Buffalo Lounge

Buffalo Lounge___a Watercolor Sketch___7x9 on paper___$170

More from the zoo!

Below is the field sketch...drawn with watercolor pencils. The finish is above, just add water!

Please see my complete schedule on website, but a few upcoming events are below...All the links work, including the map to Gruene. Come Tuesday and enjoy some Texas fun...art show-style!

Buffalo field study___watercolor pencil

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V....Vaughan Spring Schedule

Feb. 14, Artist Reception for Passing America...Cactus Jack's, Gruene, TX
Show runs through April

Feb. 17 - 19, Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, Charleston, SC

March 15-17, C. M. Russell Museum Auction, Great Falls, MT

March 23-25, Cowgirl Up! Desert Caballeros Western Museum, Wickenburg, AZ

April 9-13, Southeastern Plein Air Festival, Gadsden, AL

...see my schedule for more dates upcoming

Tiger Stalk

Tiger Sketch...watercolor pencil on w/c paper__7x9___$170 includes shipping

Last week I took another group of students to the zoo to sketch. We were there early, the first ones there, and I was the first one down the walkway to the tigers. So, I tried to sneak up on them to see what they do when no one is around....I tip-toed up the walkway and got within about 15 feet of one laying against the fence. Suddenly I noticed that up the hill to my right, his "roommate" had been stalking me all along! It ws really intense, and when this tiger saw me, seeing him, he bagan pacing....so I sketched him! I think I achieved what I was after, and am VERY GLAD that this guy was not successful with his plan!

PLEASE COME TO MY RECEPTION TUESDAY IN GRUENE, TX, if you can...

V....Vaughan Spring Schedule

Feb. 14, Artist Reception for Passing America...Cactus Jack's, Gruene, TX
Show runs through April

Feb. 17 - 19, Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, Charleston, SC

March 15-17, C. M. Russell Museum Auction, Great Falls, MT

March 23-25, Cowgirl Up! Desert Caballeros Western Museum, Wickenburg, AZ

April 9-13, Southeastern Plein Air Festival, Gadsden, AL

...see my full schedule for more dates upcoming

Cat Blues

Cat Blues___a little sketch

Last week I sat with a friend over coffee. The weather was so nice that the door to the coffee shop was open and this little cat kept roaming into the doorway, not coming TOO far into the shop....I think the coffee shop employees had adopted this kitty, because there was a bowl out for her and she seemed really comfortable there!.

_____________________

V....Vaughan Spring Schedule

Feb. 14, Artist Reception for Passing America...Cactus Jack's, Gruene, TX
Show runs through April

Feb. 17 - 19, Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, Charleston, SC

March 15-17, C. M. Russell Museum Auction, Great Falls, MT

March 23-25, Cowgirl Up! Desert Caballeros Western Museum, Wickenburg, AZ

April 9-13, Southeastern Plein Air Festival, Gadsden, AL

...see my schedule for more dates upcoming

The Kicker

The Kicker__8x10 oil on linen panel___ vaughan8@yahoo.com

This one is similar to yesterday's post. Another painting with my "palette droppings". It's done with a palette knife so there is lots of texture...I am going to bring it with me to my opening unless someone wants it, first! See below...

Come to the reception if you can!

_____________________

V....Vaughan Spring Schedule

Feb. 14, Artist Reception for Passing America...Cactus Jack's, Gruene, TX
Show runs through April

Feb. 17 - 19, Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, Charleston, SC

March 15-17, C. M. Russell Museum Auction, Great Falls, MT

March 23-25, Cowgirl Up! Desert Caballeros Western Museum, Wickenburg, AZ

April 9-13, Southeastern Plein Air Festival, Gadsden, AL

...see my schedule for more dates upcoming

The Fullback

The Fullback___8x10 oil on linen____ vvaughan8@yahoo.com for pricing
After my daughter's "Chicken Clinic" I gathered up all the artist's leftover goopy mixes of oil paint and saved it "for later"...it is with these "palette droppings" that I painted the one above. Look close and you see great chunks of paint! I will post a few of these over the next couple of days...

I am entering my busiest time of year. New paintings will be posted every week, and you are the first to see them. You have the first shot at them if you ask, and I always read mail in order! Otherwise, these will go with me to the shows on my Spring schedule. Come see me!!

_____________________

V....Vaughan Spring Schedule

Feb. 14, Artist Reception for Passing America...Cactus Jack's, Gruene, TX
Show runs through April

Feb. 17 - 19, Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, Charleston, SC

March 15-17, C. M. Russell Museum Auction, Great Falls, MT

March 23-25, Cowgirl Up! Desert Caballeros Western Museum, Wickenburg, AZ

April 9-13, Southeastern Plein Air Festival, Gadsden, AL

...see my schedule for more dates upcoming

Sandhill Hop

Sandhill Hop__8x6 study in oil___$150unframed
It is WILDLIFE TIME! Next week I will be back out in Charleston, South Carolina for the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition. For the next week and a half, I will preview a few works. My small ones are available FIRST to my blog friends, so if you are interested, (birds, longhorns, fish and more!) let me know quick, before I pack and ship! ....AND...

One hundred works from my Passing America are on display in Gruene, Texas from now through April. ...the project took me across the country, painting for 3 years! If you can come on VALENTINE'S DAY, I will be there to say "hello". How about bringing a special person and celebrating...maybe have dinner and enjoy music at the famous Gristmill Restaurant ...Below is your invitation! I'd love to know if you are coming!

On Exhibit Through April, 2012

Gruene Extreme

Green Extreme, from Passing America___6x8 oil on linen panel___$450 framed

It won't be long and Texas will look like this again! We have had a little rain and the winter rye is making the pastures green, already!...Next will come leaves on the trees! ...( and then a freeze, probably...oh well).

I am posting this one from my exhibit, "Passing America". One hundred works from Passing America are on display in Gruene, Texas from now through April, and I am hoping everyone will go see this nice collection...the project took me across the country, painting for 3 years!

Gruene (pronounced "GREEN") is between Austin and San Antonio.

If you can come on VALENTINE'S DAY, I will be there to say "hello". How about bringing a special person and celebrating...maybe have dinner and enjoy music at the famous

Gristmill Restaurant ...Below is your invitation! I'd love to know if you are coming!

On Exhibit Through April, 2012

Raising Mango

Raising Mango___20x16 oil on linen___SOLD

Last year I painted a commission for the couple below...it was a special gift from her to him...the painting above is a specila gift from him to her! (I hope she doesn't see this...but if so...PLEASE act surprised, S....) Read the details of it HERE

OTH of these were tough because the photos were not great, but then again, I kind of like that, because I get to make up stuff I can't see. On this one I had to actually pose MYSELF for an iPhone photo to finish part of her...no, not her pretty legs...just the finger pointing hand.
SPEAKING OF GRUENE, TX!

PLEASE Mark your calendar!

Wednesday, February 14 is the artist reception for the exhibit

Passing America...in Texas

Cactus Jack's Gallery, Gruene

The exhibit that spent a few months in Nebraska is here in Texas till mid April.

Please go see it when you can, and I would prefer if you'd come while I am there, so I can show you around!
Here is your official invitation/directions and all

Coffee Shop Sketch

Coffee Shop Sketch___14 x 11 watercolor pencil on paper___$75 includes shipping
Every week I meet up with an artist friend and we go to a coffee shop or a tea room to just "talk shop"... Last week we had some art supplies in our purses, so we whipped them out and scribbled out some sketches. My little watercolor above is the young woman who sat by the window working on her laptop. Go look at the work of my friend, Robin Cheers!

Chicken Clinic

Chicken Clinic Demo__Detail___8x10 oil on canvas___$70 includes shipping
If you have followed my art awhile you have seen my "Chicken Clinic"...It is a simple art lesson that I have done for YEARS at many workshops across the country. In just an hour, ANYONE can learn all about the unique properties and methods of oil painting, and end up with a nice CHICKEN original painting! ...when my 3 kids were little, the 2 boys came to a workshop (art camp!) and even the little one painted a chicken. I have a "family exhibit" of these "chickens" (really, Roosters!) in my kitchen. My oldest daughter, for some reason, never came to camp, and it has always bugged me that she is not represented in the family exhibit!
SO! She and her roommate thought it would be cool to have a few friends over for a little fun and art...It was a GREAT GATHERING of a bunch of young-urban-professionals last night!!! Our special guests were some REAL CHICKENS and a handfull of chicks! (and with this group, that is just one of the puns spouted off all evening!!) Here is the result of a fun time!!
Please see my updated schedule for upcoming workshops.

A gallery of Chickens!

A handfull of pretty chicks

Sketch of M.C.

Sketch of M.C.___a lesson on values
Each week my art students have sketches to do on their own. I usually take THEIR sketchbook and do a demo so they can see what it is I am looking for.
This one is about CONTAINING the shape of the values...(that is, the light areas and dark areas on a face)...contain by outlining the shape of the value, whether it be a shadow or a highlight....If you can see a shape, and get its size and proportion "right" in relation to the shapes around it, you can draw a pretty good likeness, and do it fairly quickly!...I am not sure these high school students believe me, so I show them! This one is M.C.....

Famous Otto

Amy and Otto___10 x 8 commission____SOLD
A few years ago, I painted this dog, Otto, with his owner. (see first painting below)
Over the Holidays, this owner, Kathy, contacted me to see if I could do another painting of her little sister, who is now bonded with Otto. Amy has Down Syndrome, and is full of life and love for Otto! Apparently Amy and Otto have a sweet and special relationship, and Kathy wanted to honor Amy with a similar painting...
There is nothing like the love of a big sister (ask ME!...I have SIX older siblings!!!)
...and there is really nothing like the friendship of a special dog!...now is a good time to send this link to all dog lovers ...watch it in a quiet, thoughtful place, and allow yourself to THINK about the words...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H17edn_RZoY


Otto and Kathy____10 x 8___sold

Sketch-Samantha

Sketch - Samantha in Class_____not for sale
I keep nagging my students to put a BOUNDARY on those values...it's the BEST way to do that "shading", and if taken to a careful extreme, you can get a better likeness this way! The "boundaries" of values have a shape, a proportion, and a relationship with the other shapes, and if done well, you actually get a likeness!....
Hard to explain in words, but I can SHOW YOU if you come to a workshop! hahaha!
I just updated my schedule with another workshop in September. Go see my schedule!
http://www.v-vaughan.com/art/workshop_show_calendar.htm

Duke-ish

Duke-ish___18 x 12 watercolorpencil with wash____$100
This month in art class (I teach a few high school art classes in Austin at Hyde Park), the students are doing watercolor works, so I will post a few more of my class demos.
I learn BEST by WATCHING, so I assume these students do, too...thus, my classes consist of a lot of demos. I do them quickly, because there are also many who learn BEST by DOING, and they want to get on with the assignment!
Which way do YOU learn best???
THis was a quick sketch from a photo, and everyone said it resembled John Wayne, so I call it "Duke-ish" in his honor!
I hope you will see my updated SCHEDULE...please come to one of these events if you are in the area...all are somewhere between South Carolina and Arizona and Montana! :)

Watercolorpencil Ponies

Watercolorpencil Ponies___12 x 18 sketch on paper___$190
I am teaching my high school classes about quick sketching and this week we are using watercolor...here is my class demo with watercolor pencils...
Next week I will do a demo in oils for the Austin Palette Club...and I have a whole bunch of things coming up soon....SEE MY UPDATED SCHEDULE! ...and please let me know if you can come to any of the events!!!

Laura's Place

Laura's Place___8x10 oil on linen panel___commission / SOLD
I enjoy painting commissions...especially when the patron says "do it your way!"
I did not have to change much for Laura's Place...only leaving out the swingset and a few house-tops in the distance....Having a "deadline" brings me back to my years as a "commercial artist"...years that I really enjoyed!
I have just added a few teaching dates to my calendar (not posted, yet...but SOON!), and a new show in Montana...I will put all the info on my website, but FIRST it is time for me to deliver all the sold works from Passing America....
If you purchased one of these, watch for an e-mail from me!

Bird

Bird___9x12 oil on linen___sold
I loved hearing from many friends who missed my blog/posts...THANK YOU!
Here is another dog painting I couldn't post till after the Holidays...just in case...since it was commissioned as a gift. The dog is named BIRD..a sweet name!
This one was ALMOST a problem, as I received photos of a DIFFERENT dog, at the same time, and BOTH DOGS looked nearly IDENTICAL. The other dog, Otto, is on the easel...maybe I will post it soon. Bladen (who I posted Friday) was also very similar in color to this, and I have almost sworn off painting black dogs with brown points for awhile!!!
Happy New Year!
I have some demos, workshops and show events to tell about, so please stay tuned!

Bladen

Bladen_____12x9 oil on linen______sold
Bladen is the beloved friend of a friend, commissioned by a friend!
Knowing that Bladen is very sick made me really enjoy painting this one-a Christmas commission for D.W. to give to J.P....I waited to post it, just in case J.W was looking at my blog!
I have MISSED the regular posting and visiting with my blog-friends, and apologize for being "quiet" for a whole month. This is the longest break I have had since starting to blog about 5 years ago!
Did you enjoy the break from my art???...HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Kelly's Coach on First

Kelly's Coach on First__10 x 8 oil on linen panel___SOLD to Kelly

A Christmas commission...I am painting some works for friends and patrons and collectors who have gifts to give....Merry CHRISTmas, y'all!

Hunter's Fence

Hunter's Fence__6x8 oil on linen panel___$190 ...wet

Below is the plein air version of this one...my "state 1", which was a demonstration at my Fredericksburg workshop a few weeks ago....I was making some points about painting trees. Just yesterday I was sitting at the Hyde Park Marketplace, in Austin, showing some work and tending to some student art projects, and decided to finish this one....Without any reference, I just started putting some dark colors into the foreground. A boy watching me said, "I like that fence!"

I said "What fence?" ...He pointed to some strokes that he said look like a fence, so I went with it!

Then I told him I would name the painting after him! ...I hope he is looking at the blog today!

Hi Hunter!

Hunter's Fence- state 1