Blanca ~ otherwise known as White cow in a Snowstorm

Blanca ~ 6" x 6" oil on panel

bid in the auction HERE

I'm always fascinated with the different variations of white. White things are never actually white to paint. I was inspired by how things seem to emerge out of nowhere, on those foggy, heavy misty days that are abundant in this west-coast village I call home.

I know I should have something deep to say about this painting or my technique, or purity or SOMETHING! but nothing is coming to me. My brain is a pure white blank slate...

Texas Gold ~ Texas Longhorn Cow oil painting demonstration

Texas Gold ~ 9" x 12" oil on canvas panel

I think I've mentioned before that a man down the road from us has Texas Longhorns. They're such a fascinating animal. They look so powerful and intimidating, but in actuality they're quite gentle and sweet natured.  Unfortunately, we live far from Texas, on the rainy West Coast of B.C., and light like this just doesn't happen. I tried to imagine and convey the heat and intensity of a summer Texas sunset in this one, as I don't think the mist and cedar trees of Bella Coola are a fitting environment for these magnificent beasts. For sale now at Daily Paintworks, click HERE to take you to the auction page.

Below, I've showed a few of the steps that I took in creating this painting. I know I should take more pics but I get so into what I'm doing that I forget to stop to show you my progress.

                         

Step 2 ~ about halfway done...I'm working out the shadow of the cow, and experimenting with the color of the background, adding some lights and mid tones, throwing in touches of pure color to excite the eye...(I hope, lol!)

Step 1 ~ the first block in. I do the darks first, working out the composition...It's much easier to work darks into light than the other way around. I find that the darks provide the framework, and it's everything on top that adds form.

Tuscan Vineyard

Tuscan Vineyard ~ 5" x 7" oil on gessoed hardboard

for sale at Daily Paintworks

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So I'm really mixing things up for you folks! Trying to keep it interesting, for you and also for myself. I love painting animals and people, I've always said my favorite things to paint are things with eyes..."the windows to the soul", and usually that is where I'm really satisfied. 

BUT...

A few years ago I went to Europe. It was the trip of a lifetime. I took so many pictures of the amazing countryside, and I told myself that I would paint them. And those pictures sit in my reference folder, taunting me every time I'm looking for subject matter. 

This particular photo is of a winery and its vineyard in the Chianti region of Tuscany where I went on a wine tasting tour. What a blast that was, and another story entirely, lol!!

Out of the Shadows

Out of the Shadows ~ 6" x 6" oil on panel

Here's a change from the cows...I missed my horses! Cows are fun, but maybe I'm feeling more serious today. Horses are a lot more dignified, don't you think?

The challenge in painting this was taking my substandard reference photos and getting the look of dramatic light on them! This worked out alright, me-thinks!

You can own this little lady by clicking right down here, to bid in the Daily Paintworks auction...

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The Texas Longhorn

Tex ~ 8" x 10" oil on panel

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A friend challenged me to paint a texas longhorn cow, since I've been painting a lot of cows. I found it difficult to find a format to fit his horns! I might get my hubby to cut me a long, narrow board. I think that might look cool, too. 

I've been experimenting with thicker paint lately, and this one is pretty juicy. I used a pallet knife in sections, and scraped away to the orange ground, and built the paint up thick in other areas. I think I like the effect.

Pizzeria

Pizzeria ~ 5" x 7" oil on hardboard

bid here in the Daily Paintworks auction

Well, now for something a little different from cows...I still love cows, don't get me wrong, and you'll be seeing more of them, but I needed a break.

This character spoke to me...he said "Paint me"...

I can't take credit for the great reference photo, other than creative license with cropping and placement of certain elements. It's from my friend, Fraser Koreluk's stash of travel photos, and he kindly gave me permission to paint it.

 I've worked in restaurant kitchens for most of my adult life, and the pose, the look of concentration, are so familiar to me. I also loved the light, and the old-town look of the stone oven.

Carmella the cow

Carmella ~ 6" x 6" oil on canvas panel

up for bid at Daily Paintworks

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Again, I'm having fun with complementaries. The blue and the orange are such a vibrant combination. I also decided to change things up by painting this one on an orange ground, too. It peeks through the blue, adding a neat colour vibration. I'm working on loosening up, too. This painting has thicker paint and looser brushwork. It's a challenge to see how little information you can add and still keep the painting strong. I still probably over-did it. My inclination is to get finicky with details, but I think that sometimes kills the strength of a painting.