Three Crosses

This is a pencil I did from all the photos I took at our neighbor's branding.

To me the belt buckle really stood out, and so that is why I wanted to name it...'Three Crosses'.

I think I have some tweaking to do yet, It is funny how you see it when it is on the monitor.  I think I need to get darker in some places.

I still love to do a pencil drawing once in a while.

Just Horse'n Around

I normally don't have problems naming my paintings but for some reason, I had trouble naming him, and it may change! The background and mane is gouache. The rest is transparent watercolor. Also, it is on 300 lb. hot press, which is a very different paper to paint on.  If you haven't used it, it is soft and when you put the color down, if you don't soften the edges immediately it just dries there. Very quickly.  It was a challenge because the photo was back lit and the sun was coming through his eye and whiskers. I was coming home from Portales NM, and saw him in Tatum, NM and I hit my brakes, and turned around for photos! He was just beautiful, but then I think all horses are!
 It will be 18x24 framed.

Swan

I have been doing some pencil work too. It is hard to photo and get the paper white! I am sure there is a way, I haven't figured it out yet.  This was from a Wyoming photo.  There was a pair of them, and so pretty. This is on Bristol paper, with several different graphite pencils, ranging from 2H-9B.
I still love to draw, but don't do it enough.

Happy Valentine's Day

8x10 oil on canvas

Palette Knife

 I wasn't sure I would have a Valentine's Day Post, but I did! I got some tulips yesterday, and worked, or tried to...from the flowers, not a photo.  Every time I looked a the flowers they were opened more, and changing. the small one on the right, just came out looking like a top view, so I made it that way!
Thank you for reading my blog, and some of you comment each time. Thank you. It is fun to get feed back.  This is palette knife painting #4.  I sure enjoy the clean up so much more! BUT. How long does it take to dry, I wonder!

Sunday Shoes

Another small painting, 5x7 palette knife painting of Keri's little shoes. These are even smaller than the flip flop! I am such a 'saver' and some times I am glad that I am. These were such a joy to get out and paint. Shoes are still her favorite thing...along with purses! I do have 'both' of these! I don't know why I am missing some mates to the others.

Memories

 

This is my daughter Keri's little flip flop. I don't know exactly how old she was, but you can see her little shoe was about 6" long!  My grandparents came to visit, and when they left my Grandmother told her that she would go home and get her a pair of red flip flops and mail them to her.  Every single day, starting the next day we had to walk to the mail box to look for her shoes.  Even though I told her it was too early for them to be here, she insisted. Then when they did come in, she wouldn't wear anything else. They are completely worn off the bottom and full of stickers. For some reason I can't find the other one! I have a box with some more little precious shoes in it!

This is palette knife #2, and is very small.  3"x4" (I think.)

 It definitely is easier to clean the knives than the brushes!

 

Rodeo Parade

This old pick-up belongs to a good friend of mine.  She always drives it in our rodeo parade.  She always has it decorated with Red White and Blue.  This happens to be my first palette knife painting ever.  I am sure there is a lot I need to do different, but it's a start! I enjoyed it...however, a couple of times I wanted to reach for a brush, but refrained!