Cob Cottage Studio: Maine equine artist

Showing posts with label Maine equine artist. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

March Winds Promise Spring

Winter was reluctant to leave Cob Cottage Farm [and Studio] and several snow storms have blown through, [literally] and left us with deep snow to shovel and plow. But time passes, and slowly the promise of spring is creeping into the fields and woods that surround us. I have yet to see a bulb peeking through the ground, but it is a given that this too will happen when the time is right. I have learned over the years that faith can help us weather the worst of times........and so I can sit here, awaiting springs arrival, with faith, that it WILL come.

I have managed to a get some studio time...and a few new paintings have been created.The "Wild Eyed" fellow above was inspired by one of my grandsons....This red head is Max....our eldest grandson.....and soon there will be another painting of his younger brother, Logan, to rival this! What fun these two paintings prove to be!!

"Joy Of Life" oil on board 6 x 6"

"Mother and Son" oil on board 6 x 6"

And then the arrival of spring makes me remember all the foals that were born on our farms, here at Cob Cottage and earlier on our Thistle Mead Farm in Pownal, Maine. This make me want to paint foals...and the spring joy they bring to everyone who sees them. So two small oils came to life on my easel. They are available on my website....new spring foals looking for a good home!! [Reference photos were provided by friend and photographer Vicki Wright]

If I am not updating fast enough about what has been painted in the studio....Please feel free to join me on Facebook ......on my Art and Studio Page. Follow me on Facebook!!

Now back to painting....I am working on a watercolor commission and it is almost done. I need to get it done before the spring buds burst. I have faith that they will, soon .

Monday, November 26, 2012

With Grace

The Christmas wreath is on the barn.

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas....well a bit like Christmas. I have hung the wreath on the barn's French yellow door, and have filled the cottages [and the barn's] baskets with greens that I gathered around our farm. A kissing ball, with bright red ribbons, hangs by the front door. All we need now is some snow!!

Prompted by the vision of 'The Nutcracker' ....and ballet dancers...I finished a 12 x 12" casein of a lovely dancer...."With Grace" is available on my website. Other than that and some sketches, I have nothing more to show at this time....but will soon.I do not stay idle for long!! I am longing to paint snow. Bring it on!!!

"With Grace" Casein on Claybord 12 x 12"

Saturday, August 25, 2012

OIl Painting of Acadia, Done

"Starting The Drive At Acadia" Oil on copper panel 12 x 12" Sold

I don't know where the days have gone! I just realized I haven't blogged in 2 weeks!! I have been busy though......I finished the painted I had started at Equidae Gallery for my demonstration on oil painting on copper...and it has been sold. And I did a self- portrait study in casein on board. Every so often I do a self-portrait as a sort of landmark of the passing of time and maybe of my growth as an artist. .

I am having trouble downloaded images to my blog....I don't know what THAT is about. So let it suffice for now, I am alive, and kicking.....but frustrated with Blogger problems..... and so I am headed outside to "play" in my gardens and maybe paint a bit!!!!. I will deal with my blog posts later!!

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

More Plein Air....I am Addicted

I am addicted.If the sun is shining I have this urge to head outside,smell fresh air and leave my studio comfort to fight bugs and the elements!! With a few colorful flowers peeking through the ferns and not yet blooming perennials...two poppies sung out. "Two Poppies" were painted.

Now the weather man has predicted rain for tomorrow.I promise myself that tomorrow I will stay focused on the studio painting that needs finishing...I promise!!

Monday, May 14, 2012

If At First You Don't Suceed Or I Reworked An Oil Painting

After some thought and consideration...an oil painting that I painted a while ago has been bothering me. Looking at it everyday, as it hung on my studio wall, I began to question some of it...I just wanted to change it out a bit, And as I am 'the artist' I can do that! There was much that I liked about the painting, but there was something that I wanted to say with this subject. I ahve gone back into it.... I think I have said it now. I am happy with it. It is done. I have re-titled it "Lady in White" and it is back on my website. Now I can forge ahead with a new oil I have been planning for a long while. I can't wait to show it to you!!

This past weekend the annual Art Festival exhibit took place in Belfast,ME. at the Hutchinson Center.I again had work exhibited in it. It is always a fun show and it never ceases to amaze me the amount of artistic talent that abides on the coast, in the villages and in the woods of Mid-Coast Maine. I feel surrounded by great minds!! Love it!!

Spring is bursting at Cob Cottage. My flower gardens are starting to display color and excitement. It makes me laugh to compare my small gardens and garden pond with the wonderful gardens of Monet's Giverny ......but I can dream.of grander floral displays as I enjoy working in my more manageable gardens. I hope I get some time to get out and paint my flowers... time to smell the roses!! They will be blooming before long.

Monday, May 7, 2012

One More Job Done

I started the day with full intentions of starting a new painting....but was waylaid by the brilliant sunshine and the flowers languishing in their flats in the sun-warmed greenhouse. They begged to be moved into the window-boxes that adorn our cottage. So I carried the flats up to deck, where Nell and I enjoyed the beautiful weather, and I succeeding in crossing one job off my long list of To-Do's that dictates my days each spring at Cob Cottage.

The gardens are starting to bloom with new splashes of color each day. I can loose so much time just walking around looking for new bursts of bloom that herald each season....and this is the season of new growth and promise.

The front raised garden.....bursting with spring promise.

Even the invasive dandelion sings happy yellow beside some pink and yellow tulips and blue scilla in the front garden.

One painting is done too....a new oil on copper panel of a young rider on her way to the show ring. "Heading To The Ring" is 12 x 12" and ready to frame.
I am working on more oils on copper and getting work together for Equidae Gallery for this summer's Saratoga season. I am so looking forward to Saratoga .....so I need to paint and fit the gardening jobs around my studio work. I love it!!

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Three New Spring Paintings

For days on end, the sun has shone and the weather has been calling me out to the gardens. I have revelled in the spring ritual of pulling weeds and digging up and moving plants.I have also come to the conclusion that I have too many gardens and not enough hours in a day to get all the things done that I want to, or need to. So Nell and I have tried to divide our time between gardening and painting. I am making headway with both!!

I finished an oil painting of a mare and foal...beautiful Hanoverians with coats of many colors. When I saw the photo of these two,a photo shot by friend photographer Vicki Wright of New Jersey...I had to paint it. Vicki has some wonderful photos of mares and foals, and I seem to be on a foal kick....must be a spring thing too!! I took artistic license with the reference photo and gave birth to "Bright and Beautiful". Thank you Vicki!!!

So after working in the studio, I was looking for a change of pace and to take advantage of the beautiful weather, headed out for some plein air painting. I packed up my trusty little thumbox pochade and headed to the orchard with Nell, where I enjoyed painting in sunshine and fresh air. Our plum trees are resplendent this spring, promising plums and jellies this summer. I can't wait!! So in honour of their beauty, I portrayed their blossoms against the blue April skies. I painted in oil, on a copper panel. "Plum Blossoms" is a 6 x 8" oil and will be up on my website in the Small Works Collection.

And then I started another oil on copper with my bright yellow daffodils as subjects....Their color just sings against all the green that abounds this time of year. Here they are....also displayed in the Small Works Collection of my website.

Now we are supposed to have a few days of rain and gray weather,they say. ..I shall not complain.We need the rain. April showers bring May flowers. I can't wait!!!

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Spring Comes.... Fast

Today the weather is warm,sun-filled and a light breeze blows from the east...a sea breeze we call it. We enjoyed breakfast listening to the spring antics of a flock of turkeys who had decided to feed and display their plumage in our fields.We can often see wildlife from feeding ,playing or crossing our fields,from the comfort of our house or our deck.It is as if we have a view from the tree-tops.The rest of our day has been busy with the start of spring clean,the gardens,the yard,the brush around the field pond.It feels so good to work,with the sun warming one's back,face....to do the dance to spring....with rake and clippers in hand, relishing the day......the weather.

This type of weather is rare for March in Maine. We will take it without complaint. I do feel a bit of guilt for not being in the studio working....but it will pass. Today I will enjoy enjoy enjoy!!

The casein painting of a Cob mare standing against the yellow barn door is done.I am so in love with that red of the bay mare contrasting the yellow of the door.
While working on it though, I came up with another idea…and do want to entertain that with another version of this painting, but done in oil…..but that is another story!

Now back to the barn....Nell needs to go mousing!!!

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

New Painting In The Works

Spring seems to have arrived. Nell and I have been taking walks out into the back pastures and I have been inundated with ideas for new paintings, all inspired by our farm, our horses, my world. This casein on canvas pictured above is the first .....and I have a copper panel ready for an oil landscape. I know that soon [ if the weather cooperates ] I will be called outside to prepare gardens and dig in the dirt. I can't wait! So I am driven to create more now, so I can garden later!!

My work has been invited into the American Academy of Equine Art's Invitational Exhibit "The Horse In Fine Art" to be hung in Lexington,KY at the historic Spindletop Hall. The show opens April 2 and hangs through May 26, 2012.

I will also be having work again in the 10th Annual "Festival of Art" in Belfast, Maine at The University of Maine's Hutchinson Center. This show opens May 10th with thier reception and then runs through the 13th. These are two are some the many shows I am particapating in this spring ...more to come this summer. So I guess I need to keep focused and painting..... so hard when spring starts calling!!!

Monday, February 20, 2012

March in February

Chickadee sings a spring song!!

The weather continues to sparkle and with the sun higher in the sky, days seem warmer....much like March! We at Cob Cottage welcome the warmth....we are not complaining at all.The bird feeders are kept full and our yard is full of bird songs,with the Chickadee already singing its spring song.Bring it on!!

I completed another small oil on copper....but this time it is of an old barn,long empty of it's critters, in northern Maine. The old barn stands in Wytopitlock, Maine, up near the Canadian border, near New Brunswick. I changed it out a bit....added the yellow door which makes it remind me of our barn here at home. The fence was falling down and the fields overgrown. It is a scene you see a lot around Maine ,as farms are abandoned .....and the horses are gone.And that is why the title: "The Horses Are Gone" I have 2 more copper panels prepared and ready to go. I am headed to the easel!!

Thursday, February 16, 2012

OIl Painting of Port Clyde, Maine

"Raspberry Island-Port Clyde,Maine" Oil on copper 6x6"

I have started on several small oil paintings from the recent trip last week to Spruce Head and Port Clyde. The sun was so bright that day and the late winter landscape with all it's abstraction really inspired me to get out my oils and prep some copper and start to paint. This is the first painting done...bright blue Cerulean sky and Ultramarine Blue water.....What fun! It is available on my website as it dries!!

Maine is beautiful anytime of year, and this winter has been so kind to us.I know Spring is not here yet,but the snow is melting,and today with the temps at a high of 50F here , Les had his lunch on the deck. That really helps one with cabin fever!!!

Back into the paint now....working on anther 6 x 6" oil and this time of Spruce Head. Taking a break from equine paintings for a bit!!

Monday, February 13, 2012

Happy Valentine's Day Gone to the Dogs

It is that time of year already.Seems the past weeks have flown by, even if plagued a bit by a case of cabin fever. But last week was productive and full of fun and adventure,literally and artistically. With more great JRT reference photos the above painting was a perfect work to do for today's celebration......SO a big old grateful Happy Valentine's Day to all my blog followers , the collectors of my artwork, friends and fellow artists!! This Jack with attitude is a wonderful subject...and his owners are very special people.....Thank you so much Dia and Sydney!!! and of course The Wonderful Forrest Gump!!!!

Not to be out done by Mr Gump, our Nell posed for our Valentine's Day

greeting to everyone!!! Hugs all around!!!

Friday, February 10, 2012

Free Falling, Polo #5 and Snow Coming

Two small caseins finished so far this week...and I am working on a third. The weather is absolutely brilliant today....in and out! Outside the sun shines and it's warmth must feel so good on our old horses backs as they stand sleeping. Inside Nell and Mittens soak up the rays enjoying a rare moment sharing the same space with out a hassle.Nell is always the instigator. But for the moment they sleep..... quietly together!!

I LOVE painting JRT's full of personality and this guy [seen below] is overflowing with it.I feel so privileged to have the chance to paint several works depicting him and his antics. "Free Falling " is one of the most fun of all so far!!! But I am working on one more in honor of Saint Valentine's Day......stay tuned....I am working on it right now!

Both the two caseins depicted here, are now on my website in the Small Works portfolio of works available for purchase. "Polo #5" is one of a series of small paintings depicting the exciting sport of Polo!! They also are in my Small Works Portofolio.

Back into the JRT painting, after a brief "walkies" with Nell in the bright sun. Tomorrow we have a snow storm coming.....sigh...........

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Painting Small With Big Color - Carefully

Snow falls on and off today.It covers the ground with a clean soft blanket,hiding the icy spots....so I walk slowly and carefully. A bit of caution is called for. I heed the warning and proceed prudently.

And I have been painting small.....small works, but pushing the color....and this is good.The beautiful snow falling inspired me to paint one of my perfect Christmas trees that stand in my gardens. I also painted a small 5 x 5" casein of a wonderful side-saddle rider on her gray steed.Both small works will be available through my website.

And in between painting small paintings I did a larger,but not too large, 12 x 9" casein on paper, depicting a four in hand ....as seen from a different angle. "Four In Hand From Above" was inspired by a scene from Maine's Acadia's Wildwood Stable.The horses were waiting by the barn, beneath the loft window on a hot summer day....I love seeing the world go by while sitting in the hay loft !!

So I have been busy in the studio....and walking slowly, carefully around the farm.

Friday, January 27, 2012

Small Jack Painting

As Winter rages outside....Nellie,resident JRT,holds down the couch after a rough morning playing in sleet and rain .....lucky dog! I am back in my studio with an afternoon planned of more creating. Lucky me!

This is a new small gem of a painting, a casein, ready to be framed and looking for a new home! It is available on my website in the Small Works Collection.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

American Saddlebred Painting Done

The first week of the new year is over and I have two painting chalked up as done. I have had the luxury of long spans of uninterrupted time, where I have been able to start approaching some paintings that I have been meaning to do for a long time. I am starting into them now!
We are expecting snow tomorrow....I am in the mood for painting with oils, so I am starting a winter scene to get ready to shovel the real thing tomorrow. Today is a sunny day but very cold out.....I am staying cloistered in my studio.

The above casein painting is finished....a fun Saddlebred horse painting. Now back to the easel.

Monday, January 9, 2012

A Fjord Pair

The watercolor of the Fjords is done and before the snow came, I was able to capture a good photo of it. I have put it up on my website purchase, unframed.
Now,with NO snow outside, I am finished up a 9 x 12" casein of an American Saddlebred horse and rider. A lovely studio day for sure!

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

New Fjord Pair Watercolor In The Works

The New Year celebrations are over.We enjoyed dinner with fellow artists and their spouses.[the unsung heroes!].Artist Susan Renee Lammers and her husband Robert invited us to a lovely dinner highlighted by a delicious seafood chowder that we shared with Gregory Dunham, his wife Pat and their daughter.There was much laughter and talk....a great start to the new year 2012. Now it is time to get back to the studio with new conviction and to create.

I have started a watercolor of a driving pair of Fjords horses.It is almost done at this point. A second painting,a casein on paper sits on my easel, and I work on that while I wait for the watercolor to dry between glazes. I am not one for hurrying up the drying progress of watercolors with the use of a hair blower....I prefer to let nature take it's course and elect in stead, to use that time to change direction,with new eyes and work in another medium.....still a water medium... but in my first love casein!

And I have prepared a copper panel for a new oil....Now I need to get that idea sketched out onto the copper. A new year...new ideas!

Maine is cold now.This morning the temperature was a bone chilling 3º F. Nellie and I are trying to work up energy to head down to the barn to do barn chores.Just a another cup of coffee and I should be ready to go!!

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

After Christmas

We had a lovely Christmas with family and friends. Christmas day blessed us with a perfect snowfall....Santa found Cob Cottage and all the four-legged family members received gifts. Now we are all getting back to work....and I am in my studio after what seemed to be a long break. Too long.

Nell and I are enjoying walks along our woods trails and found this small nest left after the occupants headed south. I think it might be a chickadee nest?? Or maybe Nuthatch's? I will be doing a painting of this nest....I do feel the need to do work other than equine art...!! I think I will try it in oil???

So new work will soon be available....and soon it will be a new year with new goals. I have been "thinking" a lot of late.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Holiday Wishes From Cob Cottage

It is a very damp cold gray day outside. A drizzling rain is covering our farm [and most of Maine] with ice.So in between wrapping Christmas presents and taking care of office paperwork, Nell and I decided it was time to get into the Holiday spirit and have Nell pose with her Holiday outfit.....she as always thought she could be one of Santa's reindeer!!

BEST WISHES EVERYONE!!!

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