"Tobey & Friend"

3"x5"

Ink on Paper

Once again, duty calls and no time to spend at the easel today! So after a romp with the puppy, I took advantage of his quiet time and did this sketch. He looks kind of sad in the drawing--that, however, is the fault of the artistf!

Still in Process

Well, yesterday and much of today was filled with illustration work, so I haven't been able to spend much time painting! I plan to keep working on this until it's finished rather than start some little pieces because I find it hard to go back to paintings if I have to leave them for awhile. Hopefully I can finish this tomorrow.

I don't think I am unusual in this: it seems like I have a whole slew of paintings in my head waiting to be brought to life and it is so hard to slow down and work in "real" time. By the time I'm half finished with one, often a part of me is on to the next. I think that might be one reason I like doing the little paintings--I love finishing them and being able to move on.

Painting in Process

16"x20"

Oil on Cradled Board

I need to be working on some things for a show, so this will be one of those paintings. I was hesitant to try this composition with the subject leading off the picture plane, but am curious to see if I can make it work! We'll see!

"Young Jumper" (sold)

6"x6"

Oil on Board

I loved the confidence these kids showed on the horses and kind of envied their experience! This little painting was a challenge--spent alot of time on proportion and the feel of the movement. Sometimes it's really difficult to get these things right on such a small scale, and, for me, when I'm working with the figure or another live creature, it's important to do that.

"Warming Up"

8"x6"

Oil on Board

$100 plus $10 domestic s/h

Another painting from the High Desert Classics. It's such a treat to visit out there. The horses are such strong, beautiful creatures. The competitors range from young girls--haven't seen any boys out there--to "seasoned" pros.

"Washington Square Reflections" (sold)

12"x9"

Oil on Board

$300 plus $10 domestic s/h

click here to ask to purchase this painting through Paypay

I was looking forward to trying this subject larger than the 8"x6" (7/15's post "Day at the Mall") and am trying to get up some work for a show in October, so have spent the last couple of days working on this version. I enjoyed using different brushes--actually used a size 10 somewhere in there! I also tried to apply thicker paint--I can't believe how hard that can be! With the brights I love to use, I find I put the paint on pretty thin. I found it easiest to carry more paint with the filberts. But then, I love the marks the brights make--no reason not to use them all, right? At any rate, it sure feels good to paint something not quite so tiny!!

"Morning Ride" (sold)

6"x6"

Oil on Board

$100 plus $10 domestic s/h

click here to ask about purchasing "Morning Ride" through Paypal

This little painting is from a jumper and horse show event called the High Desert Classics which is a benefit for a local youth organization and goes for a couple of weeks. Riders and competitors come from all over the States and, though, I am not a "horse-person", it's just beautiful to watch.

This is Tobey. He's an 8 1/2 week old bichon that joined our family last Friday. He is so much fun!!! Needless to say, it's been a little hard to keep my mind on painting the past few days!

"The Poet's Corner" (final)

8"x6"

Oil on Board

$100 plus $10 domestic s/h

click here to ask about purchasing "Poet's Corner" through Paypal

I ended up working some more on yesterday's painting and am glad I did. I am happier with the values and colors. I think I still may try another version of it at some point. It just feels like there is some way I want to treat the painting of this image, but still haven't quite figured out what it is! The Poet's Corner is a relatively new art-space in my hometown of Bend that offers inexpensive space for young/unestablished artists of all stripes to work and show. It has that fresh feeling of exploration, anything being possible--reminds me of college days. . .

"The Poet's Corner" . . .maybe

8"x6"

Oil on Board

Today was not a great day to paint--just plain tired! I had a hard time really paying attention to what I was doing, just kind of kept mixing and putting on paint without thinking enough about it! So. I am going to look at it again tomorrow and see what to change, or maybe even start from scratch. I really like the subject and want to do it justice!

"Nikki" (sold)

6"x6"

Oil on Board

$100 plus $10 domestic s/h

Another painting of my sister-in-law's horse, Nikki. Actually, this one looks much more like her to me than the first one I did. I'm glad about that, but mostly I was hoping to get the feel of the horse, the place and the time of day. At any rate, I thoroughly enjoyed doing this!

"Day at the Mall" (sold)

8"x6"

Oil on Board

$100 plus $10 domestic s/h

Well I wanted to do something today that I didn't get so tight with, could try to let the brushstrokes BE more than I have been lately. This was really fun. I would be a happy camper if I could do the same thingon a larger scale!

"At Pasture" (sold)

6"x6"

Oil on Board

$100 plus $10 domestic s/h

I admire the single-mindedness of animals--they are just so into the moment. I wish I spent more time like that! But that is one thing I love about painting--it focuses my energy and thoughts often just drift away. It's a welcome rest from my self!

"Day's End"

6"x6"

Oil on Board

$100 plus $10 domestic s/h

click here to ask about purchasing "Day's End" through Paypal

This little painting is from a visit earlier this week to the farm I grew up on. The sun was about down and it was so quiet. Some of the sounds you hear are the horses snorting or their tails swishing, a hawk calling and the sprinklers watering the fields. The light is beautiful as it stretches over the fields. I'd like to spend more time learning to capture that!

"Bull-Dogger"

8"x8"

Acrylic on 1" Cradled Board, No Frame Necessary

$130 includes domestic s/h

click here to ask about purchasing this painting through Paypal

Well this was another go with the acrylics--so different than the oils! I like the energetic look and the bright colors that I end up with, but it is very hard to get used to how quickly they dry. It seems like you really have to learn to make quick color decisions--maybe that would be a good thing!

"Over the Top" (sold)

8"x6"

Oil on Board

$100 plus $10 domestic s/h

Another pup at the dog show--they make me smile to paint them. Where I don't smile is trying to figure out all that green--I've always thought green was a hard color to paint--is it too bright? too dull? too blue? too just green!

"Simpatico"

8"x6"

Oil on Board

$100 plus $10 domestic s/h

click here to ask about purchasing "Simpatico" through Paypal

I saw these kids at the rodeo a couple of weeks ago and in going through my photos, I was so struck by their seeming independence from everyone else. They just seemed so mature, like they've had a whole lot of experience packed into their few years. I enjoyed the challenge of the limited palette in this painting.

"PLE-E-E-EASE Sit" (sold)

6"x6"

Oil on Board

$110 plus $10 domestic s/h

Awhile into the agility competition at last weekend's dog show, some of these pups would suddenly be distracted in the middle of what they were supposed to be doing--hey! someone else was here before me!! who was it? sniff. . .sniff--it was so funny and wonderful to see how the animal was just so present to his world and how it didn't care a bit about "winning" and all that. Meanwhile, the judge looks on. . .

painting in process

Well, the morning is going too fast and I am fiddling too much on this painting, so it won't be finished today! Oh well--it IS a holiday!! The other day, I found some new brights that I had stashed away and have been using them. I can't believe how much more I tighten up when I paint with them, but I do love the marks they make!

Happy 4th of July!

"Airborne" (sold)

8"x6"

Oil on Board

$100 plus $10 domestic s/h

I love the over-the-top crazy courage that someone who rides broncs and bulls must have! Being the tame middle-aged woman I've become, I am happy I get to paint these and at least spend a fair amount of time trying to feel what the cowboy's body is doing and the fierceness of the movement of the horse!

A note about yesterday's post: my computer was down yesterday and most of today so I color-corrected my photo and posted with a different computer and monitor. When I got my own computer back, I checked the blog and saw that the color of the painting was way off. I have since corrected it. I had some really nice responses to that painting and sure hope the change in color doesn't change that!!

"Contestant #20 and Pal" (sold)

6"x6"

Oil on Board

$100 plus $10 s/h

I got to go to a dog show Sunday--something they don't have alot of around here! What a kick! Mostly I watched the dogs and trainers in the agility competitions and was SO impressed with what heart those dogs had! Just beautiful! It inspired me for when I get my next pup. I don't know how this pair ended up in their competion, but they were all such troopers.

"Santa Fe Market"

8"x10"

Oil on Board

$250 includes domestic s/h

Ah, memories! These people are shopping and browsing through the beautiful hand crafted jewelry across from the plaza in downtown Santa Fe--I think it's at the Presidential Palace, but need to look that up! This painting will be on display at and available through Tumalo Art Company through July--click here to contact them if you are interested!