plein air painting

We had a lot of snow lately. Getting a painting while the snow was heavy on the evergreens required the tree to be viewed from my window. This is the best I could do since the streets were not plowed yet.
12" x 6" oil on panel

When the roads are clear I was able to get out and plein air paint.
12" x 9" oil on canvas panel

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.

Into the Woods

Working from several photo references to figure out where to place the horses.

12" x 12" oil on panel

Painting Fall

Upped the color on this one and added the road. 

12" x 9" oil on panel

recent plein air paintings

Plein air painting from the old skunk river bridge. This is the view of the new bridge. 

12" x 6" oil on panel

Bridge pylons from the old Farmington bridge.

10" x 8" oil on panel

Wilson Lake 

12" x 6" oil on panel

Appleberry Orchard

watercolor on 140 lb.paper

Two Three Four

Watercolor and Pigma ink pen. 

Bluffstrokes plein air

Dubuque had near flood levels with the river overflowing into several areas. 

11" x 14" oil on panel

River Valley Horses

One from my sketchbook. 

Eagle Point Park

Another painting from Bluffstrokes. The first painting I did was something that I was comfortable with.

9 x 12 oil on panel

vista off Balltown Road in Dubuque county Iowa

This was done during Bluffstrokes Plein air in Dubuque, Iowa. I was there last year and tried a vista from a ski resort, not a successful painting. Scenes like this are something I don't do enough of. Trying it during a competition is risky but it was a great opportunity given this view with changing leaf colors. There is a lot you can take home from a competition besides awards and sales. Painting from life is a how you learn about atmosphere and color. This was a great learning experience, plus I did sell the painting.

12 x 16 oil on panel

Herd of Three

I am feeling a little rusty on my watercolor painting. 

Worked out the compostition beforem trying to not loose their legs.

Multiples

The thing about hanging around with better artists is they push you to try things you are not comfortable with just to keep up. Scenes with multiple animals or people is one of those. 

8" x 5" sepia and india ink on paper

8" x 5" sepia on paper

process gif

click on and play. If I had enough time to try to figure out how to make it play without enlarging and hitting the play button.