Carlene Dingman Atwater

red rose

2012-02-29T16:40:00.001-08:00

I do not know what kind of paper this is. I have several brands around and this was a partial. It really soaked up the paint which explains how I got the deep reds. Now I wish I knew.

6x8 watercolor

Butterfly

2012-02-27T04:59:00.000-08:00

I don't really know what kind of Buterfly/moth this is, but it worked well on the background.

10 x 10 Watercolor on 140 cold pressed

Hollyhocks no3

2012-02-26T12:54:00.000-08:00

6x8 watercolor on 140lb Arches

Three Sheep

2012-02-21T14:57:00.000-08:00

I have not painted in watercolor for a year and this is my first warm up. A little faded. I need to get up to speed as I have a commission due in a month.

David's Chamber

2012-02-19T07:08:00.000-08:00

This was painted from a photograph. This location is a favorite spot for plein air painting. One day when painting there with a friend I left a covered pallette on the ground and forgot it. I went back a four days later and it was gone. It was not worth anything to anyone but another artist so I suspect that someone picked it up and threw it in the trash, which was hauled away.

6x6 Oil on Ampersand panel.

Mari and the Dove

2012-02-18T06:23:00.000-08:00

Shortly after first posting this painting I wiped off the background. After thinking about it I decided to make up this background. I may do some minor editing on parts of it, but for the most part this is it. Also I needed to retake the photo under better lighting.

6x6 Oil on Raymar panel.

Mari and the Dove

2012-02-15T17:04:00.000-08:00

Mari was really holding a ceramic horse but this appealed to me.

6x6 Oil on Raymar panel

AJ and Trouble

2012-02-14T19:22:00.001-08:00

I did not get this finished before night. I usually take pictures in natural light. I will take a photo and repost later.

This was a combination of the two photos. I guessed at the pose on the dog since the photo was the one I used from a previous post, "Australian Shepherd".

White Horse and Foal

2012-02-12T06:36:00.000-08:00

I made up the background on this one and looking at it think I need to revaluate it.

16 x 20 Acrylic on Panel

Greg

2012-02-11T06:33:00.000-08:00

This is a portrait I am currently working on. Putting it on the easel where it can be viewed helps give me perspective on what it needs.

16 x 20 oil on Ampersand panel

White Horse in Winter

2012-02-09T15:16:00.000-08:00

The horse was added because I thought it needed something there. I contemplated putting a cow there. Now that I look at it, there needs to be a fence somewhere. Maybe one of those snow fences.

Sneaking Out of the Bag

2012-02-08T04:14:00.000-08:00

This is an acrylic painting. Painting in acrylic lets me cover over my whites without worrying about disturbing the paint below. I will use the medium intented for airbrush applications to get some sort of blending techniques. I sometimes paint in acrylic on site to avoid messing with solvents.

19 x 9 Acrylic on gessoed masonite panel.

Grazing Horses

2012-02-07T08:26:00.000-08:00

I have tried this composition several times. I want to make paint it in a larger format but so far I have not been able to pull it together. The two horses each came from different reference material and the background was edited to work with the composition. In this version I reversed the white horse.

8x6 Oil on Raymar panel.

Red Rose

2012-02-06T04:09:00.000-08:00

I found this vase in a store and like it's shape. I am not sure about how it works with flowers. Maybe with several daisies, something that does not have a heavy flower.

8x6 Oil on Raymar panel.

Round Bales in a Square Field

2012-02-05T06:45:00.000-08:00

When I was growing up all the bales were square. They made great building blocks and we used to take those bales and build tunnels with them. It was probably not safe but we did a lot of things back then that wasn't safe. I wonder what the kids are doing with these bales?

Quarry Creek no2

2012-01-30T14:22:00.000-08:00

I know this looks familiar because I am painting from the same photo reference that I have used before. There is not need to paint every rock as you see it just the general feel of the scene. This scene is challenging to get the correct feel of the water flowing over the rocks and the white water, that is why I will go back to the photo reference. I will probably paint it until I feel it is prefect or just give up.

12x6 Oil on Ampersand panel.

Swan no 3

2012-01-29T06:38:00.000-08:00

I often go back to this subject. Working with white is always fun to add any color to the subject.

8x6 oil on Raymar panel.

Hollyhocks no 2

2012-01-27T05:40:00.001-08:00

I thought I'd try the holly hocks with a dark background. The photo reference for this one the flowers were lighter than the background.

Hollyhocks

2012-01-24T13:53:00.000-08:00

I remember on the farm where I grew up there were hollyhocks growing on the side of the garage. There didn't last long, not sure why they died. They seem like pretty hardy plants. These are the Hollyhock growing on the side of our house and they have survived my lack of a green thumb.

6x8 Oil on Raymar panel.

Snow Frolic in Rodeo Park

2012-01-22T13:13:00.000-08:00

This was from a photo I took last year. The dog in the painting has passed away. He was the best dog we ever had and he came from the animal shelter. We still miss him.

6x6 Oil on Raymar Panel

Quarry Creek

2012-01-21T09:58:00.000-08:00

When the kids were young we would join friends for a picnic in this spot. It was downstream from a local rock quarry. I haven't been here is a long time, maybe this summer if it is still there.

11.5x5.5 Oil on Raymar Panel.

Greg

2012-01-19T14:45:00.000-08:00

When I take a portrait commission I usually make practice pieces like this one.

Creek Bank no 2

2012-01-16T14:27:00.001-08:00

Pink Rose

2012-01-15T04:47:00.000-08:00

I once bought my mother a dozen lavendar roses so when I saw this one it reminded me of her.

6x8 Oil On Raymar Panel.

Cherry in a Yellow Bowl

2012-01-14T06:54:00.000-08:00

I originally had a very dark background and hated it. After wiping it off I painted the light colors over the still dark wiped background and liked it. I guess there are "happy accidents" in oil too.

8 x 6 oil on Raymar Panel.

Australian Shepherd

2012-01-13T09:17:00.000-08:00

The photo reference for this one was a commission I did years ago in watercolor. It was difficult for me to paint the merl coat in watercolor with out making mud but it works great in oil. I think merl is the term for the spotted coat. I am told that these dogs make great pets, highly intelligent.

8 x 6 Oil on Raymar panel.

Cherries in a Yellow Bowl

2012-01-09T18:11:00.000-08:00

I received a gift certificate to a local florist and gift shop. They carried a lot of nice large purses, the kind that could hold everything and you would never find it until you moved your stuff to a new purse. I went in with the intention of buying one when I saw these cute little bottles and the bowl in these great coordinating colors.

12 x 12 Oil on Stretched canvas.

Ford V8

2012-01-08T05:34:00.000-08:00

This is the rough in for my painting. Normally I do not paint a black and white base for my paintings but I understand I can get darker darks and lighter light.

I think it worked as this has some really great darks and lights.

This is the one of my watercolors I painted years ago. Painting chrome is like painting water it is all in the reflections. I have seen a lot of car paintings and you don’t have to be a car enthusiast to want to paint them. I don’t even know what kind of car this is on as I took the picture at a car show.

I am one of those artists that can’t decide what I want to be when I mature. Once at an art fair I noticed the judge just walked in front of my booth, looked shortly then moved on. I was a bit upset as I was also demonstrating and there was an award for that. The judge dismissed me for "not having any continuity in my work". I love it all and don’t want to miss any of it. I am afraid I will not live long enough to create everything I want to. I have painted watercolor, pastel, acrylic and now oil. A range of subject matter from people to rocks and there is still something I "need" to paint.

It all started out with painting horses which is still my favorite and I so enjoy it. I then realized that my landscape was awful as the horses showed a more mature developed artist but the landscape was that of an amateur. When I started working the landscape I realized that working with colors and design and capturing the feel of a warm summer day was also enjoyable.

You might call me a jack of all trades but master of none; but like I said I am having too much fun trying to do it all.

I just checked the internet and found out that the first hood ornament is from a 1936 Ford and the second one is from a 1951 Chevrolet Impala.?

Mattie no 4

2012-01-07T06:07:00.000-08:00

I am still working from photos I took over Thanksgiving weekend since they didn't come back for Christmas. I think my visitors will make it back for Easter. By then I will have run out of reference material.

6x8 Oil on Raymar panel.

Red Cherries in a Yellow Bowl

2012-01-05T17:56:00.000-08:00

I painted this over a white ground rather than the colored ground I usually use. This seems to give it more color.

6x8 Oil on Raymar Panel.

Mattie in the Mountains

2012-01-03T05:51:00.001-08:00

I edited the background on this one, she was sitting on a rock in our front yard. The background was the siding on the house, so boring.

Oil on Ampersand Panel. 5-1/4 x 11-1/2

White Roses no 2

2011-12-31T11:57:00.001-08:00

White Roses

2011-12-30T14:00:00.000-08:00

I bought some roses and satin fabric for this still life, which seemed like a great set up at the time but maybe for someone else. Roses are not my thing but I love paintings of roses so I keep trying. I am also working at making a light box. I don't think my homemade lightbox works as well as taking photos outside in the right light. I also may have to crop this so the final size is still undetermined.

Christmas 2011

2011-12-28T20:17:00.000-08:00

This was part of the Daily Paintworks challenge. To paint the aftermath of the Christmas celebration. This is my second try at shiny surfaces and curly ribbons. I don't know if this is any better than my first one.

6x6 Oil on Raymar panel

Geode Creek no6

2011-12-27T07:05:00.000-08:00

Around here we do not have tall mountains with cascading waterfalls. I enjoy the small waterfalls that that you find along the local creekbeds.

6x6 Oil on Raymar Panel.

Glass Apples no. 3

2011-12-26T05:29:00.000-08:00

One more time and then I think I can give at least one of the apples away. The red apple is not as transparent as the others and I struggle with my reds. The size of this painting is 12 x 12, a little larger than usual.

12 x 12 Oil on Stretched canvas.

Young Girl

2011-12-25T05:46:00.000-08:00

The model for this painting reminded me of the models in a lot of John Singer Sargent paintings. There is the great bones and deep set eyes. Another reason to paint this was the profile view which I struggle with and that is probably why I did not get this to look enough like the young lady for her to recognize it as herself.

6x6 Oil on Raymar Panel

Arabian no 10

2011-12-24T06:33:00.001-08:00

This is another painting painted over a failed one. Just a quick painting if it turns out fine if not maybe the next painting will be a painting using a pallette knife.

6x6 oil on Clayboard.

Glass Apples no. 2

2011-12-23T06:36:00.000-08:00

I now have four glass apples so this will be a recurring still life subject. I painted this over a failed painting. Some of the texture is actually brushstrokes from the previous painting. I use liquin which dries fast but if the painting is not working out it does not wipe off very well. The background in this is out of my head because I didn't set it up right in the first place. If I set it up right I can just work straight off the photo. Although this subject matter would work better from life and I should have done that.

8x8 Oil on Canvas

Hannah

2011-12-20T14:29:00.001-08:00

Green Glass Apples and the Real Thing

2011-12-19T04:54:00.000-08:00

We recieved a fruit basket for Christmas with green apples. There was also a pear that would make a great contrast in shapes but, my husband ate it. Next time I know to work fast if I want food in my still lifes.

6x6 Oil on Raymar Panel.

Mattie Again

2011-12-18T06:42:00.000-08:00

This is again from a photo of Mattie but I don't think I got the features correct. This was just a practice for anatomy of the face. I am just glad I didn't give her a crooked face.

6x8 Oil on Raymar panel.

Green Glass Apples

2011-12-17T06:19:00.001-08:00

I have another painting on this blog of a glass apple, it was painted before I gave the apple away as a present. When I went to buy another the glassblower was no longer making glass apples. He was like a lot of a artist,s in that making the same thing again and again is so boring. It took a lot of prodding to get these apples and they will not be presents, as a matter of fact he has others and I plan on buying those too.

Bridge On Ave D

2011-12-16T05:44:00.001-08:00

I took the photo reference for this from the bridge on Ave E. The bridge in the background is now closed and will probably stay that way. They don't even allow foot traffic anymore. I tell myself one day I am going to set up on the bridge and paint on site but probably not this time of year. The local bicyclist have a bike ride in January for the real die hard riders. I sometimes think I should start up a plein air painting event in January for the real die hard painters, but that would make me committed to showing up.

6x6 Oil on Raymar panel.

Canadian Geese Reflection

2011-12-13T06:39:00.000-08:00

This painting was done for the Daily Paintworks Challenge to paint a reflection. The geese gather at Starker Lake in Crapo Park. When the kids were young we would go there with bread and feed them.

6x6 Oil on Raymar Panel Buy

Illinois Creek

2011-12-12T14:05:00.000-08:00

This started out with both banks showing but I couldn't get it to work.

6x6 Oil on Raymar Panel

Mattie

2011-12-11T06:34:00.000-08:00

This little girl posed holding her hair out and I loved the look, also it gave me an opportunity to paint a hand. That was the hardest part of the painting forcing me to wipe it out and try again. This was still painted alla prima but it took a little longer to do it. If you looked at my post of this painting earlier you may have thought the girl's hair was a lot more disheavaled, I went back in and messed with the hair a bit more. This is no longer alla prima painting.

10x8 Oil on Raymar Panel.

Dappled Paso Fino

2011-12-10T07:51:00.000-08:00

The photo below is the reference shot for this painting. I had to edit around the white fence. The back legs were not ideal, so they were changed. Ideally I would have liked to work straight from the photo. The angle of the horse's head is what inspired me to paint this. I had to edit the hind quarter of the painting to look more like a Paso Fino using the other reference shots to figure out the anatomy. Defining the difference between one breed of horse and another is a challenge almost as challenging as capturing the difference in human faces. Another challenge is painting dappled horses. I used to paint little pins for Christmas presents. One of the pins was of a dappled circus horse which I kept for myself. I left the pin on my blouse when it went through the wash it was ruined.

6x6 Oil on Raymar panel.

Rainy Evening on the Road

2011-12-09T18:07:00.000-08:00

I do not like to take pictures from the passenger seat. My husband was driving and wanting to get home. This painting is based on the photo from the car window.

6x6 Oil on Raymar Panel.

Mari

2011-12-04T06:19:00.000-08:00

I take my photos of these paintings outside and it is an overcast day. I am posting this now but will update the image when the lighting is right.

This little girl was my Thanksgiving visitor and she was a great subject.

6x6 Oil on Raymar Panel.

Fall Colors on River Road 5

2011-12-02T17:39:00.000-08:00

6x6 Oil on Raymar panel

Amaryllis

2011-12-01T16:18:00.000-08:00

Another color challenge with red. This Amaryllis bloomed last year when I took this picture. I could not get it to bloom again. The only time I have a green thumb is when I get paint in it.

6x6 Oil on Ampersand panel.

Fall Colors on River Road4

2011-11-24T08:09:00.000-08:00

Another view along River Road.

8x10 Oil on Raymar Panel

Roan Horse

2011-11-24T06:15:00.000-08:00

The color of the horse is what compelled me to paint it. I believe it is called red roan, but I am not sure because when I Googled strawberry roan a lot of other roan colors came up; blue, red, and bay to name a few. I think I will just name this painting simply Roan Horse.

8 x 10 Oil on Raymar panel

American Saddlebred

2011-11-17T04:40:00.000-08:00

SOLD

I was walking around the Rodeo grounds taking pictures when two young girls came riding up, riding bareback on this horse and politely posed for me. As you can see I left them out. Digital pictures let you drop them in Photoshop and retreive details lost in the dark shadows, but this was taken before digital. I just guessed at the dark side of this horse and don't trust myself on the gir'ls details. The profile was just great and I couldn't resist painting it. It probably would be better with a landscape behind it, but this is one of those days I don't want to think too much. For me this painting was just fun and easy. I think this is an American Saddlebred but could it be an Arabian? I took some liberties with the tail, in the actual photo it was down and since the girls were riding on the back I created the profile of her back. Most of the paintings I have done were of Arabians with a few quarter horses thrown in. I have photos of Paso Finos which I have not used yet. When I was growing up I received the book, "An Album of Horses" and drew every horse in that book at least once.

6x6 Oil on Raymar panel. $50

Fall Colors on River Road 3

2011-11-16T04:55:00.000-08:00

If this looks familiar, it is a larger version of a previous 6x6. This one is 12x12. When I want to go larger and don't want to take the chance of messing it up I will use a successful 6x6 as the basis. I don't know if I like the smaller one better or maybe it is just different.

12x12 Oil on Ampersand textured clayboard.

Waterfall on the Bluff

2011-11-15T06:26:00.000-08:00

The original photo for this did not have a waterfall, but it was boring. I admit that it is not exactly correct but close enough to give you the feeling.

6x6 Oil on Ampersand Panel.

Fall Colors at Lake Geode

2011-11-13T05:24:00.000-08:00

There was still some water left at Lake Geode.

6x6 Oil on Raymar panel.

Red Wine and Green Bottle

2011-11-12T06:05:00.000-08:00

When I was arranging this still life I spilled the wine. When I came back with a towel to wipe it up the dogs were licking the wine off the floor. I guess they think if its something we like to drink it must be good, even through this was a dry merlot.

6x6 Oil on Raymar Panel

Fall Colors on River Road 2

2011-11-11T05:39:00.000-08:00

The fall colors on River Road in the early morning light have more color or it just seems so because the light and dark is so much more dramatic. I sometimes paint my ground with whatever is left on the pallette and this one started with a green ground.

6x6 Oil on Raymar Panel

Fall Colors on River Road

2011-11-10T05:35:00.000-08:00

6x6 Oil on Raymar panel

Rocky

2011-11-06T05:49:00.000-08:00

While walking the creeks I found this scene. Usually many of these rocks would be under water and there would be waves. 6x6 Oil on Raymar Panel.

Fall Colors on the Bluff

2011-11-05T17:55:00.000-07:00

I was walking the creek bed thinking I could get a nice shot of the fall colors reflected in the water, but this has been a dry year and the water levels are down. I did find this scene. I needed more work on painting rocks.

6x6 Oil on Raymar panel.

Fall Colors no3

2011-10-30T07:29:00.000-07:00

The sky was a little cloudy with the sun trying to peek through. I took a photo and finished painting in the studio for this one.

6x6 Oil on Raymar Panel.

Fall Colors With Creek

2011-10-30T06:46:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a great day for plein air painting the fall colors. The early morning light gave the leaves more color. Painting fast and using a little creative license when it comes to color helped this painting.

6x6 Oil on Raymar panel.

The Autumn Drive

2011-10-28T03:38:00.000-07:00

SOLD

I altered the road from the original photo to give the painting depth.

6x6 Oil on Raymar Panel.

Fall Colors

2011-10-27T15:58:00.000-07:00

The fall colors are not as vibrant as they have been in the past. This scene is with the early morning light and I think that added some color.

6x6 Oil on Raymar panel

Kitty Kitty Kitty

2011-10-22T08:31:00.000-07:00

My sister has several cats and last time I stopped by I took a photo. I admit I don't have much experience painting cats so this did take some editing. The original photo had them under the porch which was also edited out of the painting. I also experimented with the pallette knife on this one. Sometimes I need to paint out of my comfort zone.

6x6 Oil on Raymar panel.

Building the Sand Castle

2011-10-16T15:58:00.000-07:00

Today was the second day of the studio tour. I was a little braver and painted this scene on site and it went smoothly. I will need to fix the details when the paint dries.

6x8 Oil on Raymar panel.

Don't Push Me

2011-10-16T04:30:00.000-07:00

I got a little bolder yesterday with this scene. I did have to edit the background, since the original photo was taken in a feed lot.

6x6 Oil on Raymar Panel.

Red Wine and Green Grapes no 5

2011-10-16T04:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I participated in the South East Iowa Artists' Studio Tour. I selected this subject matter because I am familiar with it. When painting in front of crowds I usually select something I can pull off successfully.

6x6 Oil on Raymar panel

Red Wine and Concord Grapes

2011-10-13T06:29:00.000-07:00

My sister dropped off some concord grapes that she picked up from a local vineyard. These are perfect for this still life. I may have to go back in after it drys some to put more quinocridone red in the grapes.

6x6 Oil on Raymar Panel

geode creek no5

2011-10-11T15:22:00.000-07:00

This is a version of the creek that I had been painting.

6x12 Oil on Raymar panel.

Red wine and Green Grapes 4

2011-10-03T04:52:00.000-07:00

6x6 Oil on Raymar Panel

Geode Creek no.4

2011-10-02T06:34:00.000-07:00

I decided to try this creek scene again. I love the creeks in the area they bring back memories. They are difficult to paint and usually I avoid subjects like that but not these. I probably have more creek scenes in my reject pile than other subject. I am still debating this one.

Red Wine and Green Grapes 3

2011-09-18T15:52:00.000-07:00

This last week's Daily Paintworks Challenge a value study.

This started out as the Daily Paintworks Challenge using 4 monotone values. It started out as a set up outside but I could not reproduce the set so I just used my imagination. Working off a value study helps.

Staring Contest

2011-09-16T05:30:00.000-07:00

This is the previous trail riders painting after I edited it. I am not sure of the composition, possibly the palomino should have been on the right with the chestnut in the middle something that would lead your eye around the painting.

Creek no 6

2011-09-11T06:21:00.000-07:00

I am brushing up on my water painting skills. I have this commission that requires a water scene that I basically have to make up. This is a scene I created in my head as a warm up for the rough sketch below.

The commission requires three guys swimming across the Mississippi. I needed to convey the sense of distance. The bridge is blocked in on the left; which after looking at it seems out of perspective. The waves will also have to be adjusted to gradually transision from large to small. I may have to go plein air painting to get a better grasp of the details.

Smile

2011-09-10T17:12:00.000-07:00

I once read a column in which the writer talked about his wife turning 50; he therorized that she could easily be a spy because no one noticed her nor would remember what she looked like. I normally share this gift of ananomity, and use it to get candid pictures of people. The Tri-State Rodeo is in town this week; it draws large crowds and big time entertainment; there's also a great parade. I went to the parade by myself ( I was tired and grumpy.) I sat down with my camera, blended into the crowd, and waited. A red pickup came by with this famous rodeo clown; he looked right at me and said, "Smile it doesn't cost a thing". My first thought was "Is he talking to me?' Indeed he was; as he gave me a big thumbs up, I laughed, picked up my camera and shot this picture, The result is this painting of Leon Coffee doing what he does best, making you smile.

6x6 oil on Raymar panel. NFS

Brahma Bulls and other sketches

2011-09-07T17:10:00.000-07:00

The rodeo is in town this weekend. This is from a photo I took last time they were in town. I was up on the fence when I took this and they were laying down.

I bought a bamboo dip pen and walnut ink. I once borrowed someone's bamboo dip pen and just loved it. I have since tried to find one with the same feel but no luck. This was tricky but you can get a variety of widths in your line.

This is from a photo of my daughter when she was 18.

Red Wine and Green Grapes 2

2011-09-05T16:13:00.000-07:00

The last bottle of wine I bought was white which I liked better but it was harder to paint. So I bought a bottle of red wine and even if it doesn't taste as good it made a better painting. Either way I'll still get to drink a glass of wine when I finish. I'll admit I don't particularly like the grapes, so they are used in the next painting.

6x6 Oil on Raymar Panel.

Getting Ready to Show

2011-09-04T13:43:00.000-07:00

This is a recent sketch done in pen and ink wash. When I sketch I don't draw a rough draft in pencil. You will see several lines on the outside. I am just warming up for painting and these are just practice. Just fast and loose, and this one is fairly accurate for anatomy. They are not always sucessful and usually I will just quit in the middle and move to another one if it is really off.

Three Big Pigs

2011-09-04T05:52:00.000-07:00

SOLD

This is my entry for the latest Daily Paintworks Challenge which is to paint a pig. It could be a cartoon, toy or ceramic pig. That would be the best ideas, because pigs are not that photogenic. They don't look at you unless they think you have food. They don't have that cute face like a calf or fluffy fur and who likes looking straight into a nostril. Years ago I wanted to enter a local contest, Pigcasso art contest, which required a picture of a pig in some form or shape. I took many pictures of these uncooperative animals. None of the pictures had a ready made composition and I never did enter the competition. So when the challenge came up I decided to suck it up and try. This is a composite of three different pictures, and a made up background.

6x6 Oil on Raymar panel.

Sliding Stop

2011-09-03T15:51:00.000-07:00

I would often go to the local Rodeo for reference shots. This is a sliding stop and I seemed to have gotten the photo at the right moment. This is another example of a challengeing subject matter. I had to scrap the horse's head off two times and move it up to get the right length on the neck. Also the hat another tough one had to be scraped and repainted. Again I will come back to this one and reevaluate it.

6x6 Oil on Raymar Panel.

Trail Riders

2011-09-02T06:39:00.000-07:00

This is one of the those paintings that I will do to really challenge myself. Painting the front view of horses is something I don't do enough of, note the back legs of the last horse on the right. Also cowboy hats are tough, mine sometimes look sort of like Stan Laurel's(was he the skinny one?). This is a painting in progress, I had corrected it too much and now have to wait for the paint to dry to fix it. I also need to walk away for a day and come back to it.

lemon Pie

2011-08-31T16:51:00.000-07:00

Soybean Rows

2011-08-30T04:22:00.000-07:00

SOLD

This was created for a challenge. Create a painting using only rectangles. It was very challenging. The light hit the soybeans and the rows went at an angle. I did enjoy the background which went a lot better.

6x6 Oil on Raymar Panel.

Grayscale Rabbits

2011-08-29T03:02:00.000-07:00

SOLD

The ideal for this painting came from the last one where I added color to black. The original photo for this was three rabbits rangeing in color from black to light gray. The center of interest is to appear in various shades of black and gray and the background various shades of bright colors and still make the painting work together.

6x6 Oil on Raymar Panel.

Black Cat

2011-08-28T06:47:00.000-07:00

I added the palette knife painting method to the background when the original compostion drew your eye to the left side of the cat and the tail. I like to add colors to white and this is my attempt to add colors to black. I learn from other artists on the internet and both the palette knife technique and the colors in the black came from looking at others successful paintings.

6x6 Oil on Raymar Panel

Camouflage Cow

2011-08-27T16:25:00.000-07:00

SOLD

One of the things that attracted me to this scene was the challenge of the cow against the white barn.

6x6 Oil on Raymar Panel.

magnolia no5

2011-08-25T03:54:00.000-07:00

I live in Iowa and the magnolias up here only bloom in the spring of the year before the leaves come out. This year they bloomed a second time in August. I took photographs of them for painting references. Green is a color I struggle with so this is another of those paintings that forces me to work it out.

Cherries no 4

2011-08-24T17:43:00.001-07:00

I used to hate working with red. The cherry paintings were a way of forcing me to keep at it.

If you looked at the previous painting of cherries you may have noticed that the bowl looks smaller in this one, actually its the same size. I don't paint it exactly as I see it.

6x6 Oil on Raymar panel.

Balancing on the Fencerail

2011-08-23T06:22:00.000-07:00

This was a challenging angle. I am not sure that I have the face right, I will probably work on it again and repost.

6x6 Oil on Raymar panel

Bowl of Cherries no 2

2011-08-21T17:15:00.000-07:00

The cherries was such a fun thing to paint that I tried a another variation.

6x6 oil on Raymar panel.

A Sparkler for Mary

2011-08-16T16:35:00.000-07:00

This painting was from another reference photo taken at the same time as the other one. My camera does not take very good night photos or I just don't know how to work it.

6x6 Oil on Raymar panel.

Grazing on the Hillside

2011-08-15T05:10:00.000-07:00

The contrast between the reddish brown of the cattle and the green and blue is what attracted me to this scene.

My Screw Cap Wine

2011-08-14T08:21:00.000-07:00

When I did the set up for this I noticed that this is a screw cap bottle of wine, so I went with it.

Just a Small Glass of Wine

2011-08-13T05:31:00.000-07:00

I am returning to one of my favorite subject matters. I started with a dull green background that contrasts with the red of the wine. I bought a set of oils on sale and it contained Pthalo Green which in in this painting in some of the dark areas. I often get stuck on certain colors and am forcing myself to use this color in my paintings.

Kaylee

2011-08-12T17:35:00.000-07:00

Maddie no.2

2011-08-12T16:10:00.000-07:00

Maddie was playing frisbee when I took this picture. Profiles are hard for me this one actually took longer than the front view shots.