Bighorn update

I meant to post the final quite a while ago, darn.  I've been super busy with too many things, but here is the finished big horn ram study:

Pencil piece in progress-Bighorn Ram

Currently working on a pencil of a bighorn ram, called "Posturing." He is posing to show how big and tough he is.

This is just a beginning, but I think it is working, so far. It's on Fabriano hot press w/c paper, 9 x 12, and will probably mat to 8 x 10 or so.

For me, pencil work is very intense, but I love to do it, total control, lol. Any comments welcome, and thank you.

This is a new 11 x 14 acrylic of a single giraffe. I have several pieces in progress, and more will be coming.

"Lone Giraffe"

Some health issues have slowed (read stopped) any new posts for a while.

Here is an acrylic piece, 11 x 14, called "Long Shadows" of an old cowboy and his horse, at the end of the day. This piece is for sale, nicely framed. Contact me for details.

Desert Bighorns new painting

I've been working on several paintings lately, and this is the latest completed piece. It's 12x16 acrylic on a canvas panel, from photos I shot years ago. This was a fun piece, just playing with the paint, and having fun with the sheep. The youngster dashing up to the top was a hoot! Both adults ignored him, though.

It's Been A While . . .

Sometimes life just gets in the way so we can't do the things we really would like, and we have to put some things on hold.

That's been my situation for a time, but I've been painting in between all the other things. And so I want to share a new painting just finished. This is an 11 x 14 acrylic on a panel, from reference generously shared by John Wagner of Colorado. The horse is the wonderful PICASSO, of the Sand Wash Basin wild horses. He is about 23 years old, and just epitomizes the wild horse to me. I'm sure there will be more paintings of Picasso as well as other mustangs from that area.

Anyway, here is "On The Move" and I hope you like it.

Burros, in progress

I have been so busy, and haven't taken time to post here. So much going on right now. Yesterday I spent time looking through photos I shot at Helldorado Days in Tombstone, and printed several good ones for paintings. More on that to come.

This is a 9x12 acrylic in progress of a pair of patient burros, kind of snoozing in the afternoon. It's almost there, but I have some tweaks yet. This is actually the third go from the reference. First was in watercolor, didn't like it; then in colored pencil, didn't like it . . . so now acrylic, and so far so good, I think.

I always want to hear comments on any work I post! It's revealing to see how others view the painting or drawing; sometimes uplifting and sometimes not, but always welcome.

Anyway, here is the piece so far:

Sassy and the Bay Finished

This is a pencil piece I've worked on sporadically for a while, and have decided it is finished. The image is from photos taken at a mounted shooting event (they are great spectator events!). I liked the drape of the coat and the stride and attitude of the lady.

A painting will probably follow this at some point.

 

It's been a mild fall and winter here in southern Arizona so far. I hope everyone has had a great holiday season!

Back to Drawing

The Catalina Artists Studio Tour was a great experience, and I enjoyed it very much. The location was so beautiful, and the hosts were gracious and generous. Many thanks to Connie Crosby for inviting me to participate.


After the show, I have been taking a little breather from painting. Just today I got the urge to draw again, and here are a couple of pages of 1-2 minute sketches. No corrections just getting the essence without worrying about anything else. It felt great to get back to it, and now I will be painting and posting more often.

I've never tried reindeer before! These are the domesticated ones. Nor have I tried the great apes, only once or twice for lions or elephants either. It was fun!

Some Big News

I recently was accepted as an associate member of the Women Artists of the West (WAOW). This has been an ambition of mine for a long time, and I feel quite honored to belong to this prestigious organization! The website for WAOW is: http://www.waow.org

My other news is that I have been invited to participate in the Catalina Artists Studio Tour on Saturday and Sunday, November 5th & 6th. I am really looking forward to this show!

Check it out at http://www.catalinaazarts.org

Hope to see you there!

Old Hands

It's been quite a while since I posted. Life kinda gets in the way of art sometimes. I have been working on several pieces and this is the last finished acrylic. I call it "Old Hands" because these old boys have been there and done that. I really like the horses they were riding, very colorful roans. Instead of the corrals and other riders, I put them out on the open range with a little space. Just riding along, talking things over.

Here's a little closer look at them.

"Just Jawing" new acrylic painting

This is 9 x 12 on a gesso panel board. Sometimes the pics I've taken over years have to 'cook' a while before I put something together from them. This is from shots taken in 2004, I believe, at a horse event here in Arizona. These fellows were just passing the time between events, catching up on the local news, perhaps. Anyway, I like the horses' attitudes, just waiting . . . so I put them in a pasture setting rather than the back chutes of the arena.

Any comments are welcome.

"The Eyes Have It" Burrowing Owls

This is a 5x7 acrylic on a Ampersand panel of burrowing owlets. Thanks to the great reference from Alan Wilson. I remember seeing burrowing owls on our desert walks when we lived in New Mexico, and they were always charming. I could not resist this composition, each owlet with his/her own attitude, and boy do they have attitude!

 

They were fun to paint!

Zebra closeup in colored pencil

This is one I finished some time ago, but only now framed to hang at the office. It's about 4 inches square, with a very pale green mat and light wood frame about 3 inches wide, so the framed size is about 16 inches square. (The piece isn't in front of me, so the framed size is an estimate, lol).

Anyway, here is the piece:

It's available, contact me!

New Miniature Painting

This is 2.5 x 3.5 inches on watercolor paper, in acrylic. So far the title is "Resting Rabbit" but a better title would be welcome! Back to miniatures, and they are quick and fun to do. This piece is available, contact me if you are interested, and thanks for looking.

Bison Head Study

This is a 9 x 12 study of a bison bull. I'm working up the last of the textured canvas supports. I always seem to fight the texture, but this was a fun piece and it's also gone to a new home. Nice to have them go out so quickly!

Thanks for looking, and I would like to hear any remarks on this one.

The Golden Girls-Pronghorn Antelope

I've been working on several pieces, and some have been more cooperative than others. This one is 9 x 12 acrylic on board, and was started some weeks ago. I put it aside to think about how to finish it, and finally, last week just dug in and here it is.

I often take a new painting to work so I can view it under the different lighting there. This one found a new home on the second day!

"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.