Casein of a Clyde Grazing On Green

"Hand Grazing - Clyde"          casein on board           12 x 12"

A painting with green...appropriate for Saint Patty's Day!..... while we still have feet of snow covering most of our farm. The handsome Clyde in this painting has been the subject of several paintings I have done over the years. I love painting those gentle giants! I did this casein on board and will be varnishing it.......and putting it on my website. Some of my casein paintings are varnished....some not. I make the choice after I have finished a painting. Varnishing this casein painting will give it a look like an oil painting. That is the look I want for this painting.

I spent the morning grooming our horses.....trying to get into the winter crude and dead hair,as they shed their winter coats .Boy.... do I smell like a horse!! Not so nice as smelling like a rose?!!! But this is a sign of spring for sure!!!

Back Into 'A Pair & A Spare'

"A Pair and a Spare" A work in progress. copyright 2011

With days of snow, snow, snow..and then more snow.....I have had time to get back into a large canvas I started some time ago. I am easily distracted....and some smaller works have been started and finished since I began this casein painting. BUT,  it is moving along famously now....I can see the light at the end of the tunnel with this piece. That always excites me!

I have gone back into the painting with more detail work and worked on shadows and highlights on the horses and  the spilling over hayrack. With only a bit more to do on this painting, I am heading to the studio now.

Details added but a bit more to go! The canvas is 30 x 40"

Nellie is telling me I need to take her on a walk first.....Today we are blessed with abundant sun and temperatures up into the mid 40's. It would be a shame to miss some of the sunshine....so off we go! The painting can wait a bit more.............

February sunshine- Winter snow

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.
 



And So, Where Is Spring?

According to the calendar it is officially spring. Tell that to the robins who are looking for worms hidden under 3 more inches of the white stuff! And now the wind is starting to blow.

Poor birds!

The above is a quick casein with watercolor and pen and ink thrown in for good measure. I just grabbed what seemed right at the moment. I call it "Part Cob". It is a painting of a driving horse who lived near our farm when we lived in Pownal, Maine. It is available for purchase, but it will not be put on my website.

The Black Pair

This 16 x 20" casein is done, varnished and good to go.

The two driving horses were at Acadia this last summer when we were up there to go driving with friends. I had to paint them......big and handsome men that they are!



Most of my day has been taking up with varnishing paintings and doing paperwork. My how that is tiring. Makes me want to take a nap! Sounds like a plan..................