"Lightening the Load" WIP

The piano was packed for the for the long trip west; carefully wrapped in the quilt your mother and grandmother stitched as a wedding gift.   In the back of your mind you knew it would tax the oxen, but your husband reluctantly agreed to bring the piano, along with other treasures and heirlooms  -and don't forget your precious books.  The oxen are strong but grass has become minimal and the they weaken with each passing day..............

Grazing becomes more scarce and the oxen tire easily.   The load will have to be lightened or you'll never make it to your destination.  The decision is made to unload the piano along with many of your precious possessions. One last song is played before heading up the trail.  The wagon slowly makes it up the hill.  Your eyes are fixed forward - looking back would be too painful.

Composition 2:  Think I like this composition better.  The piano is more of a focal point.  Now, I have to let it dry completely before continuing.

Composition 1:  Well - it's a start.  Have the rough sketch and under painting nearly finished.  I'm noticing that there is a bit too much symmetry of the objects on either side of the trail.  Will have to "fix" that before moving any further.

Any comments or suggestions are very much appreciated!!!!

Carnegie Art Center - Alliance, NE

The Cheyenne County Art Guild will be featured in a show at the Carnegie Art Center in Alliance, NE.  Opening reception is Sunday July 3, 2011 from 2 - 4 PM.  The show runs through the month of July.  The guild will have 82 pieces of art on display from 25 members.  I'm excited to have 5 of my oil paintings in the show.

Gallery Hours:
Tuesday - Saturday 10 am to 4 pm
Sunday 1 to 4 pm
FREE ADMISSION

"In Their Footsteps" 40" x 16"

Finished today...........

Comments and critiques are very much appreciated!!!

"In Their Footsteps" (40 x16) WIP

"Slow progress - but getting there."  I'm sure those exact words were said by the pioneers crossing the seemingly unending expanse of prairie.  Along the trail they would be able to mark their progress as they passed landmarks such as "Chimney Rock", Court House Rock",  "Scotts Bluff", ... just to name a few.  Found a cool website about the Oregon Trail: http://www.isu.edu/~trinmich/Oregontrail.html    Excellent resource!!!

I'm almost finished detailing the distant buttes. Foreground grasses are taking shape, but far from finished. 



Thanks for looking............

"In Their Footsteps" (40 x 16) WIP

I think I have a title for my "untitled" painting.  Thanks for everyone's input and ideas.

I’ve often wondered what it would have been like to cross the vastness of this country before there were roads.  I can only imagine what it took to traverse the rugged prairie in a covered wagon.  You could see “nothing forever” but endless grass and sky.  Sometimes as I drive the now graded and paved roads I think of myself following the trail of the early pioneers … following the trail they blazed for me.  And so, I decided to call my previously untitled painting  -  "In Their Footsteps" 

Check back in a few days for an update on painting progress. 

"Untitled" (40 x 16) WIP

A little more done.  Was having a bit of an issue with the wagon wheels.  Think I have that resolved.  Starting to define the bluff on the right.  Want to capture the light on the south face.  And so a possible title???  "Heading West" ???  Will have to do some more thinking about that.

Let me know what you think.  Thanks for looking!!!



"Untitled" (40" x 16")

Started this a couple days ago....basic blocking-in is finished and the sky is almost there.  Photo seems a bit yellow.  Next post I'll try to use natural light for the photo.

Not sure about a title - any suggestions?
Thanks for looking............

Cheyenne County Art Guild Show

The Cheyenne County Art Guild Show was this weekend.  I'm pleased to announce that I was honored with the "People's Choice" award for "Papa and Ted".   I'm excited that my painting qualified for showing at the 2011 Association of Nebraska Art Clubs (ANAC) in Columbus, NE,  June 15-18.

  

I also had a first place ribbon on my doodle art (which also qualified for the ANAC show), and a second place ribbon in the amateur division  on "The Banjo Player".

"Approaching Storm" (36 x 24) WIP

Summer storms on the great plains - there's nothing like them.  Just when you think this might be the year you'll get a good wheat harvest, one of these monsters rears it's ugly head and within 5 minutes your entire field is pulverized leaving your with nothing but bills and the hope that next year will be better.
Nearly finished with the cloud, but  the wheat field needs a lot of work.

I was hoping to have this finished in time for the art show this weekend, but doesn't look like it.  White takes such a long time to dry. 

Cheyenne County Art Guild Show

The 39th Annual Cheyenne County Art Guild Show is coming up next weekend,  April 1-3, at the Cheyenne County Community Center in Sidney, NE. Times for viewing the exhibit

Friday:  5p.m.-8p.m ("artists reception"),
Sat: 9a.m. - 7p.m. (I'll be greeter from 11a.m. - 1 p.m.)
Sunday: 12 noon - 4:30 p.m.

I'm excited to be able to show a few of my oil paintings and some of my doodle art in my first formal show.   Oil paintings I'll be showing include "The Banjo Player",  "The Fiddler", "Walking Home", "Highland Cows", and "Papa and Ted".

If you're looking for something to do in the Sidney, NE area the weekend of April 1st - check it out.

"The Fiddler" (24 x 30)

Think I'm going to call this finished.   

 

Ready to start my next project.

"The Fiddler" (30 x 24) WIP

A llittle more done on "The Fiddler"  For some reason, I'm not able to get a clear photograph.  It's interesting when you see a photo, the spots that really need work, places that need their edges sharpend and those that need to be softened.  I'm fairly happy with this so far. 

Thanks for looking

"The Fiddler" (24 x 30) WIP

My next project - The Fiddler.  Have a pretty good start.  Trying out a few differnt techniques.  As you can see, the vest isn't finished yet and there is a lot of detail work and sharpeninng of edges to be done.  Hope to be finished soon. 

Again - all comments and critiques are very much appreciated!!!

Painting is a journey.............................we learn along the way.

"The Banjo Player" (24" x 36")

Think I'll call finished.   Thanks again Mr. Allen Russell for permission to use your photo for my painting. You can view the reference photo on Mr. Russell's web page "Life in the American West" ( Montana Old Time Fiddlers Picnic, Livingston...)

This has been quite a journey..........

"The Banjo Player" (WIP)

We had a snow day today!!! Was happy to have time to work on "The Banjo Player". There's still quite a bit to do yet before calling him finished, but making progress.



Thanks for looking~

"The Banjo Player" WIP

Update on progress - still a long way to go.

"The Banjo Player" (24" x 36") WIP

Yay!!! Christmas Break!!!! That means I have some time to work on "The Banjo Player" . His face is starting to take shape. There's a lot of character to capture. I'm sure he has quite a few stories to tell... Someone told me that each line on your face is a little remnant of a past experience. Happy or sad, each traces it's mark. From the referance photo, the banjo player must have had a very happy life - I hope to be able to capture that. So far, just the basics.

Leave a comment if you like - critiques are always very welcome. It's how I learn and improve.

"The Banjo Player" WIP (24" x 36")

I started this painting of the banjo player last week. I'm using a reference photo originally taken by Allen Russell.
Link to Mr. Russell's main page:
Allen Russell Photography "Life in the American West" http://www.allenrussellphoto.com/

Thanks Allen for permission to use your photo for my painting. You can view the reference photo at Montana Old Time Fiddlers Picnic, Livingston...

Christmas break next week!!! Looking forward to spending time with family and friends!!!

820 John Deere (12" x 12") WIP

Here is the final product......."820 John Deere" and "Nathan" (You can take the boy off the farm, but you can't take the farm out of the boy)

Just about finished. Have some minor adjustments to do and a few details.

Companion panel - nearing completion.



Needed to let Nathan dry before doing any more. Hope to be finished with both panels in a week or so.

"Nathan" (12 x 12)

I started this yesterday.

Our son, Nathan, is a farm boy at heart. Eventhough he is a civil engineer working for a water resources firm in Englewood, CO, he still retains that "heart in the soil" attitude. Nathan liked the novelty of running the dirt-in-the-face, no air conditioning, 820 John Deere Tractor (circa. 1950s). And so, the subject of this painting.

"You can take the boy off the farm, but you can't take the farm out of the boy."

My plan is to include another 12 x 12 panel of him working in the field. Hope it turns out.