"Pay To Play Horses -Carousel"  Oil   6 x 6"  ©2011

This small oil painting on copper substrate and titled  "Pay To Play Horses - Carousel" is available on my website. I think I have lost track of new works done ....and realized that I actually had not put them up on my website or told anyone about them. Trying to play catch up today on things that need doing!! The next thing on my to-do list is frame some work that needs to be done!! I need longer days!!
And I swear I will paint tomorrow!!! or else.................

Angels And Horses

This 8 x 10"  still-life oil painting is almost done.

Today a winter storm rages outside the studio.  I am cloistered in this cozy space, working on several works..... but the above oil painting on copper panel, is almost done. It depicts objects that I love, and that all have a connection to my life. The angel is one of my angels that came with me when I came back to America after living for years in Italy. I have a small collection of these angels, angels who I imagine came out of churches at some time in the past. I bought them in street markets near our apartment in Milano....How I loved shopping there with my mother.There were no supermarkets in Italy then. Everyday we shopped for our fresh food and vegetables. And while my mother food shopped, I hunted for treasures, like my angels. Today they guard my sleep in our bedroom. The book "The Art Of The Horse" sits on a table in my studio, to always inspire me. The Indian block print cloth underneath, was a gift from a dear friend. They all have meaning for me...and hopefully someone else can relate to these...all depicted together.

The view from my studio today.

I will stay painting in my studio. The horses are bedded in their stalls out of the snow and wind. And the storm  blows outside.

"Interwoven" Oil On Copper Done

"Interwoven"   oil on copper       10 x 10"

This  oil painting is done,and signed and ready to frame. My vegetables in my garden are climbing up our arbor and clinging to the grape vines .....probably not  a good thing....but it does make for some interesting images......How could I not paint this part of our life here at Cob Cottage.

The weather has been very warm for us the last few days...a stretch of sunny humid and depressive heat. The animals and I are looking forward to fall weather with colors and brisk sunny days! Bring it on!

Another People's Choice?

I have entered my oil painting, "Shades of Gray #7 -  Ladies in White"  into the July 2010 FineArtViews Painting competition. If you like it... You can vote for  "Peoples Choice" at The Bold Brush Art Competition website. IT ONLY TAKES A CLICK TO VOTE......Thank you! I might make it into the Fav 15 again!! That would be a hoot!! Tell your friends to vote too!

"Shades Of Gray - Ladies In White"       Oil  on Copper              22 x 22"

I have had little time lately to actually get into a groove and get some quality studio time. I have been grabbing minutes here and there. But my husband, Les, is healing and doing well.So we must admit we are feeling a bit more than blessed these days. Les has a lovely place to rest and recuperate from his driving accident....I am just happy to have him home.Addie, our Corgi is busy being 'Nurse Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy' and watching his every move. Nellie, our resident Jack Russell 'Terrierist' is making sure Les is being washed and loved. How could the man not heal?!!!  
Until then......less painting....and more Les!

Around the Farm

All our equine kids on the farm are well fed and busy these days, keeping the fields mowed. They complain that it is a full time job....and that I should not bother them this summer, as they are far to busy! Our bay Cob mares are the busiest, for sure!

This afternoon I took a walk out to the pond to snap some photos of our pond-lilies that are in bloom.The sun was too bright to get the true color of the lilies, but I so want to paint them and I am thinking this HAS to be done in oil and on copper! It won't be plein air, but close to!!

And then, as I walked back from the pond and the fields, I  saw the hydrangea in full blossom, a delicate blue and begging to be photographed...and should be painted! I know these are not horses, but I just have this need to try everything on copper and in oil!

 But I have been painting too....between the walks....

 "Pokey Pembroke"           5x7"              oil on copper

Today I finished this small oil on copper of our Corgi...this will be added to my website and is available.In the meantime I need to get some caseins done for the September show at Gallery B ,in Lexington, KY. So it is back to the studio for me!

Copper and Oils and Gardens

Addie [PWC] and I went for a walk in the back yard,checking on how our gardens are coming along. [Mistress Mary, quite contrary,How does your garden grow?] I think we quite agree that so far, so good. The small hydrangea has taken to it's new spot on our farm and is coming into flower. The white clematis that climbs our back arbor, is in full bloom,covered with flowers.

 After our walk we headed back into the studio to work on the oil painting on the copper panel. I hope to get this one done this week. I have some other commission work I need to get done and then have new ideas I want to try on more copper panels.  I am liking this oil painting on copper for sure.

I learned today that I was featured in an article written by Renee Phillips in the new July/August Art Calendar magazine. The article is titled: "Healing Power of Creativity". Surprise Surprise! I don't think that I knew about this article?? But I am smiling! Thank you, Renee. I can't wait to actually see it!!

Equine Painting On Copper

Starting the oil with the sketch.

Over the years, I have enjoyed learning to work in new mediums, trying new approaches and learning new skills. I suppose that is why I am enjoying the plein air experience .... but need to keep my eye on my goals....and where I want to go with my artwork.So though I will be trying my hand a plein air on occasion, I will still be painting with my caseins, and watercolors....maybe even a paper-cutting or two. But when I met fellow artist, and now friend, Renee Lammers....and saw her lovely plein air painting on copper, I had to try it...painting with oils on copper. Renee was nice enough to give me a copper panel to try..and try I did. Above is my sketch, with a bit of the painting started before I remembered to photo it for the blog!! The copper panel was easily drawn on with ink magic marker. Great!

So in between working on a commission I am finishing, I went back into the oil painting and started working the magic with oils. The oil on copper certainly gives a different feel than working on canvas or board.There is no drag at all with the paint, which seemed to just slip onto the copper, leaving a bit of copper peeking through, highlighting the scene I was working on. I am liking it. So different from working with casein, which has a drag, a granular pigment throughout the casein emulsion. But I still love my casein!!

"Trot On Cob"    oil on copper       6 x 8"

I am done. One oil on copper under my belt. I don't really know if I am 'hooked' on it...I would paint on copper again...might try a bigger work where I can be more creative. But the truth is that I do like the feel of the oil on copper...and hopefully someone else will like my work on copper too!! 

I am always game to learn something new!

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!! ;-)