Rabbits in Snow with tracks

Plein air paintings gives you everything you need, the right light, the subtle shades of color, correct proportions and clear details. I put this together using summer photos of rabbits placed in a winter background. Just as I was getting ready to frame it I noticed that the rabbits need tracks in the snow, which I added to the rabbit in the upper right.

10" x 8" oil on canvas panel.

This is the rabbit from the previous post who needed some snow tracks. Next snow I need to plein air paint some rabbit tracks as I am not sure of these.

6" x 12" oil on panel

Rabbit and snow

Small paintings just for the fun of it. 

6" x 6' oil on Raymar panel

I arranged this in Photoshop placing a rabbit on a snow scene.

6" x 12" oil on panel

Chicken Commission

 I did this study to warm up for a commission I have to paint chickens. I have not painted chickens much or even birds, so this was a good practice observing the details and form. One thing I missed at first is that they have drumsticks, notice the left leg on the one in front. A lot of birds that I have drawn in the past seem to just go from leg to body.

8" x 10" oil on baltic birch panel.

Portrait for Christmas

11" x 14" oil on panel

plein air painting

This weekend I participated in a plein air event in Bloomfield, Iowa. The temperatures were freezing. Definitely a challenge but that did not deter the competition. I brought watercolor but decided against it when the watercolor artists complained about the water freezing on the paper. Still they turned in some very impressive artwork.

10" x 8" oil on panel

The temperatures definitely slowed down my progress leaving me to warm my hands often. This was started with a pencil drawing of the horses. I have found that I can't block them in with paint as well as I can quickly draw the basic forms with a pencil. A thin wash of burnt sienna over the drawing and then paint the horses before they disappear completely over the hill. 

12" x 6" oil on panel

Angus

I did paint plein air at this location without much success. This is from the reference photos and some editing on the background.

20" x 10" oil on panel

Sorrel Black Sorrel

I always find side views of horses easier than when they face you. Especially the back legs hidden behind the front. 

9" x 12" oil on baltic birch

process view

Rough in

Summer in the Horse Pasture

Composed using several photos. 

16" x 8" oil on panel

Rough in

Photo reference. I used Photoshop and cut out horses from photo references. I resized and moved them around until I was happy with the compostion.