Summer Afternoon 3

This one still has a ways to go yet, but it's coming along. Each one is such a learning opportunity and I appreciate your patience while I struggle to the next skill level. Several of you have suggested that I price these paintings here on the blog to give you the first chance to purchase before they are posted to the public in the gallery of the website. This one is 18" x 24", oil pastel on gesso board and will be available for $1450 when finished. Many thanks for all your support and suggestions.

Summer Afternoon 2

Here is the next step with the underpainting colors. This is a challenging, but fun, painting to get the mix of dappled shade on the white ponies and still be able to get the detail in the pure black pony.
This morning, I heard a scratchy, squawky critter noise and went out to see one of the "chickenettes" (remember the chicks hatched a while back?) practicing the beginnings of crowing. He looked quite startled at his new voice! Now I'll be able to tell how many hens/roosters we have from the baby flock.
Tune in again for the next step on this painting!

Summer Afternoon 1

Here we go with Summer Afternoon. I've put down an orange under painting, which is a warm color, to contrast with the cool colors of these Connemaras hanging out in dappled shade. Just like dinner party meals I present to guests, the disclaimer is that supper is always a crap shoot. I never know what it's going to be like until it creates itself! Same goes for my paintings!

Barn Book 6

I just returned from attending a week long workshop with watercolorist Stephen Quiller, and I am delighted to report that the Barn Book painting got finished after class at night in my hotel room. It is called "The Offering" and I have included a rough photo of it here. It will go tomorrow to a professional to be photographed, as I have already had requests for prints. Hooray! On to the next one!

Barn Book 5

Hooray! The story is unfolding. Lance and Ruffles are sharing a moment of mutual curiosity. Or maybe it's all about barnyard gossip...the fox came around last night and raised a ruckus trying to get into the hen house. You've never heard so much cackling and complaining from the hens! And those devious little Shetland ponies played tag and dodge ball in the moonlight, keeping the other ponies awake until 3:00 AM! And now everyone's quite grumpy from lack of sleep, except the Shetlands who are soundly snoozing under the oak tree. 

Well, I'm off tonight to my big treat of the year: 4th row center seating at a Jimmy Buffett concert! All you Parrotheads out there will surely notice the influence of  that upbeat and colorful music in my next paintings! 

Barn Book 4

Southern Pines was a wonderful success and a lot of fun for my inaugural vendoring out of my traveling art studio. "Let's Ride Diver Dogs" was purchased by one of my collectors, as well as "Catch The First Rabbit To Venus" and "Serenity", pictured here. Now the race is on to finish the piece for the Barn Book.

Barn Book

My art trailer is packed and I'm off to Southern Pines for a combined driving event with my paintings, including the one for the Barn Book, which will be completed there. I hope to be able to send progress photos from my laptop. Thanks!

Barn Book 3

Hello, again. The painting is starting to tell a story. An art professor once asked me if I minded being an illustrator, as opposed to a fine artist (which he thought was far superior to illustrators who tell stories through their art). I said "Of course not. It's what I do...it's my passion!" So, the story begins. Tune in again to see what happens next. I love this painting and even I can't wait to see what happens with it tomorrow.

Barn Book 2

I'm off to a good start. On the left, the brick wall of the barn is beginning to become evident and maybe you can see the drawing that's there, starring Lance and Ruffles. Check back tomorrow to see what happens bext.
Today was circus trick class for all the ponies and they just love it. They get three classes a week and they are eager to show off for a piece of carrot. Three white Connemaras did a pirouette (waltz) in unison today, Winston showed off his Spanish Walk (walking while lifting his front feet way up in the air) and then lay down on command. He also has an easel, paint and brushes for creating works of art. Many tricks in his portfolio! The little ponies lay down and sat like dogs. They are such hams.
See you next time!