Platte River Perch

Platte River Perch__a study for larger commission

Like yesterday's post, this one was painted en plein air along a remote stretch of the Platte River in western Nebraska. I am working on a commission...groups of works for a ranch there. My friend, Tina came with me, and drove the "mule" while I photographed and painted...we had a blast!...This snaggy tree near the bank was a landmark for us, and every time we drove past, there was a different type of bird there. We saw turkeys at the base, then in the branches we saw, kingfisher, a cormorant or a grebe, hawks and eagles, and a king bird...I can't decide whether to put an eagle or a hawk in the final painting, but it will NOT be the awkward looking thing I painted here. I call this one a "hawkle"

 

 MY FAVORITE type of work is WHATEVER takes me OUTSIDE, on farms and ranches...ANYWHERE in America. I enjoy the process of discovering a location, getting to know it's light and shadows, and hopefully hanging around long enough to see changing weather and seasons.

These days, while in the midst of my Birdseed Project, I am noticing BIRDS and the role they play in the MOOD of a place

Left in Kansas

Left in Kansas__8x6 oil on linen panel__for Passing America: The Great Plains
When we drove home from Kansas last Sunday, we left our son there again....couldn't persuade him to quit school and come home to mom....That's a good thing!!! We also left this beautiful END of the moon phase for August. I noticed at sunset last night, the sliver crescent of September's new moon.
This is one of the last ones I will paint for my upcoming exhibit at the University f Nebraska's Great Plains Art Museum. The exhibit opens on October 7, 2011 and runs through December 11. But in a few hours I will pack the truck to drive the works to Nebraska. They need it a month early, in order to check it all in and get the exhibit literature ready...it is an exciting process. Tonight I have had enough of that kind of excitement, though...It is past 1 am and my good friend, Priti just left my studio after spending MUCH time typing in all my titles and information. WHAT A FRIEND!!! Hey Priti...I just counted, and there are 150 paintings, TOTAL....WOAH!!
I will cull out about 20, so the show will have about 130 or so...The strange part will be in the car on the way through the Plains tomorrow, I won't NEED to do any drive-by painting!

Reflecting in Rockport

Reflecting in Rockport__12x9 oil on linen____SOLD
Not that I am IN ROCKPORT, or anything...in fact I am at my home computer, now....back from the cool Colorado mountains....reluctantly!
This image was waiting for me in my mailbox...sent to me by the person who bought it a few weeks ago in Rockport. I sold it right off my easel, and never had a chance to photograph it, so I am glad to have this image...even though it is a little bit "rough"....

Under the Thunder_rain, clouds, reflections, road

Under the Thunder___6x8 oil study for "Passing America..." exhibit in 2011

To see yesterday's post, you will notice the building thunderheads. Even though it was early in the morning, the storms were hanging around, and for a while, I thought it would be a day full of rainy paintings. We drove toward the building clouds and this "drive-by" study was painted as we drove into the rain ahead!

All this happened in Nebraska's Butler County a few weeks ago...these days I am preparing to be a mother-in-law, as my older son gets married in a couple weeks...the younger one is inthe thick of his senior year as the Round Rock High School Dragon quarterback...Friday they will play down near San Antonio, and the team they play was on ESPN all weekend...they must be good...but so are the Dragons!....it will be fun!

Color of Quiet__Cypress, pond, reflections, fall, trees

Color of Quiet__24 x 36, a painting for Christmas from Steve to BRV___Merry CHRISTmas!
All those cypress studies lately were preparation for this large painting commissioned by my brother-in-law, Steve, to honor his parents at Christmas. Whenever I posted the studies, I had to be rather cryptic in my description of the work, because I knew they read the blog. Steve was great at reading between my lines as I posted comments about those little cypress studies, but refrained from details that might give it away!
Yes, my brother-in law is "Steve Vaughan" (not to be confused with Stevie Ray...) and, believe it or not, he is married to "Sarah Vaughan"...no joke! (You music lovers are now amused!)
MERRY CHRISTmas to all, on this wonderful night!
PLEASE see yesterday's blog post and respond if you want the chance for that free painting.....my 1000th daily painting!

Cypress Fall Study 2_cypress trees, fall color

Cypress Fall Color 2__6 x 8 oil study on canvas__$90
I painted fall color on some rivers this fall...here is one I forgot to post, but I noticed some cypress trees by my mom's place today...still loaded with "fall" color, though here we are on the second day of winter! Our fall color usually stays till about Christmas, here in south-central Texas, then we have about 3 weeks of winter...speaking of Christmas, my niece sent me a link where you can watch that great secret Disney movie I told you about a few days ago. It is an old classic animated cartoon. There are three parts, here is the link to part one. (parts 2 and 3 are there, too) Find someone to share this with you...it's GREAT!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGTjbSS8hSc

TOMORROW is my 1000th post, which I have decided to give away! I will leave the art up for folks to see for a few days and will have a drawing for it on January 4th. If you want to be in the "hunt" for it, please click here to e-mail me and let me know. THANK YOU to all who have followed me from the farm to here! Merry CHRISTmas!

Twelve Strokes at ACE

"Twelve Strokes at ACE Basin" ___________5 x 10_____ $100

Before I start posting farm paintings again, I have this one more from ACE Basin Wildlife Refuge in South Carolina....I was painting all day with Joe Garcia and Adele Earnshaw and Adele had the great idea to limit our next painting to a certain number of strokes....Joe picked the spot, we decided on TWELVE strokes (don't lift the brush till you are through!)....Here is mine! It got a little damaged on my flight the next day, but has some "character" :)