Cob Cottage Studio: casein paintings

Showing posts with label casein paintings. Show all posts

Monday, March 26, 2018

The Net

While watching the draft carriage horses at the stables, as they were being hitched to the carriages they would be pulling to take the summer tourists on their trip across the carriage roads of Acadia, I was attracted to the fly nets that covered their bodies. I liked the way their lines covered the hefty bodies of the horses. I liked that it was a non-chemical solution for deterring bothersome flies the hefty draft horses. I liked how the way the simple thin delicate lines created interest on the horses' muscled bodies. And I love the abstract design that I captured in the photos that I took as we readied our horses to go out on our drive.

Thus this painting.

I know spring is somewhere out there....as we just experienced yet another snow storm. I am grateful for the hours I am able to sneak out of a day from taking care of home and hearth and barn chores. The eternal hope of spring helps.

Until then.....I paint.

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Nor'Easter

"Nor'Easter" , casein , 6 x 6"

With another Nor'Easter heading our way, I felt driven to paint another snow scene and this scene of a Clydesdale pair in a Maine snow storm fit the bill. The snow falls and builds up on their manes and tails......brrrr....! This painting, titled Nor'Easter, is now
on my website and it is already sold.

We are braced for an 'almost spring' snowstorm and they can be big ones carrying much moisture with heavy snow falls. Our snow shovel was at the ready. The thought that spring is so very near will gave us strength. We will muddled through! AND we shoveled

And I also painted. [between the bouts of shoveling.]

New mixed media with abstractions are in the works!

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

New Casein Painting Of Horses & Snow

We are finally deep in the frozen depths of winter in January, here in Mid-Coast Maine. Our horses are bored to death.... and they seem to be taking their boredom out on the board fence. I have been busy finishing up one more pre Christmas commission that is now done and delivered. After Christmas time was lost as both my husband and I were sick as dogs for over a month. But now we are out of the woods [so to speak] and life goes on. I am back in the studio each day and Les has been busy moving snow around.

"January Snow" is my latest casein painting finished and is now available on my website. How fitting a subject and title for this time of year! AND I am back painting!

Sunday, October 23, 2016

My Interview With A National Magazine !!!

In the middle of our summer driving 'marathon " in Acadia National Park this year, I was contacted by Ann Pringle, the editor of Driving Digest, about doing an interview for a feature article in their fall issue #203. I was more than pleased and honored to be offered this opportunity to show my work and to answer Ann's questions about my life and my work. It's no secret that the majority of my body of work depicts the world of the driving horse. It is a equestrian discipline that I love to participate in and to paint. I hope everyone has had the chance to read the article, and to see a sample of my work as Driving Digest featured it so wonderfully. Thank you Driving Digest and Ann Pringle!!

I am back in the studio now....busy with the start of commission work for the holidays and new year.

I am also working on new original work. My art work is very important to me....Life goes on.

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

The Pears Are Ready

"The Pears Are Ready", Casein, 9 x 12"

Each year we wait for the fall's harvest of fruit. Our pears are a favorite. We have a basket sitting on our kitchen counter for everyone to enjoy....and then there is a bag for the horses' enjoyment in the barn. We are happy when the pears are ready!

This casein and ink painting is offered unframed , and shipping is complimentary for USA shipments.

Fall sure feels close. The warm sun filled days have a melancholy touch and each evening brings cooler temps that makes me want to curl up with a warm cozy blanket. These are the days I love. And my studio is calling me back to get busy on new work....my gardens are slowing down. It is time.

And " The Pears Are Ready."

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Tidewater Farm's Summer's Bee Balm

This painting will be available at Tidewater Farm's 'A Taste Of Tidewater ' art event to be held on August 20th , 2016 . For more information about the event and the availability of this painting please contact the U.Maine Cooperative Extension 207-781-6099.

Les and I have been driving our horses. It is that time of year where we get to do what we love....and horses are a big part of it. I won't get much studio time over the next few months, what with gardening and driving....but that's good. I always come back with new ideas and my creative juices flowing. A vacation of sorts to keep my brain working.

But I will be drawing... sketching

Thursday, December 10, 2015

COB COTTAGE STUDIO'S HOLIDAY SPECIAL SALE !! NOW!!!

"Bend To The Left" , casein , 12 x 12" © kathi peters

As 2015 comes to a close, I am offering an eclectic mix of my work, some large, some small....in different mediums, but all at heavily discounted HOLIDAY SPECIAL prices for my much appreciated collector base...current and future. What the New Year brings is yet to be revealed, but new ideas are in the works at Cob Cottage Studio and will be revealed soon.

I hope you will find a painting or two that will tickle your fancy ……Maybe a painting that might make a wonderful gift of art for someone on your ‘Santa’s list’…..or even for your own wall. Thank you for looking…for shopping and supporting my art.

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

A New Flower Casein Painting And Why Studies?

I have been working back and forth with oil paint and casein paint. Each medium makes my " creative brain" work in a different way. Each has it's own personality and temperament. Each creates its own challenges. Mixing it up keeps me focused on the work at hand. The last of falls zinnias provided a pleasing composition. My caseins provided the color pallete that I wanted. "Zinnias In Jelly Jar" was born. A happy painting to grace someone's wall.

"Yellow Apple Tree" oil study , 6 x 6"

And then...... Why offer studies you might ask? What are studies? A study, for me, is a small [but not always ] work done in graphite or charcoal, oil or casein, in a quick capture, to see how I might want to approach a larger more detailed work of a certain subject or landscape. Studies are a peek into an artist's thought process, a closer look at what makes them excited and what moves their muse. I have found that many collectors like to collect these very personal unfinished works , rather than the actual finished paintings, and so I am offering them at a very reasonable price......in a special collection here on my website. They are offered unframed, no frills attached ....I hope you will find something there that will "excite" you...... in my Drawings and Painted Studies collection.

Here is a sampling...........

There are others....please check them out......I would love to help you start your collection of my work.

And so I paint..............

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Woman's Work

There's the putting to....and the unhitching. Driving draft horses is a lot of work. I admire the women who choose to do that for a living, or even for pleasure. It is not as easy as it all looks. "Woman's Work" is available.

This new painting is done in casein , and the design is simplified. 'Less is more' in my book.

The ordeal of readying the farm for winter is on going. Having only 2 horses this winter does ease the job a bit. Our hay is put in , and the stalls are made cozy for the chilled nights we have been having. I am almost done readying the flower gardens. The veggie garden is cleaned and what is left is for the gleaners ..... [the wild animals who forage through our fame and woods.] Our bird feeders are being kept filled, and they are in steady use these days. Mittens and wool caps are at the ready, when needed. They have been put to good use on the mornings of late. Fall is in full swing.....winter not far behind.

I paint in my studio......................

Saturday, October 10, 2015

Revisiting Paintings Done With Another Approach

Sometimes an painting idea can be approached , painted and after the painting is done, the subject calls to be approached again but from another direction. This happened lately with 2 painting that I have done. One was initially finished very recently. The second was painted over the past winter. I learn something every time I do this, the reworking of a painting, changing out the medium , the format and stretching maybe with my vision. I am not alone with this 'reworking' of works. Many of the masters have done it over the centuries. I am in good company.

"Among The Fields Of Gold" done originally in oil , was re-worked with watercolor......one version a full oil portrait, and the second done in a loose watercolor study with a more abstract approach. Each medium sort of dictated the approach for me.

The second painting that I felt compelled to rework in a cropped version ended up being in oil in a small square format. The original painting was a portrait of sorts, done in casein and more involved. The cropped version is featuring just the head of the horse, the rider cropped out, done in juicy oil paint.

The original work was done as a portrait of a side-saddle equestrian. Both works are featured on my website now.... "The Classic" and "A Lady and Her Horse" .

And now today I have three new panels that I have prepared for more paintings.....I am painting.

Thursday, September 3, 2015

SALE Of Select Small Works

In a attempt to de-clutter the studio, by re-homeing a few small paintings,......I am having a sale ....and it will be up for a limited time only.

Most of the work is NOW priced at only $100 , and some even lower than that. To be able to price them at this low price, I am offering them unframed , but will ship for free within the USA. There are paintings of horses, thoroughbred horse racing, dogs [Jack Russells and more], flowers and landscapes!

This sale will be posted on Facebook and Twitter page too, so don't miss out!

I hope some of this small gems can find new homes, new walls to hang on.

And I can get back to painting.......more!

Here are some of them:...........................

"Spring Fling" Oil , 8 x 6" ©kathipeters.com

"Leaping Lizards" , casein on board, 5 x 7" ©kathipeters.com

Thanking you in advance for checking out the work.......And they are selling! .

Thank you so supporting my art!!!

Thursday, August 20, 2015

One Painting Done And Three More In The Works

I am staying in my studio. It has become a very hot and muggy August here in Maine. My walkout basement studio is always cool in the heat of summer. So I keep painting. I have 3 paintings in the works at the moment. One oil painting and 2 caseins are filling my days inside, as the farm is hot and not so comfortable outside.

I finished a square format casein painting of an European Belgian horse...A "Brabant", a Brabant, is a draft horse breed from the Brabant region of modern Belgium. I love their short strong build, stocky bodies AND the color of their coats. The pink and purple in their shadows and highlights. I will be doing some more works depicting these hefty workers. "Gotta Scratch" is available , and looking for a forever home.

The other paintings I am working on depict pairs , parts of a four in hand team that I had the pleasure of seeing on their maiden visit to Acadia, on the miles of carriage driving roads available for their pleasure. Did I say I love painting driving horses? I have been painting them for years. I will continue to do so.

I paint what I love......and am doing it today from the comfort of my cool studio......!

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Art Shows I am In AND A New Painting ....Of A Goat!!!

Our two horses are back home grazing in their fields, after our July carriage driving marathon…. I am trying to catch up on gardening chores and in between the barn chores and gardening, I head to the studio and paint, order new paints and frames and get my creative mojo working. I have done some new equine art work? NO….. Animal art ……..A GOAT?? Yes…... a Maine goat, no less.

MY NEWS: I have had 2 paintings juried into the new art exhibit, Mainly Maine at River Arts in Damariscotta, Maine , that opens tonight. With over 223 entries, by 92 artists from all over Maine, 105 works juried into the exhibition by juror Andy Curran. I am honored to be one of those juried into this Maine show.

I also have 3 works in the current on-line exhibit with Women Artists of the West’s show “Rivers, Tides, and Pools". A talented group of artists and not all the members are from the real “West”…….. Check out their great online art show!

AND the 2 person art show that I am in and NOW hanging at Equis Art Gallery in Red Hook, NY is up for a few more days. "Summer Feature" highlighting the work of artist Patricia Powers and myself ,is a show featuring a mix of some of our older works and some new. I hope anyone in the area gets a chance to see this show. Then Equis Art Gallery is moving to its bigger and brighter new space in the center of Red Hook. THAT is exciting! I will post more about this as it happens!

And today…I am painting!

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Dolce Castana......Missing Italy A Bit?

Watching horses grazing in their summer fields always gives me a feeling of peace. All is right with the world, in that moment in time.

I titled this casein painting "Dolce Castana" ..... It means "Sweet Chestnut" in Italian. Memories of Italy. I thought I had finished it yesterday, photographed it and then looked at it on my pc monitor. I wasn't happy with the values.....so I went back in and finished it today. It is done.

I have been in the studio working while Maine is blanketed with hot humid summer weather. My studio gardens are growing too tall and blossoming like crazy. So I paint horses?

Monday, July 6, 2015

My Gardens Are Growing & News

Summer has really arrived. …physically and figuratively! I sit writing my blog on the deck. A lovely breeze stirs the green heavily laden trees .The sun shines down on the farm encouraging the gardens to grow. The rugosa roses scent rises in the warm air, bathing the deck in their perfume. Birds are busy at the bird feeders that hang in front of the grape arbor, flittering back and both from the trees to the feeders. A humming bird flies by me as he makes his rounds to window boxes and hanging baskets filled with petunias, zinnias,nasturtiums, marigolds and begonias. Nell sleeps in the shade beside me. Mittens sleeps under the table, half in the sun, half in the shade. Life is good in the summer a Cob Cottage Farm.

Most days , weather permitting , we have been driving our Ginger Boys up at Acadia National Park National Park. Each year we wonder if this is going to be the last year of us being able to do this. I pray that it won't be… but we aren't getting any younger and everything is getting so expensive too.... fingers crossed that art sales keep coming in and our life can go on.

My news on the art front? I have my painting “ Chestnuts Two.” In the current art exhibit at River Arts Gallery’s Members Show. What a talented bunch of artists I am in the company with at River Arts!!!! Hope you all can make it to the show.

Then I have decided to not have my sketches available for purchase anymore on my website and I will be taking off the ones left on my Sketches and Studies page, in a very short time. The ones I do have left up on my website are seriously been discounted! Don't miss out !

And over the next few weeks, I might not be painting much. Time to reflect on my current art work, spend time with my husband and enjoy our days carriage driving our two Morgans. It is a fun sport which you can share with friends who don't ride or drive… we love doing that!

And I love to paint carriage horses!!

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Spring Has Sprung..... With A New Painting

I have been in the studio a lot of late. I have been drawing and working a lot on tonal sketches. I feel I always need to be learning, and stretching my art. I have also been stretching my hours in my day, as I work in the studio, the gardens, the barn and the house. And stretching my back , pulling weeds and raking the perennial garden as it awakens from its winter slumber. I sleep well at night!

Spring is finally here in our part of the woods, and I have just finished a spring like painting of two chestnut horses in their field in its light spring colors before the green appears. They are busy horses foraging for any tiny blades of grass that might be poking through the warming ground. "Chestnuts Two " is a 12 x 12" casein on board. I have put it up on my website now.

If you haven't gone yet to see the River Art Gallery's latest exhibit I suggest that you head on down/over there and see "The Natural World". The show is wonderful with works from Maine artists from all over the state. I am one of the artists juried into the show. You won't be disappointed. My painting "Ripe Arbor Grapes " is hanging there for your viewing pleasure. It looks much better in real life than the internet can display!!

"Ripe Arbor Grapes" . oil on copper panel , 12x12"

In the meantime I will paint!

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Back At The Old Farm, Old Memories, New Magazine Interview AND New Painting

The family's stone farmhouse.

With good intentions I have been promising to be better on posting my blog. And for lack of a really good excuse I keep putting it off. But we were away on a mini vacation where we attended a family wedding in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with a detour to Brandywine country to Chadds Ford and the Brandywine Art Museum to see the current retrospective art show of Jamie Wyeth and a look see at Gettysburg’s battle fields and old barns. We also went to the old village of Harmony to see my family’s old homes and gravestones. Lots of old memories relived. I admit that it also was an epicurean trip too, with much good food and fine wines and local brews to fortify us all throughout. The downside of the trip is that we came home with the flu, and now through the worst, we are still recuperating. Time lost.

Brandywine River Museum Of Art

Upon arriving home to Cob Cottage, I received the good news that my interview with Equestrian Culture magazine was on line and available for folks to read and see a lovely display of some of my work. I think they did a bang-up job of layout ….. and it pleased me no end to see my work beside, and compared to, my creative heroes, Lucy Kemp Welch, Sorolla and Munnings! Hope you can take a look at the article and I would love to get your feedback on it and my work. Thank you Equestrian Culture !!

I guess the only painting I have finished since my last blog post is a 12 x 9” casein on paper, titled “Inspiration”. I was playing with loose and suggested movement in this small painting. I think I nailed it. It is available on my website.

I am back….. back working in the studio, finally! I am working on a 16 x 16” Maine landscape…… I have so many paintings that need doing………..and all before the gardens awaken from their long [too long] winter nap. And then carriage driving begins again. Ah………..I love spring!!!!

So You Want To Paint With Casein? My Latest Painting

I have been so often asked how to paint in casein. It is hard for me to explain how I love working in a media that so many find difficult to use. I have been working in casein since I started using it , along with tempera , years ago while living in Italy. I love tempera, but I am in love with casein and always have been. Both are opaque paints , casein a milk based paint.....and tempera an egg based paint. Both paints smell. But I love the smell of the casein emulsion......and the way it is works, for the way I paint. I work in small spirts of studio time. I work with glazes a lot, and can paint a layer and let it dry and then come back and add another glaze, with the length of time left between glazes dictating how much of the previous layers will effect the newest layer. I have done some workshops on to paint with casein....but my feeling is that if you are interested in a medium......then read all you can about it. Get some of it and experiment with it.

I just finished the above casein painting of two handsome draft driving horses. The pair were working up at Acadia's Wildwood Stables last summer and are another in my works depicting the handsome horses pulling the carriages along the carriage roads of Acadia National Park. This painting is available on my website.

Mother Nature has be teasing us with some spring like weather. It felt so good after months [it seems] of being in the cold hard grasp of winter and too much snow. Our snow is melting. There is hope.

Until it is gardening weather I will paint!

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Time Gone With The Wind In Winter - More Paintings

I can’t believe that it has been a month since I blogged last. My only excuse, and a very valid one, is that we have been inundated with snow and frigid weather that leaves me tired and taciturn….not very talkative. I have been painting some…not nearly as much and I wanted to this winter. I usually find more studio time in the winter months. This year has been different by all stretches of the imagination. Buried in snow, I have just been too tired to create, my muses are snow bound.

I did get asked to do a radio interview! I almost declined in invitation, but was convinced I could do it by my husband. So I had a podcast radio interview with Driving Radio Show. It actually turned to be fun, and I was quickly put at ease by hosts Glenn and Wendy. Here is a link to the show….I am the first guest to be interviewed that day after the hosts chat for a while….so hang on for the interview. We talk about my art, my life, our horses, and even my studio helper Nell. You can listen at leisure on your iPhone, pad, laptop or whatever……. at this link: http://drivingradioshow.horseradionetwork.com/2015/02/11/driving-radio-show-episode-188-kathi-peters-art-and-craig-grange-goes-cde/

I finished a commission for a client, of a Maine osprey and sticky nest. [See above.] In between storms I got it packaged and shipped out. It seems as if life this winter has been about getting things done between storms. So be it! This painting is 16 x 16” in casein on a panel. I enjoyed this size panel and have some new works in this size.

I also have completed a casein painting on paper, where I was sort of day dreaming about sun and warmth on a hot summer’s day. “One Summer’s Day” depicts a handsome gray in sun and little shadow. A stretch when the temperature outside is below zero with a wind chill factor on top of that to numb your senses.

YET I am enjoying the play of sun and shadows on the snow with amble chance to appreciate it on our sunny days. This prompted another painting of Nell, in the snow, casting her Jack Russell shadow on new fallen snow. It is a small work, 6 x 6”, done in oil and is available.

So I paint…..I hope you take a listen to the radio interview. I find painting much easier than talking….so I paint.

Listen to my radio interview.... and I would love to have some feedback, some comments to help me through my day!

Monday, February 9, 2015

The New Year Has Started Without Me It Seems

The year started with me full of good intentions............ and then my muse was captured by the vision of a beautiful lady riding side saddle on a handsome gray PRE .....the proverbial white horse. I was hooked................

But now the January 2015 winter storm of ‘Historic Proportions ‘ has swirled around outside my studio walls. We readied the farm and cottage for high winds and epic snow amounts. What we had is a usual Nor’easter….! But better to be safe than sorry. We were safe. Our horses were safe in their cozy stalls munching hay,........... and I even managed some studio time. I started a new casein equine painting.

I have also finished the casein above, done of a lovely lady riding sidesaddle, the image provided by the owner of the handsome Pre horse. The horse and his lady and the owner of the PRE all live in Italy. I really enjoyed doing another sidesaddle painting. I have done several in the past, but I never tire of portraying this classic equestrian discipline….. It is so sophisticated and ladylike. I have always wanted to learn to ride side saddle, but never did get around to doing it. Now, at this point in my life I will stick with driving. The painting “A Lady and Her Horse” is now up on my website and available unframed.

I have been doing some drawing too……and after receiving a box of beautiful blood oranges from a friend, I had to sit down and draw them before I ate them. I am doing a great job of eating them! I do want to paint some before they are all gone!

The snow still blows around our cottage, banking our outside walls with white.

I will continue painting!

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