Painting at Home

An update is due.  All is well with my mare, Angel, but the medications continue.  The veterinarian gave Angel a good review, changed her medication schedule so I now do not have to hike to the barn at 10:30 PM.  Last call is now 8:00 PM and I go out more often during the day to medicate Angel's eye, starting at 7:00 AM.  Needless to say I am not getting a lot of rest.  I am getting quality time with my horses since they all get treats and brushing when I am working with Angel.  After 7 weeks of doctoring I have three very spoiled horses.

I have been painting and I spent two full days on a painting and was just about ready to photograph it and made a change and then made another change and finally scrapped the whole darn thing.  It happens!  Right now I have two paintings in the 'almost ready to photograph stage'.  Wish me luck.

I am sharing a photo of a painting in my home of my mare Mystery.  It is 60x40-inches, what one would consider a large painting.  My home is quite small, almost cabin like, and the large work exhibits well in the small space. Never be afraid to purchase a large painting.  You will fall in love with the painting and it will become part of your home.  Something to consider when out shopping for a piece of art.  Being an artist and a horse owner has made for "Painting Days".

Photo:  Painting-"Mystery"-60x40-inches, oil/canvas by Ruth Andre
www.ruthandre.com
andre@ruthandre.com
Commissions Welcome

Elk

This painting is a little change of pace from my horses and cow portrait paintings.  This is a big boy from the north looking rather dapper.  It is always a joy to see wildlife cross my path while out in the pasture with the horses.  We have mostly deer, fox, bob cats and coyotes.  My neighbor, Peggy, said she had a bear cross her yard and then other neighbors have had mountain lions come to visit in the night.  I do not want to see either the bear or the mountain lion, especially up close.  Enjoying the wildlife made for, "A Painting Day".

"Elk"-6x6-inches, oil on canvas by Ruth Andre
Available at Clymers Art Museum - Holiday Miniature Art Exhibit
Ellensburg, WA - 309/962-4616

www.ruthandre.com
andre@ruthandre.co
Commissions Welcome

One of the Girls

With the cooler breezes comes the promise of fall and with fall comes the rain and green grass. Here in the foothills the cows do come home during the fall season.  I am not sure where they are trucked off to during the summer months but once the grass starts to sprout the cows and their calves dot the valley floor and the hills.  This painting is of a Hereford cow just down the road from our property here in the back country.  Keeping a look out for cows made for, "A Painting Day".

"One of the Girls"-10x10-inches, oil/canvas-Framed sold
www.ruthandre.com
andre@ruthandre.com
Commissions Welcome

Guardian of the Plains

Mark Terrell took the reference photo for this painting.  He photographed this wild horse in his home state on Nevada.  I call the painting, "Guardian of the Plains".  He is watching over  his heard and a bit weary of the intruder with the camera.  Meeting Mark Terrell made for, "A Painting Day".

"Guardian of the Plains"-18x24-inches oil/canvas Framed
Available at Texana-361-645-2074
www.ruthandre.com
andre@ruthandre.com

Mary Maxam's Painting Give Away

"Lake Sunset"-6x6-inches by Mary Maxam

I had a nice surprise over the week-end.  Mary Maxam sent an email saying I had won her -Painting Give Away.  Needless to say I am thrilled.  The painting shown above is Mary's painting, "Lake Sunset".  Mary has a lovely and delicious blog.  When you see the tasty treats she paints plus her lovely landscapes, you will be intrigued.  Enjoy!

www.ruthandre.com
andre@ruthandre.com

Ranch Dudes & The Lone Ranger

I want to share with you an exhibit at the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum.  The complete show may be viewed online.  You will find an excellent group of artists showing western works.  Click HERE to view the exhibit.  I have two works represented in the show, "Ranch Dudes" and "The Lone Ranger".  Being invited to show at the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame &  Museum made for, "A painting day".

"Ranch Dudes"-12x16-inches, oil/canvas-Framed by Ruth Andre
"The Lone Ranger"-12x12-inches, oil/canvas-Framed by Ruth Andre
www.ruthandre.com
andre@ruthandre.com

Sweet Angel

It is Friday and I have a painting of my mare, "Sweet Angel".  I did not name her but she is a very sweet horse and loves people.  Actually my husband says, she loves me and hay and oats, maybe not in that order.  The painting shows Angel with her 'kind eye' and a start of a winter coat.  If you have been checking in on us you know Angel injured her eye and has had to have extensive care for several weeks.  The second photo lets you see Angel's protective eye mask and the tube that I use to feed the liquid drugs to her injured eye.  I have been spending at least three hours a day with Angel medicating and feeding  Her eye is healing but it is a slow process.  Veterinarian-Vicki arrives twice a week to take a look at Angel and to keep the medication inventory supplied.  We are in for a long haul and we hope Angel's eye continues to respond to the medications.  There is only one word for all of this and that is "HORSES"!  If they can get into trouble they will and we need to watch over them as best as we can.  Wish us luck!  Meeting Sweet Angel 16 years ago made for, "A Painting Day".

"Sweet Angel"-6x6-inches, oil/canvas by Ruth Andre NFS

www.ruthandre.com

andre@ruthandre.com

Matron of the Plains

This is a special day.  I am posting my 100th post on my blog that I started in April.  It is amazing how fast the time has zoomed by.  Blogging has been one of those things in life that I thought of as a "Never Me" situation and has ended up being a very enjoyable task.  I have met many new people and have been exposed to lots of art through connections with other artists and their blog sites.  There are three people that have been extremely encouraging to me during my first 100 days.  Carol Marine, Laurel Daniel and Theresa Paden, all artists and all bloggers that I am sure you know.

The painting today is a wild horse, a matron of the plains.  She has the respect of her herd mares.  She is the one in charge.  Watching horses interact with one another has made for, "A Painting Day".
Reference Photo-Mark Terrell

"Matron of the Plains"-14x18-inches, oil/canvas-Framed
Available at Texana-Goliad, Texas-361-645-2074
www.ruthandre.com
andre@ruthandre.com

Lunch Date

Have  you been to Volcano, California?  The main street is about a block long and the buildings that line the street were built during the "Gold Rush" era.  There are some fun places to shop and to eat with a theater for a bit of drama.  This little painting is of two old oak trees at the far end of town, near the old jail that still stands today.  Taking a road trip to Volcano made for, "A Painting Day".

"Lunch Meeting"-5x5-inches, oil/canvas-Framed by Ruth Andre
www.ruthandre.com
andre@ruthandre.com

Standing Tall

On the way to Galt, California to buy a few bales of hay for our three hay eaters.  My husband was at the wheel of the truck when he heard me say, Stop.  I saw this beautiful paint gelding in the field near the road and wanted to get out and take a look at him.  This stoic fellow was very happy to have company and seemed willing to pose as I took a few photos.  Paints are a beautiful breed.  Their coloring is always a lovely surprise, like puzzles in a box.  Heading to Galt made for, "A Painting Day".

"Standing Tall"-48x24-inches, oil/canvas by Ruth Andre
Available at Texana- 361-645-2074 - Goliad, Texas
www.ruthandre.com
andre@ruthandre.com

Misty Morning

Last summer I went with a group of artists to Tomales Bay, California.  It is an old town nestled between the rolling foothills and coastal bay.  The mornings were crisp and misty with fog making for a beautiful quiet.  I really liked the fog and the muted colors of the landscape.  Road tripping to Tomales Bay made for, "A Painting Day".

"Misty Morning"-6x8-inches, oil/canvas 

www.ruthandre.com

andre@ruthandre.com

Half Wild

There are a few paintings in the many that come off the easel that you become attached to and actually want to keep for yourself.  I try not to do this and after being an art representative in Los Angles several years ago would tell my clients not do that very thing.  Paint it, learn from it and move on to the next painting.  With that said this little filly, half Arabian and half Mustang, has a place of honor on a little easel all of her own in my kitchen.  I visit with her daily.  For some reason this little one caught my heart.  The story goes that her mother, the Mustang, jumped the fence to be with her soon to be daddy, the Arabian stallion and Half Wild is what became of the union.  I kind of like the idea that the Mustang mare still had a wild streak.  Being half wild made for, "A Painting Day".

"Half Wild", 6x6-inches, oil/canvas-Framed by Ruth Andre

www.ruthandre.com

andre@ruthandre.com

Commissions Welcome

A Shady Spot

My work is usually pretty quiet and subtle with shades of muted colors and grays but today I am showing a little wild painting called "A Shady Spot".  It was painted on location at the Amador Flower Farm here in the foothills.  The daylilies were bright and bountiful under the big oak trees.  Enjoying the flower fields made for, "A Painting Day"

"A Shady Spot"-6x6-inches, oil/canvas, framed by Ruth Andre
www.ruthandre.com
andre@ruthandre.com
http://www.freshpaintdailypainters.com

Near Stonewall

I was heading to the airport after a week of painting in Fredericksburg, Texas and on the way I decided to stop at the LBJ Farm off of Hwy 290.  The farm looks as if time has stood still since the early 1900's.  It was a serene setting with old barns and outbuildings and an abundance of trees surrounding them.  I chose to paint a cluster of old oak trees.  Traveling the roads of Texas made for, "A Painting Day".

"Near StoneWall"-10x10-inches, oil/linen by Ruth Andre
www.ruthandre.com
andre@ruthandre.com

Baby Blue

This is Levi, a Palomino colt, owned by a rancher here in northern California.  I just loved seeing this little guy and had to paint him.  Meeting Levi made for, "A Painting Day".

"Baby Blue"-12x12-inches, oil/canvas-SOLD by Ruth Andre

*I want to say, thank-you to all that have sent good wishes for my mare, Angel.  Veterinarian, Vicki, was here this morning saying the eye was finally starting to show signs of healing.  We may be working with Angel for another 6 months to save her eye but the news today gave us hope so the trips to the barn, starting between 6:00 & 7:00 AM and ending at 10:30 PM will continue.

My Mystery

I have been to the barn and the pasture so much lately to medicate my mare, Angel, that the horses think I have moved in.  Mystery is the half sister to Angel and the smart one of my three horses.  She is cautious and waits until I am out of the way of the other horses and comes up to be scratched and search for treats.

"My Mystery"-4.5x5.5-inches, oil/canvas by Ruth Andre
www.ruthandre.com
andre@ruthandre.com
Commissions welcome

Sable

This little portrait was the first painting I did after taking a workshop with Michael Workman at the Fredericksburg Artist School in Texas last year.  I enjoyed the workshop and meeting Michael and seeing him paint in person was pure pleasure.  Taking a trip to Texas made for, "A Painting Day".

Sable-5.5x7.5-inches, oil/board SOLD by Ruth Andre
www.ruthandre.com
andre@ruthandre.com
Commissions Welcome

Baby Face

This little Hereford heifer caught my eye.  She just looks so sweet.  You can see I would never make it in the cattle business.  I even get attached to our neighbor's cows when they  come to our adjoining fence during feeding time for the horses.  Their personalities are each different.  There is always a dominate cow, steer or bull calf in the group and the rest must pass muster and move out of the way and make room for the one in charge.  It is interesting to watch animals interact with one another.  Seeing this little Baby Face Heifer made for "A Painting Day".

"Baby Face", 8x10-inches, oil/canvas-Framed by Ruth Andre
andre@ruthandre.com
www.ruthandre.com
Commissions Welcome