A Lot Of Crock

Cleaned up!




The studio had arrived at the point that it REALLY needed some help. I couldn't find paintings,  my supplies or any space to work in. So I took charge and went shopping. I bought a shelf to store framed paintings and supplies on. The building of the shelf  was a testament of how solid my husband's and my marriage is! Yes ,we got it up and working, through mutual agreement, and much holding of tongues....yes, a labor of love! It stands strong and  tall, and is already helping me to get my space back.

The Shelf of a thousand usages.

I moved some furniture around and gained some more space...I can actually get to my cupboard for supplies.What an novel concept! Brilliant!!

Space!

But I still have a huge sauerkraut crock, that my brother gifted me with, taking up space beside my  studio table...the spot where I like to sit and read...I am trying to come up with some constructive use for this mammoth pickling crock!! Ideas?!! No.. I will not be making sauerkraut.

Nellie and the "lotta crock!"

I am painting, in between other artist type chores and farm duty. My days are a bit easier, being down to the three horses now. And it is the season of more shows and changing out art works with galleries and shipping of new work.

AND I received the exciting news that the painting I sent to the National Society of Painters In Casein and Acrylic annual show was juried in! I am excited about this, as the painting will be hanging in their 57th annual show May 23 through June 10th , in New York City at the prestigious Salmagundi Club on Fifth Ave. The painting juried in is  "Shades Of Black # 9" , one of the paintings in my 'Shades of Black' series. I am so honored to be part of this show.

But I am painting....and here is one of my works in progress.....see? 

It is not a bunch of crock!!!    ;-)

Casein work in progress.

Winter Has A Hold On The Farm

"The Exerciser - Keeneland"    watercolor on board     12 x 12"

The winter weather broke for awhile.We had a taste of spring for a few days and rain came in last night with a pounding force that melted the snow that was piled up over the past month. Today I can see patches of brown, green and that means mud is not far behind. But we will have to wait for the mud while as a cold snap comes back with snow squalls and winds that bite. Our brook is rushing ,freed of it winter mantle, but ice coats our paths and walking needs a concerted effort to stay upright.

When winter refuses to leave...I stay in my studio. 

I have finished the above watercolor, done on Amperstand watercolor board. I have used this board before and like how the Sennelier watercolors slide around on the clay surface of the board. I will finish this painting off with a fixative that protects the watercolor and allows the painting to be framed WITHOUT glass. A novel idea.  The painting, "The Exerciser - Keeneland",   will be available from me, on my website.... until I decide what paintings go to what gallery during the summer months.

I also ventured out the other day for a quick plein air foray in pastels....the result is the following 5 x 7" painting on pastel board. "Winter Barn" is available, but I am redoing my website and it might not be put up on my site. In fact a lot of work will be taken off my site. Call it spring cleaning?

"Winter Barn"     5 x 7"      pastel on  Amperstand pastel board

Nellie does not like this rainy and now cold weather....The temps are falling now more than a degree a hour with high winds bringing snow. This morning it was 42F. Now it is 27F and falling. Nellie has decided to stay snuggled up in our bed....I am headed down to put the horses in. Winter winds are blowing.

Wake up Sleepy Nell!

A Turkey For Every Pot

We have turkeys everywhere. They are in my gardens, under the bird feeders, kicking up the snow and leaving their calling cards splattered behind them. As much as I do enjoy hearing their chatter in the distance,and see in them  as they cross our fields... THIS is too much ,thank you! I was working in my studio, when I heard them outside my door where they declared their joy as they cleaned up the bits of seeds left by the song birds. I grabbed my camera and shot a few. [ I don't have a gun.] Some of the photos I took were shot through the screens that are still up on the windows, but I still was able to get some fairly good shots of the marauders! I am thinking that the soup kitchens should come to my garden and harvest the bounty of Ben Franklin's "national bird"! 

I have been working on a 12 x 24" casein painting of a driven Freisian horse, forward moving and trotting out!  I thought I might show you the work in progress. The painting is on a gessoed board.

The first layer of paint is where the highlights and shadows are done with a watery watercolor affect. At this point, I have used Payne's Gray,Yellow Ochre,Terra Verte, Purple, Ultramarine Blue, Naples Yellow and Titanium White.The gesso soaks up the watery paint.

Now I have started going in with a thicker mix of casein paint with less water,more pigment. This is where it is today. I am letting it dry while I varnished some new caseins, and ship off some work.

I even went for a walk down to the barn with Nellie. She sat and waited while I fed out hay to the horses.....I am sure she was calculating how long it will take for our snow-pile by the barn ,to melt.

while looking for turkeys!

Nellie and one of our many  driveway snow piles!

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......!!!!

Wrapped in Snow

Rocks with wraps of snow.

The winter months loom before us with days of snow and gray skies to come for sure. The daily chores of the farm still need doing, whether there be sun or snow, wind or hail....much like the proverbial postman...I trudge out to the barn, with dogs in tow, to do that which needs to be done. My award for this dedication is a whinny from a mare,a neigh from a gelding. I wouldn't change a thing! [Except maybe longer days with more sunshine??]

The meandering brook by our cottage.

The brook looks so lovely this time of winter, cloaked in its mantel of white. This winter the brook has been open with running water. This winter has so far been a bit mild and so the water runs and gurgles through the woods. I am going to get out , plein air, and paint the brook...some warm sunny winter's day. I swear!

I have been busy shipping sold works to their new homes. Thank you too new collectors!  I have sent works down to Freeport, Maine to Edgecomb Potters, so please check them out if you are in that shopping mecca of Maine....And it is that time of year when I need to get the office cleaned up, and pay Caesar. I do have a new watercolor in the works, and some other new work in the beginning stages, but office work is calling me a bit loudly at this time......

And Nellie is getting on the bed more often than is really necessary!!

It Was All About The Storm




The snow fell and blew.

  The week started with snow.Then more snow..... and then it blew around the farm recreating moguls and drifts, which made the path to the barn disappear from sight. The dogs did not want to go out of the warmth of the house. Ican't say I did either! Our cat slept thoughout the storm, getting up only to race crazed around the cottage, then curl up again and sleep. I wanted to just curl up and sleep too, but horses needed care and the dogs needed to be dragged out occasionally to take care of business. And then after the snow stopped, and skies cleared, came the shoveling out. Not much time was spent in the studio. More time was spent just trying to get 'life' back to a 'norm' for winter chores.....horses out,horses in...dogs out and about ....paths to and from it all.

View of barn after storm & my stars that hang on our deck...for my starry starry night enjoyment!

Duster and Dom enjoy their snow bath each morning.

The horses were more than happy to get out and roll in the new snow. Our neighbor came with his snowmobile and punched a path for Les to wend his way out to the manure pile. Life has taken it's winter schedule and yes, I will be getting back into the studio.....to paint . I grab my studio time as I can.

Nell......thinking.

In the meantime....All of us at Cob Cottage want to wish everyone a Happy New Year. Some exciting new happenings on my front.....more about that later. Now it is time to walk the dogs along their snow maze down to the barn!!

Merry Christmas to All From Cob Cottage

Cob in snow

We awoke this morning to snow covered fields and woods. What a wonderful present for Christmas! The dogs romped their way down to the barn for morning chores and the horses were more than happy to roll and canter through the fresh fallen snow. But with the enjoy of the seasons new snow comes the reality that this needs to be shovelled and paths cleared before the next snow storm.

Our home is decorated for the holidays...a small Christmas tree befitting our 'cobby' cottage stand proud in the living room, in a spot where we can enjoy it's twinkling lights. The room smells of Christmas, with candles and tree.

Our tree with the small sleighs travelling around it!

The dogs are excited ....as if they know a morning will come soon when Santa will leave them a present to open....Nellie thought that our Santa doll was hers. She was so sad when I took it away from her to put him on the shelve.She sat and stared at him....crying a bit.....so sad that her 'chewy Santa" was out of reach!

Nellie inspecting Santa..

Addie just watches the silly JRT.



We are ready for Santa here on the farm. The studio has sat idle this week while we prepared for this holy and happy event! Christmas is a special time for us...for gathering with friends and family, but the animals are not forgotten on this holiest of celebrations. We remember that a barn was the place that the baby Jesus was born.....a humble barn. We always take a midnight trip to our barn with apples and carrots for the horses....We will this year again..And we wish you all a Merry Christmas ....Happy Hanukkah from our home to yours.
 



Cat For Sale

"Mittens is being very bad!!"

We have always had a cat. Sometime more than one.There was a time when we housed  [in the barn ...not the house!] 22 cats of different colors, types and ages. We had bought an old 200 year old farm in southern Maine and with it we inherited a plethora of cats and added our two house cats who we moved in with, into the mix. [We also inherited a flock of sheep with the farm,but that is another story!] Over the years the number decreased, attrition by condition! Needless to say, we cut down on our feline dependents and today find ourselves with just Mittens, a now 12 year old [give or take a year or two] Maine Coon Cat of dubious lineage. She was born on that old farm,nestled in a cozy den amongst the hay bales in the loft. A friend and I pulled the snarling hissing, scratching kittens out of their den.The whole "kitten -kaboodle" of them! My friend adopted two of the kits and I kept Mittens....the rest were picked up by cat rescue to be sent to their forever homes. Mittens is my buddy as I write and work on the computer. She enjoys the peace and quiet of the upstairs loft office space. It is where she does not get dragged around by a certain Jack Russell Terrier! It is her safe zone. We all need a safe zone where we can have peace and quiet....hers is here, beside me....she purrs her happy song while I work. I love her when this what is going on.......BUT of late she has started waking us up early in the morning while she enjoys her 'playtime'...she runs like a banshee through the house, over our bed.....very annoying to say the least! If this continues she WILL find herself on the side of the road with a sign attached : FOR SALE-FREE!

The winter watercolor I am working on of two Belgian drafts is almost done...it is just needing the details....and it will be then good to go! I am headed down to the studio now.....as Mittens sleeps in the office....she needs her rest you know! She was up early.

Another People's Choice?

I have entered my oil painting, "Shades of Gray #7 -  Ladies in White"  into the July 2010 FineArtViews Painting competition. If you like it... You can vote for  "Peoples Choice" at The Bold Brush Art Competition website. IT ONLY TAKES A CLICK TO VOTE......Thank you! I might make it into the Fav 15 again!! That would be a hoot!! Tell your friends to vote too!

"Shades Of Gray - Ladies In White"       Oil  on Copper              22 x 22"

I have had little time lately to actually get into a groove and get some quality studio time. I have been grabbing minutes here and there. But my husband, Les, is healing and doing well.So we must admit we are feeling a bit more than blessed these days. Les has a lovely place to rest and recuperate from his driving accident....I am just happy to have him home.Addie, our Corgi is busy being 'Nurse Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy' and watching his every move. Nellie, our resident Jack Russell 'Terrierist' is making sure Les is being washed and loved. How could the man not heal?!!!  
Until then......less painting....and more Les!

New Oil & Too Old For New Tricks

Shades Of Gray#8       Oil on Copper               22 x 22"

It seems as if the past week plus was all about the paint. I was without my computer for over a week and so all my studio time was spent actually painting. [Novel idea, no?] I think I need to send my PC away every so often just so I can get back on track with just painting,drawing and creating. Sometimes the whole social media 'stick' is so time consuming! And now to add to the PC distraction,  I have to learn new programs....and figure how to navigate the new PC! And it is true...you can't train an old dog new tricks....or can't do it easily!

So now this old dog is trying to figure out how to crop, and fiddle with my artwork images...so I apologize for the images within this blog post.....but for the time being, what you see is what I can do!  Sorry!

The new large oil on copper above is the latest in my "Shades Of Gray "series. This painting is slated to go to Kentucky for the September show at Gallery B. The small oil on copper Jack Russel Terrier painting below is available through my studio.

"Something Is In There"       5 x 7"        oil on copper

There are several other paintings done too, along with two graphites, but I can't deal with the

PC now ....enough is enough!!

But I need to share a bit of a brag before I go....My watercolor painting, "Trio Brio", was selected as part of the FAV15% (jury's favorite 15% of the entries) in the June 2010 FineArtViews Painting competition. This is a very prestigious online artshow...and I am so happy to have received this honor. I feel that a "People's Choice" Award is really an honor! Thanks TO ALL who voted for my painting!!!

And NOW I so need to get back into the studio!!!

New Art Work, Great News!

  "Fetching The Horse"      casein on board    5 x7"

 A small casein is off the easel, so to speak. A new ParsonJack Russell at play....aren't they always playing!? Our JRT,Nell is also looking for a play fellow, someone to throw her 'baby' for her to fetch, or to take the opposite end of baling twine to play Tug of War. I never get tired of painting dogs....and our JRT and our Corgi are often the canine subjects I portray. But this painting is of a cute little Jack in Lexington that I saw last year. So when I go to Lexington, it isn't just to capture images of horses! Dogs too!!!!

These days I am busy working on new paintings for my September show... back at Gallery B again. That is always a fun trip with neat horses to see and time spent with good friends.

 Yesterday I learned that I was one of the top ten finalists in the voting for favorites in the Bold Brush Painting Competition for the month of June. I actually didn't even know they did a People's Choice vote and I am really excited to see my work in that first line of artists... in a very popular online show.In June, I had entered a painting done a bit ago, a watercolor of three Peruvian Paso horses.Who knew it would get 6th place in popular vote in The Fav's part of the competition in a show that attracts some very brilliant professional artists. So I am painting and smiling today! And gee...thanks to all the friends and folks who voted for my painting!! Thumbs Up!!

 "Trio Brio"   watercolor on board          12 x 12"

These horses are from a Peruvian Horse Farm in Texas. JyW Coyote Creek Ranch , breeders of the beautiful Peruvian Paso Horse. They now have this painting in their collection.

 

What a beautiful day we are experiencing here in Maine....

Here's to a Happy Forth of July weekend for Mainers and those from away!! Enjoy! I will be!!!

A Parson Jack Russell Terrier's Den

"Nellie cozy in her 'Den" @2010

Today the rain is coming down in buckets. The brook is way over it's banks and any snow that we had left around the edge of the woods, is quickly leaving. We have done the barns chores,cleaned stalls and put the horses back into their clean stalls....thrown down hay bales from the loft to keep them happy during stall confinement. The dogs got to play in the barn while we worked. Mind you that it took an act of congress to get Nellie,the JRT, out of her 'den' she had created in our comfy bed. There was NO way that she wanted to go out for 'business" of any kind. Addie, the Corgi hates rain like this too, as the rain runs into her ears!! So I dragged the two out, mean mother that I am!...out into the storm for exercise and barn chores. Misery likes company! Now cloistered in my cozy studio I paint.

My job is so hard!!! :-)

Another White Horse

I have been working on this 11 3/4 x 13 3/4" casein for a few days now, on and off. Yes, another white foreshortened horse. This is a subject that I can not get tired of exploring. And I will be doing more white horses over time...a series of sorts. [Like my 'Shades of Black' series that can be seen on my website.] This is a stallion from the Darley Farm in Lexington KY., a wonderful Thoroughbred Stud Farm that I was privileged to visit last spring.You don't see many farms like this here in Maine!

It is quiet today at Cob Cottage Studio...Nellie, our non-stop Jack Russell Terrier, is at the vet's, where she will spend the night, recuperating after having been spade this morning. She is doing well..or so I was told when I called a bit ago to check on her progress. Addie, our Corgi, is enjoying her reprieve from her nemesis and napping and taking leisurely strolls around the farm. How Nell has changed our life...for the better....since she came into it a year ago. But for today we are enjoying a quiet time.

Painted Dog - Real Dog

As I write this blog entry, I am being besieged by JRT kisses. Little Nell just woke up from her nap on the cushy pillows on our bed, and NOW she feels it is time for play. I ,on the other hand, am still working,still need to clean up my messy palette of dried casein and try to find my desk under books and paper piled high. I clean the studio occasionally and in between times, the piles get high and things get lost. It is time to clean.....or else! And Nell wants to play

The above casein is a small 5 x 7" titled"Big Shadow"... and little Italian Greyhound, smaller than it's shadow! I am putting this work up on my website in the Small Work Collection. This was finished today, while Nell napped.

Cozy spot for a Jack Russell Terrier-ist!

Reclaiming Old Field Farm & More!

"She Rode a Purple Horse" is headed down to Locust Valley , NY to Anderson Galleries for a show they are hosting. "The End of Season Reception for Old Field Farm" happens Thursday, Sept. 10th from 6-9 pm. If you are in the area do stop in and see my work and enjoy the wine and refreshments. I am also sending down one of my new small JRT caseins, "Leapin' Lizards".
Old Field , an historic Long Island show grounds with a long equestrian tradition is being brought back to life as a center for the Long Island equestrian and community events. I so believe it behooves us to take care of our past....as much as our future. Hopefully the new events staged there will bring present horse lovers memories for their future.

I am busy getting new works ready for the Skyline Farm art show due to open towards the end of September.

And Sept 4th , Friday evening is the reception of the Maine Arts Commissions grant paintings for the Freeport, Maine's FCA group show. I will be there...I so hope you can make that!..... and see "Experiencing Freeport- Our Town Through Art". It should be fun! It takes place at the Freeport Village Station from 5 to 6:30 with refreshments and music! Come on down!!

Playing With Light

I am still going through photos from our Kentucky trip last May. Most shots are of horses, horse farms, Keeneland and Churchill Downs Race Tracks....and yes, several Jack Russells that we met. But I do have some shots of a certain real estate in Cincinnati that I fell in love with. It stood looking down on the Ohio River with tree lined streets and was surrounded by other lovely homes. How I wanted to look inside...I could imagine myself living there.

I came home with several photos of this old Italianate style home....and today I finished this 12 x 9" casein painting of the house. I painted this as an evening scene, as I imagined it might look in the glow of the evening sky. I can still see myself living there!

But I don't know where the horses would fit??;-)

Getting Back to Normal

After delivering the “BIG” painting to Freeport, my studio time as been sporadic at best. I manage to clean up a bit of the garden overgrowth and we mowed lawn in shifts with the sun. I captured back the book I was reading “Casa Rossa” , which was stolen by my husband while I was slaving away in the studio on the “Big” painting. But I also started two small caseins of JRT’s…. and a graphite commission of a paint horse. So I have been busy, but not over productive.

Here are a few shots of the gardens as they turn into jungles around the cottage.

Today we have sun…so I am headed out to muck stalls and walk dogs.
Then back to work…I have to paint!

Can't STAY Inside Today

Things were getting heated downstairs as I worked in my loft studio...the pups were wrestling and Addie ,our PWC was being terrorized by Nell the JRT. Sometimes I think they do this to get my attention, just like my kids used to! It works! So I headed down to break it up.

The sun was so inviting so we took our lunch and sat on the deck getting some of those rays we were not blessed with during the winter months. Nell is a Florida girl...she LOVES this weather!

Sitting and listening to the brook bubbling by and the birds singing.... Things we just dream about during Maine's chilly snow filled winters.

So after our sunbath and lunch break I went back up to my loft to work on a casein painting I am doing and happened to look down to see who was scratching at the back door wanting to go out. Who else but the "beast"!! So like a good mom that I am ....out we went to rake the front gardens and enjoy the day some more. Really! This weather is our award for having survived yet another Maine winter!!! At least that is what my canine companions tell me!!

And I agree!!!

What I Do When The Snow Falls

And I have been doing a lot of it lately.. CREATE!!... as we get hit with yet another round of snow and wind and cold!! The only hope that keeps me sane is the fact that winter is almost over and under all the snow sleeps my perennial gardens...and I will be digging in dirt and transplanting soon!! [After all this snow melts!]

The above "work-in-progress painting is a 18 x 18" on canvas that was started in casein and I am into it now with pastels. It is coming along 'smashing-ly' and I can't get enough of it! The hunt reference shot was provided by a fellow EAG-er ...I just loved the way the tails of the hounds fill the air and wag throughout the composition. I have changed things a bit for my purpose..but still the tails wag!

My dogs were just walked and love the new snow....all I see of Nellie, the JRT, is her butt most of the time. She is hunting varmints under the white blanket.....Addie, our PWC , is busy rolling around in the snow.....to each their own!

Jack Russell On Watch

Here in Morrill, Maine it is bitter cold today. I guess this cold has blanketed the North East. I threw more hay out for the horses, and the dogs only go out for short time..an in and out... and I am spending the day in the studio where the sun beats in.

This morning I did this 6 x 8" casein of our JRT ..she likes to look tough and alert! What I see, when she is surrounded by snow, are the shadows and the play of color on the snow. She is SO BIG and brave in her own mind. But she IS a cutey, that's for sure!

I painted this work on a toned board that I prepared and I let the background show through the paint as I glazed and scumbling....I like the effect it makes.

I will be putting this small painting on my website and it is available for purchase.

Time for a cup a joe....hot and steamy!