"Early Spring Statement" Red-winged Blackbird

I just realized I haven't posted anything new since early November. Where does the time go?

This is the WIP to completion of a 7 x 5 acrylic on Ampersand board, of a Red-winged blackbird declaring his early territory on an old cattail.

WIP 1, just starting:

Looking to get the form of the bird as I go. Second Stage:

More:

Getting closer, and now for more layers on the bird (5-7 layers of glaze), then to the fun part, when I get to add the cottony fluff of the old cattail!

And finally, it's done:

That was fun!

Glad to hear any comments on this one, and thanks for looking.

Soaring Cliffs 4x5 acrylic painting

This is on a canvas panel from photos taken in New Mexico years ago. More small paintings will be coming.

The small pieces go very quickly and I am really liking the process.

Arizona Palms, Sanders Road

Once in a while I actually paint a landscape. This is a little 8x10 of palms near our home. I played with the colors here, just having fun with the paint.

Natural Grace-Giraffe

This is another of the African Wildlife series. It's 9 x 12 on an Ampersand panel, in acrylic.It's my interpretation of a photo image by Cathy Sheeter (many thanks for the pic.)

I really like the graceful arc of the neck, and so the name.

A Little Attitude, Young Giraffe

This is a baby giraffe that has such a facial expression that I couldn't resist trying to capture that look. He certainly had "a little attitude."

 It's a 5x7 acrylic on board, already sold. Great fun to paint!

 This is a closer look at his expression:

American Bison, Acrylic

This is a 5x7 acrylic on Ampersand board. Thanks to Donna Ridgeway for the excellent reference!

This is now in a private collection, hot off the easel. Because I still work full time, my painting/drawing chances are limited, but I persist. I love the Golden Open acrylics because I can keep a palette going for weeks, using the simple 'sandwich' of styrofoam plates for a palette. One is the palette and the other is the lid, both sealed in a Ziploc bag, works great, and it's really cheap-just pitch the palette when it's too full of paint (saving the paint still usable), and the system goes on forever. Love it. I tried the stay-wet palettes, but wasn't as satisfied as I have been with my cheap and endlessly replaceable plates.

Anyway, here is the latest piece:

I'm always glad to hear any comments and questions, and thanks for looking!

Dama Gazelles

This is the second of the African animals, Dama gazelles, native to several African countries, endangered now, I understand.

This is 5x7 acrylic on board, from photos I shot at the San Antonio zoo some years ago. I always intended to paint this piece since then, but only now got it done. I am working smaller lately and the pieces go much faster, so there will be more coming soon.

I'm glad to hear any comments on this piece.

African Animals, First Piece

I'm planning a series of paintings/drawings of African animals, because I now have some excellent reference materials, copyright free to me. I have tons of pics taken in zoos, etc., but I needed authentic backgrounds along with images of wild African animals to compare condition, etc., with the zoo closeups I have taken over the years.

Anyway, this is the first piece in the planned African series, three giraffes, 6x12 acrylic on Ampersand panel.

Any comments or suggestions are welcome, and thanks for visiting my blog!

Antelope in graphite

This is a small study in graphite. It's about 7x9 or a little smaller. I might go on with an acrylic of this, but I always enjoy going back to graphite where I can control every mark. Unlike using a brush, which can be very frustrating, to say the least. Anyway, I enjoyed working on this little piece.

"Shadows and Strings" Revisited

You know, sometimes you think a painting is finished and it just doesn't quite get there. After looking at this piece for some time, and visiting with an artist friend of mine, I revisited "Shadows and Strings."

First, this is where I left off:

And this is really the final work. I added the creases and shadows in the back of the vest.

Once more, I have to remind myself about values! It became quite obvious when I looked at the graphite drawing of the same image, and saw the values in the vest. Back to basics, again.

Happy Trader, Take Two

After looking at this piece for a few days, and with suggestions from friend Toni James, I decided to try more layers to deepen the color and give more depth to the image. So, here are more layers, lots more layers. This paper will take a LOT of layers.

Only thing is, the face is smaller than a quarter, and I have had a challenge to get his features placed correctly in a space that small, with the texture of this surface. But I will keep on with it!

Anyway, here is the updated Happy Trader:

Any comments or suggestions are welcome.

Trying New Paper with Colored Pencil

This is a small sketch, about 8x5 inches, from a photo I took quite a few years ago. I'm trying out a new paper, U-Art sanded, I think about 600 grit.(If that's how you describe it.) Toni James suggested I try it, and handed me a couple of pieces to play with.

This is my first go at it, and I think I can get along with this paper. It's not finished (and may never go beyond this!) but it does take lots of layers, and you can put light over dark which is a great advantage. I will have to try more pieces and more subjects.

 Anyway, here is The Happy Trader as an experiment.

Tony Lama Boots

This is a colored pencil piece I never finished. I love these old boots, but the background was not what I envisioned . . .  one of these days I will try the boots again!

I think it will be in acrylic, so I can modify the whole thing until I'm satisfied with it.

Medicine Hat Mustang in pencil

This is a small graphite piece of a medicine hat stallion. I loved the pose on this guy! I have this one on my wall, and enjoy looking at it yet. I have a great feeling for the tough and hardy mustangs.

New Painting "Shadows and Strings"

This is a 9x 12 acrylic, and I think it's finished. I will put it aside to 'soak' for a while and see. Anyway, I encourage any comments or questions.

It's been a long time since I've tried to paint any rodeo horses, but I've got quite a few reference pics from a ranch rodeo near Kingsville, Texas some years ago, and will be doing more paintings/drawings from those.

Rain and Wind in the Desert

We had a little storm a couple of days ago, in the desert.

This is from our garage/shop, looking at our neighbor's place, with a new 'lake' in our yard.

 

And next we see the view looking east toward the mountains, also from our garage/shop. Patches, the mini goat, is standing on his house and you can just see Jet, the Airedale, standing by our storage building. The lake extended out to our gate.

 

And finally a couple of shots of the south side of our house, showing what the wind can do when it gets a chance. 

Blessed rain, but doggone the wind!

Pencil Ponders

My first love in art has always been pencil. When I was in high school, I was commissioned to do a large drawing of a standardbred racehorse in pencil. He was a pacer, and the image was about 24 x 36. Sadly, I no longer have an image of that piece. I was very familiar with the standardbred racehorses and harness, so it wasn't too difficult, and the owner was pleased with the final result.

Here are a couple of graphite pieces.

This is from a photo taken at a dressage schooling show I attended when we lived in South Texas. The horse was quite advanced, the rider not so much.

This is Alpha and Omega, now in the collection of Scott Campbell, of Campbell Properties in South Texas. I got some nice photos of these brahmas in New Mexico when we lived there. Interestingly, Alpha is the guy behind the yucca, and Omega is the big guy in front. I was standing on the road by our van taking the pics, and my helpful husband rumbled a "Maaaa" at them. The black guy rapidly came out and started at me. I beat a quick retreat to the van and off we went! Thanks, dear!

This last one is a polar bear from a pic I got at a zoo. If anyone sees the original, please let me know, because it was STOLEN at an art show in McAllen, Texas.

Anyway, from time to time I have to go back to the pencil, just to refresh myself.

Best, Jeri

Bunny Bunch

First, Happy New Year! I hope everyone has a happy, healthy and prosperous 2010.

This is a small acrylic painting of domestic rabbits that I just couldn't resist! It's about 6 x 9, on matboard.

A quiet beginning to the new year, I've been working on more horse paintings, and will post as they are completed.

I'm glad to hear from you!

Jeri