Day 30 - Party Preparations

The last day of the January 30 days of painting challenge is here, and I am feeling it... I'm always so glad, at the end of these, for making myself do them.. but, in honesty, this one was particularly challenging.. Life is busy right now with many other important things that have challenges of their own, so juggling a painting a day has been a work out.

That said, today's painting is a visit to an old friend, the Highland Cow, also known as a Coo in certain part of the world.  I love painting these hairy guys, and love the fact that their face can carry expression even though their eyes are lost in their fur!   Birds often make it into my compositions too, as I'm sure you've noted :)  I wanted to put 3 little sparrows in this one, to create a dynamic story and after adding the colorful bunting, it looked like they were preparing for a party, and so a title was born. A party sounds like the perfect thing to me!

If you've come here to read my ramblings this month, I just want to thank you. With so much noise on social media, I am honored that you would take the time to visit my page and read my sometimes disconnected thoughts on my art, my life and why I do what I do. So, here's to you!  Thank You!

"Party Preparations", oil, 10"x10", click here to purchase

Day 21 - Buzzing Around Ms. Daisy Bell

Lately, one of my favorite animas to paint is the Scottish Highland coo.  I wish there were a farm near me that had a herd of these adorable, furry creatures, but even though I am surrounded by lots of rich farmland, so far, I have not located one. That won't stop me from painting them though.. Its funny to me that although you can rarely see their eyes, they somehow still always have such adorable expressions. Funny how that works.. This sweet gal is munching on daisies and chicory (two of my favorite flowers), hanging around with a few bumble bee friends.. I'm ready for warm days and while lots of folks don't care for the bugs that come with warm weather, I love seeing the bees and welcome them to my yard!

"Buzzing Around with Ms. Daisy Bell", oil, 10"x10", click here for purchasing information

Day 10 - Gentle Companions

In case the word Coo is unfamiliar to you, Coo means cow in Scotland. (so cute..) The cow pictured below is a Coo and in my opinion, the highland coo is one of the most entertaining and fun animals to paint.  They have adorably expressive faces and shaggy fur, plus the horns... which are just the icing on the cake. This friendly lady has an aura so sweet and gentle that butterflies and ladybugs can't help but flit about her as she dons chicory blooms in her hair. 

Some color talk:

Recently, I have been exploring different tones for my backgrounds.. Many of my paintings have very light backgrounds. A favorite straight-out-of-the-tube color of mine is called Warm White (manufactured by Gamblin). I love this color as it always imparts a warm glow and I like my paintings to have a light and airy feel to them.  

I recently purchased a tube of phthalo turquoise.. (phthalo is pronounced Thalo.. why is there a phth?  Dunno..) and have been using pops of it here and there in many of my recent paintings..  Today, I made a puddle phthalo turquoise and mixed it with a tiny bit of indian yellow and burnt sienna (two colors complimentary to phthalo turquoise).  This helped to knock it down and neutralize it a notch...phthlao colors are intense.. After mixing it, I thought that this shade of "warm" turquoise could potentially be a pleasing variation to the warm tones that are in the Coo and insects so I used it for my background.  And that's my color story.  I think it worked out nicely.. :)

Sometimes paintings are dense with philosophical meaning (my last two were...) and sometimes paintings are simply designed to make you smile. This is one of the latter kind, and I am just as happy with these kinds of paintings as the ones that are laden with symbolism.  I think there is room for all kinds of art in this world and joyful art definitely has a place.  That said, I am very happy if you do find meaning in my paintings. Art is for everyone and is a unique experience for each of us.

"Gentle Companions", oil, 10"x10", click here for purchasing details

Day 7 - Mucking About

 I've discovered the joys of painting Highland Cattle recently.  They are big furry creatures that seem pretty huggable (although in reality, I'd not try it..) have gorgeous, coppery fur, and I love their long, elegant horns too.. so, here's a new one :) this one is just on a wee 8"x8" panel and it looks to me like she's pausing for a brief moment in the midst of some mucking about in the puddles.  I decided she should sport some shiny green gumboots and a straw garden hat to complete her look. :)

"Mucking About", 8"x8", oil on panel

To purchase, please click here

Day 1 of the 28 in 28 artwork challenge - Mony a Mickle Makes a Muckle

It is day 1 of the 28 in 28 artwork challenge and voila! It has snowed here in my little corner of the universe... I am happy and even grateful for the white weather. It reminds that life is structured in cycles and the time of the creative has arrived. 

Onward with today's post, a post of new beginnings, the beginning of a new challenge to create and post a new painting every day during the month of February! I am taking part in this challenge along with 21 of my artist friends from Art Plus Gallery in West Reading and the excitement among us is palpable, even within the social distancing moment that we exist.

Today's painting has a bit of a title... I'm calling this "Mony a Mickle Makes a Muckle" and I am just vibrating in my pants over it...  A whimsical bit of a Highland cow with a sweet duckling and several ephemeral butterflies, I initially went with the subject of this painting because I've been jonesing to paint a highland cow forever.. they are a sturdy Scottish breed that is able to withstand harsh conditions and intemperate weather and their beautiful fur and expressive faces are just too much... I needed to get my brushes into them!  Add a duckling and some butterfly joy to complete the picture. I was thinking about Scotland as I painted this gal, doing a little reading.. and came across this Scottish saying - Mony a mickle makes a muckle.. which translates to "Many little things make a big thing".  What a perfect way to begin the challenge! The many little paintings I complete this month will amount to much more than any one of them could and this little painting will start it all off. :)

If you are reading along and wish to follow the challenge, please check out the Daily artwork challenge Facebook page and like us so you don't miss a day :)

"Mony a Mickle Makes a Muckle", Oil on panel, 10"x10", unframed, $395
to purchase, please click here