Painting , Still Painting

When it gets too cold for me outside......I am inside.....painting.

It has been very cold of late....and this time of year, I am so grateful for a cozy warm studio where I can work. I may do a landscape or two using my trusty laptop with photos as inspiration...and so here is how I started a small oil on copper substrate using my Guerrilla Thumbox ......getting the feel of painting plein air, but inside and cozy. I know....."cheating!!" 

Devon......one of our new boys.....

I have also finished a few new works.....some equine....some not....and some are up on my website ....and some are not yet. I have to admit to being a bit distracted lately with the arrival of the two new Morgan boys to Cob Cottage Farm. And then the decision to get a new carriage for the two new horses....and on and on! 

I was invited back for a second  art show with Colouer Collection in Falmouth, Maine. Their holiday show is open now, and will be having 3 afternoons of "Meet the Artists" on December 7th , 8th and 9th. It is always a fun show in their fab gallery/store!! I also have work hanging with Chisholm Gallery that is now located in Wellington, Florida. I have been represented by Chisholm Gallery for ions.... years...!! It is always a wonderful gallery, with wonderful work ......and a strong equestrian following .I have work with them that is equine and floral...something for everyone!

With that being said....I guess I need to get back to work...pretending I am painting plein air!! Wink Wink....

More Plein Air....I am Addicted

"Two Poppies"  Oil on copper    4 x 4"  copyright 2012  www.kathipeters.com

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!!

And The Thunder Rolled



At the end of the rain the sky cleared....what a lovely sight!


It has rained and it has thundered and lightening fell all around. Nell does not like thunderstorms and has followed me around like my shadow, always at my feet, wanting to get into my lap, or better still around my neck. We have spent some bonding closeness for sure. And when we go out for walks now, after all the rain and mugginess the mosquitoes have descended about the farm. They are everywhere, and persistent in their pursuit of blood!! I am an easy victim. They feast on my bounty!! But on an happier note...the fireflies are back!! This is good!! I saw them on our walk to the barn last night, between thunderstorms, and they are a welcome sight! They eat mosquitoes....let the feast begin!!

"The Hammock"   Oil on copper     6 x 6"  copyright 2012 www.kathipeters.com

I did get some painting in this week....outside! I packed up my trusty Guerilla thumbox pochade and ventured out into the sunshine and fresh air for some plein air time, and it was just what 'the doctor ordered'....I had started to be feeling a bit stuck in a rut creative wise...and the plein air painting snapped me out of  that rut! And I produced two fun painting to boot. So my advice to all my blog readers who are feeling down or bored with life....plein air paint!! Or as my good friend and plein air mentor always says "Get out and paint"!!!

"View Through The Arbor"  Oil on copper    6 x 6" 

So the new paintings are available on my website......I am glad that I got out and painted.Thanks Renee!!!

 I will  get out and paint more often!!

Dressage, Oil Paint and Cats Hunting

"Tempi Changes"   oil on board       6 x 6" 

A beautiful day out today in our part of Maine......I sit with the door open,the sun spilled in and the air is filled with the sound of the wind blowing through the defrocked trees, stripped of their fall color, the rustling leaves blow across the lawn and into my gardens. I want to head out to plein air paint today. It is too beautiful a day to stay in.

I just did this small 6 x 6" oil of a dressage scene shown above. I have explored before. I often do this, re-explore a previous work, tweak it, change colors, composition...my approach. This small painting will be available on my website in the Small Works section.

While was outside this morning our Mittens went hunting.She has spent most of the morning stalking a chipmunk.....I am doing a small casein of this chippie.....Mittens is determined that she will be having a chipmunk dinner soon. I will immortalize him for prosperity.

But for the time being...the chipmunk runs around storing food for winter, Mittens waits for the perfect meal [in her eyes] and I am going out to paint or sketch.....out into the sun!

Painting In & Out - In Casein & Oil

"Day Lilies and Bird Bath" Plein Air

I felt a need to get out of the studio and away from the casein painting I am working on, so I readied my Thumbox with oil paint and a new 8 x 6" copper panel...and off into the very warm day I went, to sit in the shade on the north of our house, while I painted the glorious yellow day lilies in blossom where they sit under the front "Look Into Garden"'s bird bath. I am liking the ability to change medium and subject matter....and environment. I am starting to get the knack of plein air work. It is a learning process for me. I have a hard time focusing on what to paint and how to approach the work when I am surrouned by so much visual abundance. I am thinking that this changing of gears,so to speak,will only help me with my studio work too. Now that I have the small  plein air oil drying in the studio,I look at it and can see where values need to be addressed,lines fixed and will finish off the painting... and will then be putting it up on my website.

I also finished a small casein of our JRT  from the photo that I posted in my last blog entry. "A Sweet Face" is varnished, framed and going to a good home. It is so easy to buy work off my website over the Internet using PayPal's secure login. Don't forget!

"A Sweet Face"   casein on board      6 x 6"     SOLD

They say we are getting some rain.This is good.The fields are dry around our farm....the gardens need watering daily.The watering takes a good part of the day.I have to grab my studio time when I can. I am grabbing some time now!