Day 23 - Sunshine

"Sunshine"
6 x 6
oil pastel on paper
$45
available here

This cow was enjoying the afternoon sun, hence the "Sunshine" name.   I liked the shadows and letting the blue paper color show through the oil pastel in some places.

Painted on some small pieces I have left of light blue Sabretooth sanded pastel paper.  It's not my favorite sanded pastel paper, but it is good  for some simpler pieces.  The texture of the paper tends to make it harder to get detail. I prefer to use this paper without any underpainting.

Stay tuned for more posts as I catch up with updates on the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge!

Bethany

Day 16 - Bluebell

"Bluebell"
oil pastel on paper
4" x 4"
available here

Day 16...still catching up on blog posts, and now I am a day behind with the paintings!  I worked at my "day job" all day yesterday, cleaned house (for the babysitter!), and stayed out late having dinner and drinks with friends.

Yikes, better get in gear today and pour another cup of coffee.

Happy Sunday!

Bethany

Day 10 - Camille

"Camille"
oil pastel on board
5" x 7"
available here

Day 10, back to more cows!  This little calf was only one day old when we visited Billings Farm last summer in Woodstock, Vermont.

reference photo
Billings Farm, Vermont

It was hard to get a picture inside the barn stall, but I just had to paint this sweet little one.  I named her "Camille," meaning "innocent"in Latin.

Thanks 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

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

Just off the Easel: Chapel Hill Creamery Barn

"Chapel Hill Creamery Barn"
11" x 14"
oil pastel on board
Available in my Shop

I worked on this painting a few months ago and didn't get to finish it.  I have been working on cleaning up my pile of unfinished works and finally got it done!  I love the colors in the shadow of the barn and the light hitting the tractor.  

The Chapel Hill Creamery hosted a tour last fall for members of The Produce Box.  We got to meet cows, pigs, and horses, not to mention sample some delicious cheeses!  You can find their cheeses locally at the Durham,  Carrboro, and Western Wake Farmer's Markets.

Stay tuned for more new paintings. Thank you for reading!

Bethany

Just off the Easel: Bonnie the Cow

"Bonnie"
oil pastel on board
8" x 10"
contact for purchase info

Here's a nice young lady I met in Vermont during our vacation.  My first painting of a Holstein cow.  I have more than 100 pictures of Jersey and Holstein cows to use as reference photos!  

Stay tuned for more, and thank you for reading!

Bethany

Commission progress and decisions

Quick post with an update on the commission study. Still deciding on colors for grasses!  This study doesn't have to be perfect, just a roadmap for the larger 24" x 30" painting. The study is 16" x 20" acrylic on canvas.

current snapshot
reworked grasses, background, upper right

8/7/2012

 Here are some of the stages of the painting so far:

8/6/2012

getting paint onto canvas
deciding on colors
8/4/2012

lay out image in vine charcoal
starting with red canvas
8/4/2012

WIP: Commission using black and white photo

This is a study for a 24" x 30" commission.  We only have a black and white photo as reference.  It is liberating to choose any colors, but at the same time challenging!

commission study
16" x 20"
acrylic on canvas

reference  photo

I have to resolve a few areas before we proceed with the larger painting.  I have to change some colors and define the upper right area above the fence.  I need to go back in all over and refine a little bit, add a little more detail to the faces, horse, and the fence.  

Stay tuned for more progress on this piece! Thanks for reading.

Bethany

Just off the Easel: Welcome Committee

This painting is 14 of 30 works in 30 Days.

"Welcome Committee"
oil pastel on board
5" x 7"
$45

We met this sweet girl during a trip to a dairy farm in Vermont a few years ago.  We'll be heading up again this summer and I can't wait to get some good reference images with my new camera.  I'll be checking out lots of old barns, farm animals, and covered bridges.  I can't wait!  Hoping to plein aire paint some, too.

I'm falling even more behind on my challenge, but I have two more that I am still working on to add to the list.  Stay tuned for a beach baby and barn scene that I'll be sharing soon!

Thanks for reading!

Bethany

Horses, Goats, and Barns, Oh My!

 More paintings from my 30 Paintings in 30 Days challenge:

#9: "Carousel Prancer"
oil pastel on board
5" x 7"
$45

"Carousel Prancer" is painted from photos I took of the antique carousel at Pullen Park.  We went a few weeks ago, and our little girl loved it! The highlight for her was the train ride.  Pullen Park is an incredible park in the heart of Raleigh. The whole park was recently renovated, and it is really beautiful for children of all ages!

#10: "Peek A Boo"
oil pastel on board
5" x7"
$45

This goat at Fearrington Village was checking me out!  I enjoyed trying out a cooler color palatte on this painting.  I'll be going back to get more pictures, since the light at noon was too harsh and I only got a few good reference photos.

#11: "Afternoon Shadows"
oil pastel on board
5" x 7"
$45

I loved the light on this white barn.  I tried to keep this painting quick and loose. It is one of my favorites of this series!  This barn is located in Fearrington Village, just south of Chapel Hill, NC.

Stay tuned...I have more paintings to catch up on!

Thanks for reading,
Bethany

Just off the Easel: Afternoon Shadows

This is #6 of 30 paintings in 30 days...

"Afternoon Shadows"
oil pastel on board
8" x 10"
$45
contact for purchase

A house located on Beaver Dam Rd in Cary, NC.  The home is in front of "Big Red," the barn I painted last week. I love a wrap-around porch, and this old home had the light hitting just right for some great shadows!

I've found that painting in oil pastel in this smaller size really makes me simplify shapes and not focus on too much detail.  It's really exciting for me, and a bit out of my comfort zone.  Painted on gray Pastelbord with no underpainting.  I'd like to paint this same scene in a larger size, too.

Stay tuned! If you aren't subscribed to my posts via email, please consider subscribing so you don't miss a post!  Enter your email address in the box "Follow By Email" on the right side of this post. Also, see me on Facebook for more about my work. 

Thanks for reading!

Bethany

Just off the Easel: Whatcha Looking At?

My third painting during my goal of 30 small works in 30 days! 

Whatcha Looking At?
oil pastel on canvas board
5" x 7"
$45
Contact me to purchase

Stay tuned... Some barns are are up next!

Thanks for reading,
Bethany

Just off the Easel: Odd Man Out

Here's a friend of the other two cows I just painted.  This cow was just hanging back watching his buddies "work it out."

"Odd Man Out"
oil pastel on board
5" x 7"

I have a few more of these cows to paint, and then on to some barns! 

Thanks for reading!

Bethany

Just off the Easel: Bovine Mediation

I loved these cows playing. I captured these photos at the Artists for Animals Faire a few weeks ago and couldn't wait to get painting them!  

"Bovine Mediation"
oil pastel on canvas board
5" x 7" 

It is my goal for the next 30 days to finish one small painting a day, no larger than 8" x 10".  I have taken so many great reference photos of barns, animals, and the beach lately... stay tuned!

Thanks for reading!
Bethany