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 2 of the Daily Art Plus Challenge - Troo Colors

Today is the 2nd day of the October daily challenge and today's painting is one I started last week in West Chester from the back of my van. I am away from my home studio several days a week and had to figure out how I could keep painting.. so I bought a van and embraced the van life!  (Lol.. its fun and its also challenging, so, the verdict is actually still out on how tightly I will be embracing van life, but for now, it's an ok compromise.. I'm sure I'll be writing more about my Van Painting adventures as the month wears on..  :)  Anyway, back to Bessie.. I put the finishing touches on this sweet gal in my home studio, and now she's showing her Troo Colors. She's a nice companion piece to yesterdays frog since they both have pretty flowers on their head, and the sunny butterfly about to alight balances things nicely. I chose this cow for the main subject for the graphic black and white which I thought would contrast nicely with the brightly colored flowers and I love her unabashed gaze too :) 
She is currently for sale at Visual Expansion Gallery in West Chester. 

 

"Troo Colors", Oil on panel, 10"x10", 

please contact Visual Expansion Gallery in West Chester for purchasing details.

Day 28 - Colorful Broo

 Well, it is the end of another daily painting challenge and I will be sad to see this one pass.   I have enjoyed this one so much for a few reasons, one of which is that I got to do it with many of my artist friends from Art Plus Gallery in West Reading.  This month's paintings were an eclectic mix of animals and fantastic subject matter, and I thought that this painting was a good one to post on the last day.. Teacups often make it into the mix and so do cows and umbrellas... I thought that this bright rainbow umbrella pretty much sums up the brew and crew of imagery I painted, plus it just makes me happy.  I hope it makes you happy too. :) I love the black and white cow.. just something about the angles and contrasts, and letting her soak in some tea seemed right. Add in a tasty cookie and a corvidae and well... Mooahh ♥ ♥ ♥

 If you are one of the kind folks who has come to read my blog throughout the month, I want to extend a huge thank you for taking the time out of your day to check out some of the thoughts that run through my head on any given day.  It means the world to me!

THANK YOU!

"Colorful Brooo", oil on panel, 10"x10"
to purchase, please click here

DAy 25 of the 28 in 28 - Moove over Andy.. and what keeps me coming back...

I know this is a pretentious title, but it is what came to me.  I would never deign to say that my paintings could come close to replacing Andy Warhol's iconic work.. but.. there's a cow in the teacup, man...  I had to!

In addition to exploring my foray into painting Tea Cup Critters, I continue to consider the balloon motif.  In my RhinOlive post the other day, I mentioned how much I love color and brush work.. and that is what keeps me coming back.  Well, I also love that I can just take motifs and follow them wherever my brain wants to take them... I've now paired the balloon with birds, a fish, a cat, a rabbit.. some ducks, and now a cow.. and each iteration carries with it completely different connotations, feelings and if nothing else, visual interest.  So, THAT... that keeps me coming back for more too.. :)

"Moove Over Andy", oil on panel, 9"x12"
To purchase, please click here

Day 1 of my Holiday Painting Spree, Sale & Giveaway!

Wow! It is the beginning of the holiday season this week and here we go with my first every Painting Spree, Sale & Giveaway!  I am hopeful that lots of people will follow me through the next few weeks as I paint my way through the spree, offer deep discounts on my paintings and giveaway some of my favorites! Plus at the end of the spree, I will be giving away a FREE Pet commission! Very excited...

First, don't forget that I will be painting and posting a painting a day until December 17th!  They will all be for sale at 20% off my normal prices at my Daily Paintworks Site.  And, if you purchase one, it will be ready to hang the moment you get it!

This weeks giveaway painting is one of my 6"x6" long horn cattle paintings.  My 6"x6" paintings are by far my most popular, and I wanted to offer something that lots of people would appreciate.  This little guy, "Little Big Horn" has been around for awhile, and it is time that he be mooooving on to a new home!  I have always thought he was a cutie, and have always loved the brushwork in the painting... he just didn't find his forever home yet. But he will now, because on Saturday, I will be choosing a winner at random from all of the entries I receive at my website. The link to enter is RIGHT HERE.

Little Big Horn, oil,
to enter for a chance to win this painting, click here

Good luck to everyone who enters!  If you are the winner, you will be notified by email on Saturday, November 26th.  Your painting will be mailed on Monday the 28th!

Check back here everyday for my daily painting posts. :)