Working The Farm and Painting -That Is My Day

The garden's early blooming daffodils,so sweet.

My goodness, how times flies.  I have been busy…and a bit distracted. Spring has found its way into our neighborhood and our gardens still need tended…horses beg for attention. Some of my days, though, have found me in the studio. I have painted a few new works, shipped some of my work out to new collectors and to galleries and shows. I have delivered some art work River Arts Gallery in Damariscotta,Maine.  With spring comes walks with Nell, time to breath in the smell of our woods wet with melting snow, cedar, pine and spruce perfume the air, and birds are singing the age old 'rites of spring' songs. Life is good and sweet on the farm. I am starting to pack my pochade with the idea of getting out side and doing some painting of beautiful Maine……but for the most part, now my time is spent doing studio work.

 

 'Barn With The Yellow Door"  , Casein on paper,  8.5 x 13"

 "Barn With The Yellow Door" is a scene depicting our barn and my old  Tennessee Walker Duster, who I sadly lost last year... just about this time of year too. I miss the old boy, and as he was always my muse....when I went to paint our barn, my old Duster had to be in the painting too.

Our two Morgan boys, my 'Ginger Boys' , are now my muses....and this next work is of Devon. He prompted a mixed media piece in graphite and gold leaf. His face, chiseled and handsome, his large soft eye always gives my heart joy. Hopefully " Sweet Man' will touch someone else's heart too. I love the way the small gold leaf parts of the drawing highlight his face.

"Sweet Man" , Mixed media on claybord, 12 x 12"

 I am ready to start a new work now...in watercolor. So it is time to paint!!

Where Has March Gone? New Percheron Painting!

"Percherons Heading To The Tea House - Acadia"

 

This month has just flown by. With spring being very fickle and just giving us glimpes of her warmth and promise of green, tomorrow we have the priviledge of experiencing yet another Nor'Easter with snow and high winds.

I will be in the studio trying to get paintings packed and ready to ship out.

 

March did let me finish this new painting of draft horses at Wildwood Stables in Acadia National Park. Acadia is a spot where I get a lot of inspiration for paintings and it has been so for years . For over 20 plus years we have been going there and soaking in Acadia's beauty. We are so looking forward to doing that again this summer. If it ever comes. We are still waiting on spring to do her thing!!

 

Until then......I paint!

Horse Racing Season In Saratoga & New Art Show

I do believe that I can feel a touch of spring in the air!! I am excited about spring’s coming this year. It seems our horses are excited too….they have been acting the fools lately.

With thoughts of spring bringing summer I was inspired to paint a summer racing season painting depicting Saratoga Springs post parade….. It was a fun and difficult work to do with multiple subjects and perspective …who should be emphasized and how do attack the background? Where is the vanishing point? Is there a interesting focal point?  I worked hard on it and I think I achieved what I set out to do.  I am happy with it.

“Saratoga 5 4 6” “is finally done and up on my website.

 "Saratoga 5 4 6" , casein on board, 16 x 20"

 

On another note:    New show opened at Aarhus Gallery in Belfast, Maine.  “The 6th Annual “44N 69W: Radius Belfast” 2014. This exhibit showcases local artists and it helps support our local food pantries. I have work in this local show again this year. This is a show I enjoy supporting!  The show will be exhibited from March 6th – 30th, 2014.   Hope everyone comes out in force and buys paintings and helps feed local families who desperately need help.

"Retired"  , oil on copper , 10 x 10"

I am feeling inspired by spring! Back to painting!!!

Maine Winters Are Not Gray When Seen With An Artist's Eye

There have been hints of spring in the air, but as the saying goes, “No cigar”. With brief reprieves from winters cold blasts we have experienced some days with temps up into the 50’s and the horses spent those days basking in the warm sunshine. Today dawned sunny but temps will be headed back down below freezing again and snow that was melting quickly has turned into ice, making the trek to the barn a journey of walk slow and careful.

I finished a new casein work, a winter scene in our winter wonderland. “Forward” is now available on my website. I can’t get enough of the colors that winter brings to the landscape…the purples, blues and pinks. Add the copper coats of a chestnut horse and I am in heaven! “Forward” was inspired by all those colors. Who says winter is colorless???

 

 "Forward" , Casein on board,  12 x 12"  ©2014 kathi peters

Now back to the paint! New works in the work!!

Having Studio Fun And Learning

With new ink and pens sitting waiting for some time for me... I toot a few days for doing fun things with them. One work done was a 9 1/2 x 9 1/2" sketch of my granddaughter Jackie. If she lived closer, I would love to have her as a model more often. But this was done from a photo and that had to do. It is a work closer to works what I did years ago when I lived in Italy. It is fun and loose. I need to do these more often. I promised myself that I would!

Then when I was looking through old photos for inspiration for new paintings , I came across a scene I wanted to sketch. It was a photo of a statue that had intrigued me on one of our trips to Saratoga Springs, NY ,  where I had work with Equidae Gallery. I loved the statue's up held arm with the fingers bend and one finger missing. I loved the flowers clutched to her breast. So another  pen and ink came to life.

It was enlightening to get back into pen and ink...and it has me exciting about some new ideas I have for future works.....

But now ......back to painting!

New Cover With My Art,Two Casein Painting Done And More Snow

 

Winter contiues in our part of the country. Heating bills skyrocket and I have to admit to a bIt of cabin fever. But through it all I have managed to finish two casein paintings that are up on my website. I also did some sketching and playing around with pen and ink. I am not one for wintersports...so most days find me in my studio working on something.Or reading.

"Out Of Focus"  Casein on paper,  9 x 7"

 "Round And Around"   Casein and mixed media on paper      9 x 12"

 February  started with the arrival of the new issue of The Horse's Maine featuring my work on the cover. My painting "Color On A Gray Winter Day" graced this month's publication. Thank you Horse's Maine for that honor.  A fitting image for the start of the Chinese "Year Of The Horse".......hope this is my year too!!

And so I paint!!!

I Have To Have Another Studio Sale & Have 2 New Paintings Done

 

They say that it is good to let go...move on ...clear clutter...and I have decided to have another studio clean up sale.  “A Mid-Winter Special Studio Sale Of Art Work “ .  The work offered in this studio sale can be seen on my website on a page created specifically for that sale. I hope there a painting there that you cannot live without! It is ‘ Easy Peasey’ to buy it with Buy Buttons through secure PayPal.  Help me de-clutter and buy hay for my horses!!

I have finished a new water color of a driving pair. Another ground driving painting, with the movement and brio that can take part in even the simple discipline of ground driving horses. “Ground Driving the Pair” is now up available on my Equine Art page.

"Ground Driving The Pair" , watercolor,  17 x 16"  ©2014 www.kathipeters.com

 As soon as I finished the watercolor, I did a small casein of a Jack Russell pup….our hairy Nell modeled for me. She is a cheap model!  One chewy bone and she is good to go.

"Soft and Fuzzy"  casein on gallery wrapped canvas ,  6 x 6"

I am waiting for spring with such a longing. This winter has been brutal....warmth and green growing will be welcomed!

Until it comes.........I will paint!