrounding our cottage. I look out at the distant stand of spruce, all dressed in their lace shawls of snow....even on this gray day, they look lovely.

I have finished the 8 x 10" oil painting on copper substrate. I call it "Angels and Horses" and it is available on my website.

"Angels and Horses"       oil on copper panel          8  x 10"       copyright 2011

I also have been working on a mixed media peice, on a 12 x 12" Ampersand claybord panel.This piece depicts a Freisian .....driving....through the woods. This work will also be available on my website when it is finished, but this is where it stands at this point. It is done in graphite...but there is more to do........with paint.

"Focused Friesian"      mixed media      12 x 12"       copyright 2011

With what is left of the day, I am heading back down to the studio.....'make hay while the sun shines'...........on this cold gray winter's day in Maine.

On The Farm

Graphite study of Morgan      14 x 9 1/2"

Lately our winter has been a bit mild, gray....rainy. We had a lovely snow fall that blanketed the farm in white that lasted a while ...brightened our landscape for a while until the rain, winds and warm temperature began.

White snow to drape our fields

Now our farm sits surrounded by brown and gray woods, and today gray sky. In a spot in our woods, not far from the bubbling brook, there stands a tree that has nestled in its branches a huge squirrel nest. It fascinates me. I image cozy rooms inside....a bed room with leaf covered bed, a living room with games  for squirrel sized hands to play, a kitchen with a larder stuffed full of nuts and seeds.It makes me smile to think what might be taking place in this high rise homestead. It is a squirrel cottage on Cob Cottage Farm!

A Woodland home

During the bad weather I have been working in the studio, [ See the above graphite study.] with occasional breaks to walk the dogs and care for the horses. I have shipped paintings off to their new homes, hoping that they brighten someone's Christmas, and have finished Holiday commissions. I have news that I know I need to get sent out in a current newsletter to clients. You can sign up for my email newsletters just by going to my website and opting to take part.

I am headed out now.... out for a quick walk with the dogs, down to the barn to give the horses some hay. I know Victoria ,one of our Welsh Cob mares, is waiting for hers. She stands and looks up at the house, contacting me through osmosis...."FEED ME!!!"

"Feed Me!"

Doing Those Self-portraits

I think that artists should do self-portraits every so often. I have blogged about that before. I don't have live models available to work from,  so if I do a self-portrait, I get a cheap model and can get a figurative work done.  I try to get one self-portrait and maybe a still-life into my portfolio on a regular basis.

Over the past two weeks I have done two small acrylics  and one graphite self-portraits. With the acrylics I approached them from a weird angle, and did the same view twice, but with difference crops. 

"Retrospective #1"    acrylic     4 x 4"

 

" Retrospective #2"       Acrylic        4 x 4"

The graphite is a straight on view, looking strait at the mirror.....but I cropped it so just one side of my face is portrayed. [The' alive' side?] 

So...what do you think? Did I succeed in capturing provocative pieces?

 "Self"    graphite      10 x 3"

It is a very rain day out...and I am only now getting to actually work in the studio...just one of those days!

Before The Paint

I am sitting here posting this...still in my pj's! That is one of the perks of having my studio at home!!! But I got into this drawing this morning and forgot about everything else! So the dogs sit and wait to be walked for their mid-morning walk and here I am posting about this sketch that will be put up on a 30 x 40" canvas this afternoon. ...after I walk the poor pups! After I get dressed!
Actually they have been busy watching from their deck perch as Les trims around all the gardens. I am sure our Corgi , Addie thinks he could do a better job!

This sketch on bristol paper is really too big to scan at 11 x 14", so I will have to photo it to really show all of it and my signature on the right bottom. As I explained before, I very often work out a sketch before putting paint on canvas or board. This sketch works for me...so I feel the 'need' to get into it.
I am excited about the possibilities! Strike while the iron is hot!!! No???

Wildlife On The Farm

This was obviously not from a current photo..but we have deer all over the farm...and this young buck is seen often around the pastures....and I am sure this will also be painted at some point. Now it is a graphite study, 8 x 10".

Our Welsh Cob Filly

Our Sec. D Welsh Cob filly [Thistle Mead Margret] will be 4 this April. She is often a model for me and inspires me to paint and draw her. This is a 8 x 8" study that I did today for a painting that I will be starting soon. 'Maggie' is a beautiful bay,with red highlights in her mane and tail...and an attitude that says 'I am a princess and very important.' Her training has started and will be continued if the weather ever improves. In the meantime Miss Maggie is enjoying being a lazy princess and best friend to my Tennessee Walker gelding Sundust's Glory Boy B. [aka "Duster"]

And I will continue to be inspired by the Welsh princess., our Miss Maggie.

The Morgan-In Harness

Last fall at the Skyline Farm's Maine Carriage Day I was able to get some lovely photos to use for reference material for paintings to be done over the winter time. I just finished this graphite study of a beautiful head study of a Morgan in harness. The watercolor will follow as time allows. If this winter continues as it has for the past month.....then I will be forced to stay working in my studio. Maybe that is a good thing as I have several works in the making and ideas galore of what to do next!

I been invited to participate in the prestigious annual Grand National Art Show & Sale at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, CA. ..... where more than 500 pieces of western & equestrian themed art will be displayed showcasing over 100 artists from around the World, I have to get my artwork packed and shipped. Show dates are April 4th through April 12th 2008. You can get more information at the Cow Palace website.

And then work packed and shipped to the Invitational "2008 Horse in Fine Art" Exhibition that is being presented by The American Academy of Equine Art to be held at The Columbia Art League, Columbia, MO and The Wildlife Experience Museum, Parker,CO.

I am headed out to clean stalls now.............. no glory there..but a labor of love.

Coming Three Filly

Yesterday I took the day off and had lunch and visited with artist friends. We had a Chinese food feast and then talked, talked and talked. How wonderful to have such good friends who share the same interests and tastes....if was a enjoyable way to past the day. One friend brought her Golden Retriever with her, and "Koda" and my Corgi, Addie, had their own party. Actually Koda spent most of the time retrieving slippers and various things from about the house, bringing her booty to us for "our" enjoyment! Addie did what Corgi's do best.......kept a vigil for food droppings under the table.

Today I am back working in my studio, and just finished up this watercolor that I am calling "Coming Three Filly". I had posted the graphite study for this in an earlier post. Now that this watercolor is done, I can work on the caseins that have been drying and are now ready for the finishing glazes.

Study of a Study

Today I started working on a watercolor of a two year old Welsh Cob filly, but first I had to do a quick study in graphite to get my values correct. I love doing quick sketches with definite line and movement. And I have found that there is interest in the purchase of these sketches too.

Tomorrow I will get into the watercolor more, but I am not quick with my watercolor work........actually I am not quick with any medium , except maybe my graphite or charcoal sketches!

Study On A Rainy Day

Today I finished this graphite study ...... a woman and her horse. The object of her affection is a Standardbred, "Trav", who has been her trail buddy for years. He is a stately gentleman whom I have taken care of on occasion. He reminds me of my 27 old Walker, Dom, who is also a grand gentleman.
My old "Dom" sleeps in his stall today as the skies pour outside. Spoiled rotten he is! As are his 3 stablemates.......all sleeping in dry stalls and munching hay watching the rain come down.