Blog-o-herd

3 new additions to the Blog-o-herd. All are 6"x6" oils on panel.

I'll be at the Bethesda row show, booth b42 for anyone in the DC area next weekend.

more cows

 6x6 oil/panel

Okay. I admit I'm on a cow fixation. Happens every winter. With any luck we'll get snow and I'll have my artist friend David Oleski video me doing some plein air cow stuff. Below is another studio piece and then....well I describe...

 6x6 oil/panel

 So this is how I start most paintings. Put in the darkest value first. It's amazing how quickly an image appears when you have a limited value range. Note there is no sketch. The painting is the sketch...

 Now I introduce the next value range paying attention to temperature. Just because it's dark doesn't mean it's cool!

 At this point I'm satisfied with the piece. Now for the background. Unlike landscape where it is important to establish a key these "portraits" are flexible. I go with a warm selection.

6x6 oil/panel

cows

 6X6 oil panel

11"x20" oil/linen

2 new pieces. I've been working on commissions and have a lot of new work. I'll post the rest of the new stuff throughout the near future. Cheers..........

anticipation is making me wait

 8"x10" oil/linen birch panel

8"x10" oil/linen birch panel

Two new pieces that I dug out of my head and heart. The top one is from observation the bottom one is channeling cows yet again from the depths of my memory.

I've been busy framing for the new season that starts in Richmond VA. first week in may. The collection is coming together nicely.

mooooo

11"x14" oil/linen birch panel

Happy St Patricks day from my new cow friend.

cows on parade

3 6"x6" oils

It's farm show week in Harrisburg. What this means is all things agriculture come to town and display their items for the public to see. The local lore is that it snows this week. Well it did a nice 4 inches. Shouldn't be a surprise. Historically it's one of the coldest weeks in modern time for this area.

Here are some cows. Up close and personal.

Do not be afraid

both 24"x24" oils


The top piece I just did. Took a year old painting that I didn't mind and immediatly covered it with red paint. Blinding bloodbath would be a good phrase. Grabbed some paint soaked paper towels and started wiping. The painting I mean. Vertical.......horizontal......throw on more red......wipe more out.....20 minutes of this and I started to see the image. Carved out a brushfull of neutral and threw it on. Nothing gentle here and yet there is a softness in edge that I truly like. Not sure how my galleries are feeling right now.........

Last week my painting friend Peter Stolvoort came over for dinner and conversation. We spent some time in the studio and we had a bit of a critique. He suggested the original of this piece(scroll down it's about a week old) was a bit confusing to the eye. It was difficult to figure out a focal point. The barn competed with the cows. I agreed wholeheartedly. He suggested eliminating the barn completely. I figured what the heck. Ditch it. Loaded up a brush and in one fell swoop.........half gone? hmmm. This is interesting. It now looms perilously over the hill. Me thinks Me likes. Lesson.......Don't be afraid to screw up a piece. It might just get better..............

more cows in snow

24"x24" oil

Revisiting a favorite subject of mine. More cows in New York state winter. Photo'd last year. They're feeding on the hay bales.

Since I've changed my painting style(no longer premix color, just start with a value sketch and mix with brush, apply) I've been noticing exciting compositions popping up immediately. Makes me think I don't need near as much "subject" in the picture plane. Very minimilist approach, but hey, thats what currently seems to grab me. I used a huge brush on this and will continue to do so. Change is in the air and this time it's got nothing to do with politics.

More cows

3- 6"x6" oil/canvas

Yep, still doin' em

running on 3 hours sleep and firing on 3 cylinders...back at it tomorrow.....hopefully the turbo kicks in...

Upstate New York Farm

2- 20"x16" oil/canvas'








Another attempt at abstract cows in snow. Please pardon me while I obsesse and transgress with this subject. I don't expect that too many people are as fascinated as I am with cows in snow but I can't get enough. I especially enjoy walking up to them and seeing their reactions.

Cows at the trough

30"x40" oil/canvas




Back from a weekend of cross country skiing at Gilbert Lake state park and some downhill at Bellayre Mtn. in New York state. I took a bunch of photos and made color notes in the wonderful countryside that is upstate New York. Found some cows close to camp....it was supposed to be partly sunny....it was snowing.....again....so I have more cows DURING snow stuff.... as we headed towards the catskills the sun came out and blessed us with some unbelievable scenery. Those scenes, the camera can't do justice and I know the after the fact painting couldn't either. So I'll stick to composition and massing and leave the postcard stuff for postcards..........