Crossing Sugar Creek series

I often drive on out of the way gravel roads hoping to find subject matter. This was one of those finds. A herd of cows with calves crossing a stream. I took several photo references and created these paintings in watercolor and oil. Some just studies and some studio paintings.

Two horses

This time of year the landscape is muted. I find myself trying hard to keep to a limited palette.
Photo reference 10" x 8" oil on panel

Trees on the Hill

Landscapes have an abstract quality to it. This was based on a photo reference of trees on the hillside.

10" x 8" oil on panel

Trail to the River Bank

Painting snow until Spring. From photo references

9" x 12" oil on panel

Another view from the Bridge

Love painting "white snow".  

photo reference. 12" x 9" oil on panel

Up Close

Working on larger than life. 

12" x 12" oil on cradled panel

White on White Almost

I pulled several reference photos together to create this scene. I originally intended to have three white cattle but felt I could not pull if off, so I changed one to a hereford. 

12" x 9" oil om panel

snow on the banks

Another try at painting from photos. Plein air painting is the better but, when I see the Facebook posts of cars in the ditch I chicken out. To make up for that I try a composition that is challenging for me. This one will sit on my wall for me to think about it.

14" x 11" oil on panel 

watercolors

The Iowa Watercolor Society show is at the local art center in Fort Madison, Iowa for the month. I am posting some watercolors starting with one from 2006. I started with painting watercolors and it has been a great learning experience. 

Watercolor on 140 lb. paper

watercolor on gessoed board.

watercolor on 140 lb. paper from 2014

winter scenes

Plein air painting snow is worth putting up with the cold. 

12" x 9" oil on birch panel

Painting the white with lots of color

10" x 8" watercolor on 140 lb. paper

Some days were too cold to stand outside so a great view from my window works.

watercolor on 140 lb. paper

Another view from my window.

6" x 12" watercolor on 140 lb. paper

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