A New Flower Casein Painting And Why Studies?

 

"Zinnias In Jelly Jar", casein and ink, 12 x 9" ©2015 www.kathipeters.com

 

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...........

 

 

 "Study Of The Grays" , charcoal, 12 x 18" ©2015 www.kathipeters.com

 

"Birch Study" , oil on gessobord, 6 x 6" ©2015 www.kathipeters.com

 

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

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

 

 

 

 

 

New Painting In The Works

"The Yellow Door"  a work in progress............copyright 2012 www.kathipeters.com

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!!!

Spring pushes back the snow from the fields. copyright 2012   www.kathipeters.com



A Christmas Show!!



Art work  displayed       "Shades Of Gray #8"   Oil on copper        22 x 22"     ©2010

I want to invite everyone to view the wonderful on-line art show featuring the work of many of the  Women Artists Of The West's talented members...!!!

So many great Christmas present ideas!!

I am proud to be part of this select group of talented artists!

Yes.....ENJOY!!!! 

Another Gray.....Horse and Day

"Gray Eating Hay"          Casein / ink on board              11 x 14"

After several day where we actually saw sun,we are back into gray spring weather that rains,brings fog and makes the trees blossom ,coloring our views with whiles and pinks. Maybe it is the spring colors that inspired me to depict this gray in a sort of spring like atmosphere....but I did and here it is. "Gray Eating Hay" is offered on my website.

Tilled garden

In spite of rain, the gardening still needs doing and we have tilled the garden  [while the sun shone] and then in the drizzle. I have planted my salad mix and my Cilantro and Basil. The Curly Garlic is growing tall and green. I use the green stocks in cooking and so enjoy them as the grow and show their curly tops. A fun addition to our garden! AND they expand each year! I am going to paint them, probably in oil on copper, when the tops are curling.

 

 

Some Tulips and Dandelions

My tulips are dotting the gardens.....and even the lawn is colorful with yellow dandelions....!!
How I love spring!

Plum trees in blossom

 The Plum trees dance like young ladies in Tu-Tus across our orchard. I need to paint them....I will paint them too.
Lots to do..... and no lack of subject matter without even leaving the farm. If the weather will clear I am going to plein air....right in my back yard at Cob Cottage.







 

Thinking About Painting On Copper

  

Yesterday was a day of learning for me..and a day of a bit of enlightenment. A fellow artist and a very interesting lady, Renee Lammers came to our farm to paint our fields, barn and horses.....and tucked into her plein air bag of tricks were not only her oils, brushes, sun umbrella, and wet painting carrier box, but also panels of copper. Yes, copper metal...Renee paints with oil on copper plates and does wonderful plein air works that need looking at! Like a impressionist Mary Poppins, she dropped her bag on our back deck,set up her pochade and panel and went to work. She says she loves having someone watch her paint...so that is just what I did. We talked, she painted and I learned. The afternoon flew by quickly, even though she was interrupted several times by a certain JRT who wanted her [or any one's] attention.

I have been wanting to try plein air painting, as I usually work exclusively in my studio space....and it was great to see Renee in action, see her set up and talk with her about why she chooses to stick with plein air work. Renee travels all over Maine and beyond to paint.

She is a great teacher, easy to talk to and she explains her why and wherefores so well. Even I could understand, and must admit I am taken with the idea of stepping out of my 'comfort zone' more and go plein air ...even if only for a change. You know to wake up the old brain cells!!

So if you want to see what Renee painted... go to her blog and see her work...and her take on our day! I know Renee and I will be painting together in the future....and I want to learn more about her 'bag of tricks!!


Tell her I sent you!! ;-)

Joining the Ranks of Plein Aire

First let me say that I am NOT a plein aire painter, even though I love being outside and in fresh air basking in the sun's rays. But I do not like bugs, wind blowing my easel over,or being watched while I paint [especially by wild animals.] But so many of my friends are into plein aire work and suggested that I give it a try...
So from the comfort of my deck, with food and drink..... and warmth just a step away...I ventured out to do a 12 x 12" casein painting of my daily view here at Cob Cottage in the October sun. I am not a fast painter...so the light changed several times I am sure, during my plein aire foray....and this is what I am left with . What do you think?

I will photograph it straight on and clearer, if you think it is worth it.....or should I stick to the studio and never venture outside again?

The real problem I have with a landscape like this, is that there is too much information for my brain to absorb...and I don't know where to stop or even start. My approach with most of my work is always focused on a subject...and very composition and design orientated. The good Lord's work of painting and capturing the landscape is WAY TOO BIG for me.

But, I may try it again sometime soon, maybe...