"Cowgirl Cool" version #2

14"x18"

Oil on Board

for purchase information contact River Bend Fine Art Gallery

Finished! And I'm pretty pleased with this, overall. I'm wondering if I ought to exxagerate the highlights in the dresses of the middle and left girl. . .I have made more than a few attempts to paint this subject in a way I like and it feels great to be happy with this one. I expect to revisit it again someday, though, and just see how I would paint it in another year or so.

"Cowgirl Cool #2" (sold)

12"x12"

Oil on Board

Well. . . . . . this painting was a learning experience! I wasn't too thrilled with it by the time I posted it yesterday, so decided to rework parts of it (sorry, Leslie!!). And, as things go, there's parts I think work better than the previous version and parts that don't. However, I've really had to ask myself what to do to make this work. I like the composition alot. I have decided that it would probably be better if it was backlit rather than the sun hitting the subjects full force from the direction it is now. The result of that is that I couldn't figure out how to show highlights without sacrificing enough contrast to make the foreground figures keep a dark enough value to really stand out. That sounds a little bit convoluted! Anyway, I think the figures in the foreground need to be much darker. I'd like to have more distinct layers of depth. Right now I've had enough of this subject, but when I'm over it I think I'll try different lighting.

"Cowgirl Cool"

12"x12"

Oil on Board
NFS at this time

I don't think this painting is finished. I was going into new territory today as I did it and feel like I need to sharpen up the three girls. What a challenge! I was trying NOT to have too much detail, too many sharp edges, etc. but I think I may have overdid it! Color was also a challenge. It's a complicated composition with lots going on in the background. I started with a full palette of colors--about 10 besides black and white-- and ended up simplifiying it more and more the more times I wiped the painting off and started over!

Painting in Process--Barrel Racer (sold)

12"x12"

Oil on Board

Unfinished

I've been invited to exhibit some paintings in a show about "ranch life and rodeo", so am needing to concentrate on that for a bit. It feels great to revisit the subject. This painting is of a barrel racer. In this competition, there's three barrels positioned in a triangle in the arena and the riders are timed as they ride close and fast around each barrel and back to the starting line. It's a test of horsemanship and the agility of the horse and is mostly done by women. At least some rodeo events are obvious offshoots of the work that cowboys do, so I wonder about this one. I haven't found any information about the origin of barrel racing, but I wonder if the contest might have come about as a reflection of the skills needed by horses when they are cutting cattle. Hope to finish this tomorrow!

"Cattlewomen" (sold)

6"x8"

Oil on Board

Oh! It feels so good to do a little painting again! This painting is of some women I saw last week on my way from Bend to Hood River, herding cattle with their dogs to a different pasture. It brings back so many memories of my childhood!