Lone Tree in Winter 2014

I have painted this year several times through the years. I love the way the branches spread out. It is located in Rodeo Park and during winter they close the gates and you will have to walk to it but it is worth the view. 

8" x 6" oil on canvas to bid at auction

Spring Magnolia 2

Reminders of spring when the magnolias come out. They are one the first signs of spring. This is hoping they come soon. I tried to go more purple than the last post.

6 x 6 oil on canvas

Spring Magnolias

I am hoping that spring is just around the corner. Since I slipped on the ice and sprained my ankle, I switched to watercolor. When painting in watercolor I can sit down and paint. I have never gotten the hang of painting oil sitting down.

image size 6" x 6" watercolor on 140 lb. paper

Catfish

I challenged myself with this pose, but it showed the different colored ears much better. I have a commission coming up and needed to work on dog portraits. I may have to go to the local PAWS animal shelter and take pictures if they let me.

8 x 6 oil on canvas

I started with this rough out because I was having trouble with proportions. I meant to get the whole tail in as it had a spot of white on the tip, but as you can see it didn't work. I have already scraped this off a couple of times. 

Tomatoes on the Vine

I like it when the grocery stores sell these tomatoes on the vine. It makes a more interesting subject matter. I used some of the orange paint left over from the reception. Carroll took a painting workshop from Dreama Tolle Perry and came up with some new paint colors she let me try.

8 x 6 oil on canvas

A Dog Named Catfish

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My son came to visit and brought a newly adopted dog, Catfish. He was too cute to pass up and I followed him around until I got this shot. 

6 x 6 oil on canvas

 

Raspberries Fresh

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Fresh raspberries looked awfully good yesterday. I had some paint left over from the paint out at the Art Center. I liked the Transparent Oxide Orange and Caribbean Blue and may have to break down and buy some.

6 x 6 oil on canvas to bid at auction

Snow in the Pasture One Cow

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My artist friend Gin Lammert had an exhibit at the Fort Madison Art Center and as part of the opening reception she asked her fellow artists to paint. We had six artists painting and a nice crowd watching; all having a good time. My friend Carroll squeezed out some new paint colors for me to try, see the lovely blue next to the cow's head. I think that color was Caribbean Blue. 

9 x 12 oil on canvas

On the Rocks

In my first painting of whiskey on the rocks I used a simple glass. This is a cut glass that I found more challenging and sometimes that is what draws me to paint it. I just changed the title from Over the Rocks to On the Rocks, because my husband made fun of the fact that Over the Rocks was incorrect. I guess I would not make a very good bartender.

8 x 8 oil on Raymar panel. to bid at auction

One Calf Following

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The last two painting were studies for larger pieces. I would like to make an 8 x 16 of this 6 x 12. Maybe someday I will paint a 16 x 32. 

6 x 12 oil on canvas to bid click here

Cow in the Snow

Usually I like the cow to face towards the inside of the painting, but when I was cropping this the background worked better from this side. I did take out the fence. I have seen a lot of great paintings with the fence when the elements are placed correctly. 

6 x 6 oil on canvas to bid at auction

Snow in the Pasture

The blue of the snow shadows against the red brown of a Hereford's wooly coat makes a nice contrast.

6 x 6 oil on canvas to bid click here

Three Sheep in Winter

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Back to snow paintings. This was from a group of sheep and I pulled these three out. 

6 x 8 oil on canvas to bid at auction

When painting animals I often have to improvise. I stopped along the road to photograph these sheep and of course they do not cooperate. I used this as the basis for sheep in the snow.

Jack on the Rocks

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The snow is coming down and it is expected to keep snowing till noon tomorrow. My father used to take a shot of whiskey before going out in the Iowa winter. I don't think it really kept him warm but I guess he thought so. This is a little tighter than I would have liked. I painted it, then went back into it a couple of days later to refine the details. I painted this on canvas and I had to fight the surface. I think if I decide to paint this tight again I will paint on Ampersand panel.

8 x 6 oil on canvas to bid at auction

Petunias

We just had more snow and I felt like painting something summery. 

12 x 6 oil on canvas