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"

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.

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.

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:

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!

"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.