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!