Saddle Up!

I was asked to hang my artwork at the college in Clovis, NM in November and December, so I have been working hard to get some new work done. They said it was ‘Cowboy’ country so it gave me an excuse to do some western art…one of my favorites!

This painting is both transparent and gouache.

The  sky (and blue highlights) and the hair is gouache.  The rest is transparent.

Dont Fence Me In!

This old truck happened to be in O'Donnell, TX too. I love old things, especially the old vehicles.

 All of the old trucks there were behind the fence, so I had to put it in too!

Seems like I get caught up always putting what is there! I definitely like realistic!

I also relied on the gouache again for the sky, instead of transparent color

Laundry Day

 

A few weeks ago I went to O'Donnell, TX to visit a friend, and take pictures of the sunflower fields. We went to her parent’s home for lunch and when we drove up I saw this wonderful old building. They call it the washhouse because when her grandparents lived there that is what it really was. There weren’t any sheets on the clothesline but I thought it needed something! I LOVED this old building! It had so much character.
I painted it with transparent watercolor first, (bottom image) and still didn’t have it like I wanted it, so I re-did it using ‘some’ gouache, mainly in the sky.
This is one of the paintings that will be in the upcoming solo show that I have been invited to hang. It will be in Clovis, New Mexico in November.

Lunch on the Prairie

This is the third painting of this same subject. This one was one of the first ones

 and I was never happy with it.I stuck it back, probably 4 years ago.  I got it out and re-worked it with gouache...again.  I really like the backgrounds that are flat, and have so much contrast with the foreground. I also like the way it works with the transparent watercolor. I painted the sky, and the grass with gouache, and  left most of the pots just like they were.

Work Day

Both of these could be called 'Work Day'...The saddle is transparent watercolor, and the boots are done using graphite pencils.(Both have been sold)

  When I started painting, Western Art was what I wanted to do the most because I love it so much. After 'trying' to paint  horses, windmills, etc. I realized right quick that it was very difficult for me.   So I ventured off to painting other things...but I still love anything western.  My Granddad was on the last cattle drive that came through this area here.(West Texas, and Eastern New Mexico)  I grew up around his horses and his cowboy influence. He was such a special man! He remembered every horse that he ever owned, and their names,  and he would tell us stories about his horses, and his experiences every time we saw him.   I wish I had paid more attention to his stories now!  So I am back working on a few more western theme paintings here and there.  I love the smell of horses and leather, and I hope I can do the 'cowboy' things justice when I paint or draw them!

Artist Trading Cards

A couple years ago, I started making a few ATC's, known as Artist Trading Cards.  They are just litte pieces of work with your contact information on the back.  They are so much fun.  They are 2 1/2" x 3 1/2".  You can paint them outright, or use paintings you aren't happy with by cutting out parts of it. The top left one was a small painting.  On the others I just swished colors, inks, etc onto a piece of watercolor paper keeping some whites. I love to use gold metallic acrylic paint on them.   The coffee cup, and the last one have stamps, and i painted, in and around the stamped design. The Blue coffee cups are painted with blue gouache.

 You can buy the cards already cut to the right size, but the paper is flimsy.  I prefer to use my regular watercolor paper.   I recommend these for fun, then you can share them with your friends! 

Thanks to Karen Reimer for helping me get started on doing these!

'Diamond Reo'

This Painting, 'Diamond Reo' was chosen for Chris Unwin's new book, "The Artistic Touch 4" book to be out in December. I took this photo somewhere in New Mexico in a junk yard. Some of my favorite photo's come from junk yards!

We just got back from 7 days in Pennsylvania, so I am hoping to have something painted from there soon, if not, maybe a couple of pictures.