51. Cow Pony

8x10 oil/linen

Just a nice looking cow pony for today.  Nice to be back working on some small dailies after finishing up one big deadline!

50. A Little Surprise

16x20 oil/linen

Okay, technically, this is not a daily painting. It's about 2 day's worth -... but I am posting here because, well, I haven't had a chance to paint any small dailies lately because of some deadlines.  And, some of the things I've been working on in paint application I put to use in this little painting.  There's still a little bit of work to be done, but I wanted to leave it sketchy and there's some nice impasto brushwork in there - my bad photo doesn't show alot of it.

I found an old photo with the side of this barn, and knew I wanted to paint it.. love that old lean-to shed with the rusted tin roof, and the rest of it.  I invented the chickens and the little boy entirely, and the little girl is loosely based on another photo....  

I titled it "A Little Surprise"  - that proud mama hen is bringing out a new clutch of chicks for the first time, and the kiddos have just noticed them.  Nothing cuter than baby chicks, except maybe ducklings and puppies. Okay, kittens are pretty cute too.  

Going to be out of pocket for a few days, so no posts... have a lovely weekend everybody!

49, Her Pet Chicken

8x10 oil/panel

Hmmm... sometimes things that seem like they should be straightforward and easy... arent!  And it's usually a problem of seeing the big shapes and values... I had some trouble with this one, and it's certainly not "perfect" now, but I reached my time limit (and then some) so I let it stay as it is....

Maybe not a perfect painting, but who doesn't like a little child holding her pet chicken? (well, perhaps the chicken isn't thrilled - it's hard to tell with them).

By the way, you can always click on the image and it will bring up a much larger version.  You'll see lots of thick paint on this one... my solution for being frustrated and needing to just get it done!

Happy day, everybody!

48. Green and Red Study

9x12 oil/panel

I had these green apples and they are such a great color, just had to use t hem somehow.   It was fun seeing how the color bounces around in shadows, and reflects off t he white surfaces...I'm back to working quickly, so this was maybe 2 hours, or a little less... 

Here's the set up and the painting.  Yeah, I made my pitcher slightly taller - just wanted to created a more interesting negative shape.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it.  

47. Winter Baby

7.5 x 8 oil/panel

Yeah, I know, it's been more than a few days since I posted... I'm working on some important deadlines and something's gotta give... so the dailies have had to take a back seat. But today, I felt the need to "warm up" and have some fun in the middle of the hard work of finishing some more serious painting. I limited myself to an hour, and this took just under that.

I took the photo of this little Hereford calf when I was out on a run one day.It's usually not a great thing for calves to come in the middle of winter, though it happens. It was a really bitter morning, and I remember thinking this baby must've been cold, but he and mom and the rest of the herd seemed just fine. I think that wooly coat serves him well....

46. Orange and Blue

Orange and Blue 6x8 oil/linen

I have a couple of very important deadlines looming, and not much time to work on them, so I might default on a few dailies till I can get these done.  As it is, I am working early till late. But I did think it a good idea to 

warm up today with something simple, and I determined to work only about 45 min..  I found this blue goblet at a thrift store recently and wanted to paint it... and I love the combination of orange and blue - opposites or "complements" on the color wheel.

I've never painted cobalt blue glass before... very interesting.

Anyway, it's a simple set up and nothing fancy but to try to be purposeful with the brushstorkes and let them be.  And, for you painters out there, it's really important to keep your shadows thin and transparent... and remember the old adage, "cool light, warm shadows" - all the shadows here are warm in color, except where the blue of the glass really colored the white c loth as the light went through it...

45. Trail Crew, Pecos Wilderness

12x16 oil/linen

Actually started this one before Christmas, but had to put it aside until today.  The image was inspired by an old (1950's?) photo of Santa Fe National Forest rangers building cairns.  I think they were up in the Pecos Wilderness from the looks of the photo, but not totally sure.  This crew is wrapping up for the day and heading down off the ridge.