Sedona Trail

"Sedona Trail"
oil pastel on paper
5" x 6.5"
$35
available here

A quick little study based on some photos I took to Arizona this Spring.  I'd like to try this one in a larger size, I couldn't get much detail in the rock formations in the distance.

Painted on UART 400 with oil pastels, using Nupastel and alcohol wash underpainting. (see below)

Stay tuned! I'm working on some cacti, too!

Bethany

Tiger - Pet Portrait

"Tiger"
oil pastel on paper
8" x 10"
commission

This sweet puppy is headed to one of my favorite clients, who will be sending it to friends in Taiwan!

Painted using oil pastels over water soluble pastels.  See progress pictures below:

I'll be catching up on the blog for the next few months, posting updates to finished commissions and new works.  I've been painting much less during my pregnancy and am getting back in the swing of things.  Trying to get more work done now that I am feeling better... lots to do before Baby Bryant comes in October!

Stay tuned, and thank you for reading!

Bethany

Day 22 - Felicity

"Felicity"
oil pastel on board
 6" x 7"
available here

This sweetie was happy to see me, hence her name "Felicity."  Painted on board primed with terracotta Colourfix pastel primer.  

I'm catching up still on the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge... a few days behind still but determined to complete 30 by Feb 1st!  

Stay tuned,

Bethany

Day 8 - Sunlit Afternoon

"Sunlit Afternoon"
oil pastel on board
8"x 10"
available here

I took many pictures of the light hitting this old home along Main Street though Windsor, Vermont.  It was across the street from the Constitution House along Route 12.  I started another piece tonight of the same house from a different angle, and will finish it on Day 9!

reference photo
Windsor, VT

I tried out Golden's Pastel Ground on some gold metallic rice paper matboard.  The metallic quality of the matboard was lost under the ground, but I liked the texture overall.  

Stay tuned for this piece's companion tomorrow!  Thanks for reading,

Bethany

Day 1- Maggie

"Maggie"
oil pastel on paper
8" x 8"
purchase here

Today is the kick off of Leslie Byrd Saeta's 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge.  See all of the submissions for Day One here... there are 250 artists signed up!  I will be focusing on small works, mostly completed within 2 hours.  There will be plenty of cows, houses, and landscapes from my travels in 2012.

I'll be posting daily, so stay tuned!  You can see them all over on my Facebook page, too.

Thanks for reading!
Bethany

Texas Ranch

"Texas Ranch"
oil pastel on paper
12" x 16"
commission

Another holiday commission to share!  The family ranch in Texas, painted from their photograph (see below).

reference picture

I took out some of the smaller details, like the pool railing and table to keep it simple.  I liked the colors that came out in the final painting.  The loose quality in the trees is my favorite part of the painting.  See the progression from a pastel sketch, to alcohol wash, to the oil pastel:

Thank you for reading!  

Bethany

Two Shepherds

"Niko and Raynas"
oil pastel on paper
11" x 14"
commission

Here is another holiday commission.  These sweet German Shepherds are service animals and love to help people!  

This was a surprise gift for their Daddy.  They work together at the Army hospital and retirement homes.  What a special brother-sister team they make!

I was especially honored to paint these incredible animals.  The colors came naturally and just seem to pop out of the photograph for me!

Thank you for reading!

Bethany

Lake View

"Lake View"
oil pastel on board
12" x 16"
commission

One of the holiday commissions I can share now.  Three sisters wanted to give Mom a painting of her favorite lake view.  This was fun working on, and they were really open to my interpretation!  

I would love to wake up to this view in my back yard every morning.

Thanks for reading!

Bethany

Downtown Apex at Night

"Downtown Apex at Night"
oil pastel on paper
8" x 10"
Available in my Shop

I love Apex and it's charming historic downtown district.  Last year I did a different acrylic painting from this photo, with Christmas lights and people lined up for the parade.  

"Christmas on Salem"
11" x 14"
acrylic on canvas
SOLD

I am going to  have this made into some giclee prints or small canvases.  There aren't many paintings of Downtown Apex available.  The Apex train depot is also on my "to paint" list, as is the view looking South with the Apex Baptist Church steeple.

Thank you for reading!

Bethany

Nora

"Nora"
oil pastel on paper
5' x 4"
view auction here

A quick study to try out a new paper before I use it for a large commission.  This is on UART 500 grit sanded paper.  I liked the tooth and its ability to hold up to a watercolor wash. Next I will try another technique for underpainting with the UART.

I loved this view because I thought she looks so sweet!  I love Jerseys and their feminine lashes and beautiful colors.

Thank you for reading!

Bethany

Bossy Bessie

"Bossy Bessie"
oil pastel on paper
9" x 9"
sold

A fun portrait based on photos I took in Vermont this summer.  This cow was bossing the other ladies around at the feed trough.  She earned her title, "Bossy Bessie."  I may regret disclosing that my parents used to call me "Messy Bessie" as a child!  (Hence the Bessie in this title!).

I continue to experiment with the Sabretooth sanded paper. This was on a scrap piece of the pink color. I am finding that I prefer the smoother Colourfix paper for most projects.  UPS just delivered a sampler set of UART sanded papers, so I am off to check them out.  Next I have some larger commissions to finish up.

Stay tuned and thanks for reading!

Bethany

Early Morning

"Early Morning"
oil pastel on board
8" x 10"
click here to bid

This was a cloud study for a Challenge at Daily Paintworks, "The Sky's the Challenge."  I tried to keep the colors vibrant and not to blend the oil pastel very much.

Painted on rag board primed with gray Colourfix pastel primer.

Thank you for reading!
Bethany

Eastern Shore Marsh

"Eastern Shore Marsh"
oil pastel on paper
6.75" x 10"

A quick study of some beautiful scenery from the Cape Charles, VA area.  I had a beautiful weekend there with some of my best friends this past Labor Day weekend!

Thank you for reading!
Bethany

German Glass

"German Glass"
oil pastel on Pastelbord
5" x 7"
view auction

One of my German glass ornaments from my Grandparents. Love the vintage shape and colors in these ornaments! Christmas is my favorite time of the year, and I love a tree decked out in classic ornaments.

Painted with watercolor underpainting on white Pastelbord.  Oil pastel was layered over the watercolor in several layers.

reference picture and watercolor underpainting

Thank you for reading!

Bethany

Costa Rica Commission

"Costa Rica"

acrylic on canvas

14" x 18" 

commission

A recent commission I finished based on the client's image.  A gift for their friends who just returned from a Costa Rica honeymoon...a great wedding gift!

This painting is a prime example of how great photos make for great paintings.  Not all photos make for lovely paintings, and this is why I don't accept all commission requests.  I always want to be sure that I can create a successful painting.

Thank you for reading!
Bethany

Quiet Wonder

Quiet Wonder10" x 8"
oil pastel on paper

I loved the innocence and quiet in this photograph of my daughter.  The sun was getting high in the sky, making for strong overhead light.  Painted with Erengi and Sennelier oil pastels over a Nupastel/alcohol wash underpainting.  On salmon-colored Sabretooth sanded paper.

Thank you for reading!
Bethany

Just off the Easel: Late Afternoon Ride

"Late Afternoon Ride"
24" x 30"
acrylic on canvas
commission

It's challenging to work from a black and white image, but a great practice and very freeing.  Definitely takes me longer to create, though!  Honored to be able to paint this boy and his Grandpa. Now the boy is grown and will have a reminder of time spent on his grandparents' farm.

reference photo

Thank you for reading!

Bethany

Percy the Seagull

Percy the Seagull
10" x 8"
oil pastel on paper
price $45

This was a painting based on a photo posted as a Daily Paintworks Challenge for this week. I have recently joined Daily Paintworks, which features artists' original works and offers them for sale and through auctions.  See my gallery here.

I'm hoping this site will encourage me to continue to paint smaller studies while working on larger commissions.  It's a good break for me, and a great exercise!

I did an alcohol wash underpainting on a new light blue Sabretooth sanded pastel paper I picked up recently...

Nupastel and alcohol wash underpainting

Stay tuned for the latest paintings off the easel!

Thank you for reading!

Bethany

Wedding Church Commission

Going to the Chapel
11" x 14"
oil pastel on Pastelbord
commission

A bride-to-be commissioned this painting of the church where they will get married in October.  We added some fall color to the trees, since she took the photo in mid-summer.  This is her wedding gift for the groom (though once she received it, she couldn't wait to show him!).  The church is a historic site located in Stratford, Connecticut.

For more information on commissions, see my Etsy shop or message me at bethany@bethanybryantart.com ! My schedule is filling up for the holiday season, currently into November.  

Thank you for reading!

Bethany

Beach Boys Commission

A recent commission painted in oil pastels from a client's photo...

Beach Boys
9" x 12"
oil pastel on paper
commission

progress picture sent to client

reference photo from client

For information and more examples of the types of commissions I paint, see the Custom Portrait and Custom Landscape sections of my Etsy shop.

Thanks for reading!

Bethany