Ruby - Ruth Andre

I did a studio Waltz today, meaning I picked up the brushes and moved the paint around after a month away from painting.  The dance felt like I had to remember where to put my feet and how to move once again.  My camera is still packed so you are seeing an iPhone photo of this Texas Longhorn cow painting of Ruby.  I see changes and a need for a better photo but I wanted to touch base and get back to posting.  I am taking one step at a time and that includes making today,
 "A Painting Day".

"Ruby" 8x8 inches, oil on canvas by Ruth Andre

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A Painter's Cloth

iPhone Photo

Star Momma

The painting today is of a momma cow that caught my eye as I was driving into town one day.  Her markings were just as painted, one big star on her forehead.  You can see she is taking a look back at me and who knows what she was thinking but she was patient and let me snap a few photos.  Heading to the post office made for, "A Painting Day".

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Bull Calf

I sometimes wonder at how lucky I am to live in the back country of Sutter Creek, California.  It is very quiet here and you get a sense of what it must of been like before the settling of the area and the Gold Rush era.  There are cattle ranches dotting the hills and mountain sides here in the valley.  My up close neighbor's look pretty much like the calf above.  Black Angus stock thrive here.  Enjoying the neighbors made for, "A Painting Day".

"Bull Calf"-8x10-inches oil/canvas by Ruth Andre SOLD
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Wishing You the Best & January Calendar For You

We are all apt to celebrate the end of 2010 and the beginning of 2011 in different ways but I hope we all can reflect on the happy times of 2010 and learn from any setbacks or troubles we may have had.  May 2011 be a time to move on to a new beginning.  The new year is filled with promise and change.  The painting today is "Moving Out" and I have placed it on a Calendar so it can be downloaded for any one that would like to share and celebrate the new year along with me.  I plan to add a calendar photo at the end of each month for 2011 so check back for the February Post in a few weeks.  Happy New Year one and all!  Thinking of the New Year has made for, "A Painting Day".  Click Here for Calendar

"Moving Out" 18x24-inches oil/canvas by Ruth Andre Sold

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Spring Calf

The spring calves have come along nicely this year and are pretty big by now.  A new group of calves have arrived and as I was driving home yesterday there were two calves very close to the pasture fence next to the road and when they saw my truck they scampered off to their momma or baby sitter.  The cows seem to set up a little nursery with one or two cows in charge to watch over the baby calves while the main group of cows head off to eat the green grass that is showing on the valley floor and hillsides.  It is a joy to see these young calves and watch them out in the open pastures here in the foothills.  Traveling past the valley ranches, made for, "A Painting Day".

"Spring Calf" 10x10-inches, oil/canvas by Ruth Andre
Available at Texana-Goliad, Texas, 361-645-2074
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Texas Girl #4

When in Texas you had better love cows.  Luckily, I do!  The painting today is "Texas Girl #4", a Brahma and Hereford cross and one pretty lady cow.  I found her at a ranch near Goliad, Texas.  This painting has been showing in my gallery in Goliad, Texas and just recently sold so she will be heading off to a new home.  Loving cows made for, "A Painting Day".

"Texas Girl #4", 9x12-inches, oil/canvas by Ruth Andre Sold

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Texana Gallery

104 Courthouse Square

Goliad, TX

361-645-2074

Texas Night

My friend, Sarah, has an eye for photography and the reference photo for the painting today is one from her collection of photos.  I think she found this Texas Longhorn Cow, I have called, "Texas Night", at a horse and cattle show in Grass Valley.  Sarah has several talents beside her photography.  She is also a clay artist Sculpting and designing Stoneware Buttons.  You can find her beautiful works at Palomino Blue Etsy Store .  Meeting Sarah has made for, "A Painting Day".

"Texas Night"-5x5-inches, oil/canvas by Ruth Andre Sold
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Bovine Artists

"Just Whistling Dixie"

"Heiffie"

The American Society of Bovine Artists  Second Ever Art Show & Sale is at the Cactus Jacks Gallery in Gruene, Texas through November and possibly part of December.  My two painting entries "Just Whistling Dixie" and "Heiffie" should feel right at home in Texas cow country.  I first heard of the Bovine Society from a patron living in Texas.  They say the west was not settled by horseboys but by cowboys and we need to celebrate the cow.  I joined immediately to be with like minded cow painters.

Finding the American Society of Bovine Artists made for, "A Painting Day".

"Just Whistling Dixie"-5x7-inches, oil/canvas by Ruth Andre

"Heiffie"-8x10-inches, oil/canvas by Ruth Andre

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Tres Amigas

Does this happen to you is the question?  Do you get really involved in one thing and kind of go hog wild or in my case Texas Longhorn Cattle wild?  I do not know what came over me but after seeing Texas Longhorn Cattle up close at the local Texas Longhorn Cattle show here in Plymouth, California, I kind of got crazy for them.  I would go out to auctions and would meet up with breeders to take photos of their cows. I wanted to paint them. They are one of the icons of the American West.  Once  you start reading about these cows you see how they were stellar candidates for living in the remote plains.  They were and are easy keepers and could be herded for long distances to market with very little feed.  They are pretty docile now for the most part but in the early wild years they were not to be tangled with for some were very wild and pretty mean when approached, even by a man on horseback.  You have to give them credit, they were tough.  I love painting these colorful and sturdy cows.  Seeing my first Texas Longhorn Cattle made for, "A Painting Day".

"Tres Amigas"-24x30-inches, oil/canvas by Ruth Andre
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Rodeo Queens

This was quite a painting day.  The paint that comes off my brushes is usually very quiet, subdued and peaceful but today that all changed.  The wild red just seemed right so I went with it.  I have been wanting to paint these two cows for a long time.  I had good memories of where I saw them and I decided they needed painting.

While taking in a livestock auction in Manteca, California I was looking for Texas Longhorn cattle and I was walking down one of the shoots taking photos along the way of cows in the different pens.  Next thing I know a whole herd of cows were headed my way down the shoot I was in taking photos.  The cows were coming fast and the gate was down the way so over the metal fence I went, just in time to catch these two ladies leading the herd.  Auction day in Manteca made for, "A Painting Day".

"Rodeo Queens"-6x6-inches, oil/canvas by Ruth Andre
Available at the Clymers Art Museum - Holiday Miniature Art Exhibit
Dates:  11/5/2010 - 1/2/2011
Phone:  309/962-4616

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Commissions Welcome

Ellie & Kate

 

Kate-3x3-inches, oil/canvas

Ellie-3x3-inches, oil/canvas

Today I was at my framer's studio to pick up a few framed works.  This wee 3x3-inch painting made me smile.  It is one of two paintings that may be a tiny diptych - 'Ellie & Kate".  Kate is waiting for her frame so I will show Ellie all dolled up.  Heading to Placerville to see Jim and Sarah made for "A Framing Day".

 Ellie-3x3-inches, oil/canvas by Ruth Andre
Kate-3x3-inches, oil/canvas, soon to be framed by Ruth Andre
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Sunday Stroll

Texas Longhorn Cattle are part of America's history.  They roamed wild across the prairie lands.  I visited a Texas Longhorn breeder, Alamendra Longhorns, owned by Pete and Ginny Boyce in Manteca, California a year or so back.  I got a tour of their ranch and even climbed a barbed wire fence to take a few photos.  The GATE was way over on the other side of the pasture so over I went. Longhorn cattle are majestic in their own right.  I love seeing their many colors, strong physique and their magnificent long horns.  I do appreciate Pete for taking me around his ranch.  Meeting Pete Boyce and seeing his Texas Longhorn herd made for, "A Painting Day".     EMAIL: almendralonghorns@hotmail.com

"Sunday Stroll"-24x36-inches, oil/canvas by Ruth Andre

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Butterfly Dreams

These two ladies are more of Karen's herd in Live Oak County, Texas. I loved how they are just enjoying the day. No worries! Seeing these two lady Herefords made for, "A Painting Day".

"Butterfly Dreams", 6x8-inches, oil/canvas by Ruth Andre

$400 framed & $320 unframed.

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Texas Girl

While visiting a local ranch I was out taking some landscape photos. I heard a rustling noise and two huge Texas Longhorns, cow and steer, came out of a tree and brush area. I was quick but got a photo of these grand creatures. Being scared to death made for, "A Painting Day".

"Texas Girl", 4x5-inches, o/c by Ruth Andre

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Funny Face

While in the back country of Kentucky I visited a beautiful farm and to my surprise they had a herd of Texas Long Horn Cattle. I should say the cows were Texas Long Horn cattle and the resident bull was an Angus bull. I was in the pasture taking photos of the cows and the big Angus bull was on the far side of the pasture. Then I felt a little nudge, looked around and there was Mr. Angus right behind me. I think he was letting me know these were his cows and I was welcome to leave. I gave a wave good-bye and headed for the gate. Before my invitation to leave I did take a photo of this little calf that I named "Funny Face". The surprise cow and bull meet up made for, "A Painting Day".

"Funny Face", 8x8-inches, o/c by Ruth Andre

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Just Whistling Dixie

If you saw the little Hereford painting from yesterday you will recognize one of these young Herefords. This painting shows two Herefords standing together, waiting for what will happen next? I kind got a kick out of the one on the left and thought she looked like she might be whistling. So the name, "Just Whistling Dixie". Taking a trip to the Double CC made for, "A Painting Day".

"Just Whistling Dixie", 5x7-inches, o/c, framed, by Ruth Andre-$375. plus shipping

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Ellie

This is the smallest painting I have ever tried to paint. It is a tiny 3x3-inch cow portrait. I visited the Double CC Ranch just over a few hills and this little Hereford had just gone through the line for the annual check and she was happy to be out on her own again. Seeing this young Hereford made for, "A Painting Day".

"Ellie", 3x3-inches, o/c by Ruth Andre-$150 framed

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Just Being A Lady

I used a reference photo taken by Jay Stevenson of his lovely daughter Tennie. The Stevenson's live on the Pathfinder Ranch in Wheatland, WY. The cattle ranch is the real thing and the cowboys and the cowgirls that work the land and the cattle are the real thing. Their life is not an easy one but it must have many rewards running their own ranch. Seeing Tennie working the cows made for "A Painting Day".

"Just Being a Lady", 8x10-inches, o/c by Ruth Andre

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Texas Lady - THREE

Here is the final Brahma/Herford cow from the Texas Ladies series. When you look at these cow faces you can see why I had so much fun painting the three Texas ladies. Their owner lives in a beautiful area of south Texas, near Goliad, Texas. The area is full of history and a must see is the Presido La Bahia, a mission built in 1749. Visiting Goliad, Texas and seeing the land and cattle made for, "A Painting Day".

"Texas Lady" - THREE, 9x12-inches, o/c by Ruth Andre-sold

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Texas Lady - TWO

Yesterday I posted the painting, Texas Lady. I have been asked to post the other two Texas Lady paintings so here is number -TWO of the series. As you can see each cow is very distinctive and a real beauty in her own way. These cows have good breeding and are pretty docile for easy handling. A bit of Texas made for, "A Painting Day".

"Texas Lady"

9x12-inches, o/c by Ruth Andre-sold

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