Friday, May 27, 2011

Moonlight On The Plains



I have a project in the works and that is to paint Mustangs and tell a bit of their story for a coming book.  I will need a minimum of twenty Mustang paintings along with a few words to celebrate the life they live on the plains.  This painting, "Moonlight on the Plains" may need a day or two to dry and then I will take another look at it to see if it needs a highlight or two?  I also want to let folks know that follow me from the Daily Painter Originals group blog site that I will be leaving the group shortly.  Please bookmark my blog so I don't lose you and your support.  The Daily Painter Originals blog has a great group of artists and has been a wonderful showcase for my small works.  I feel it is time now to concentrate on my gallery and exhibit paintings and take just a bit of stress out of my painting schedule.  Painting Mustangs has made for, "A Painting Day".

"Moonlight On The Plains" 18x24-inches, oil on canvas by Ruth Andre




Sunday, May 22, 2011

Painting Day


You have heard of 'Group Therapy' well this is a post to get me kicked into gear.  I have had this little 48x60 inch painting in the works for way too long and it needs to be finished so it can find a home.  I am counting on the good folks that follow my blog to gently get me moving.  I have had my excuses of course on why this one has not made the finish line.  One reason being not knowing what I wanted to do with the background?  I think I have it figured out so the only thing to do now is to paint.  Being in the thinking mode has made for, "A Painting Day".

"Montana Boy" Work in Progress 48x60 inches oil on canvas by Ruth Andre

Monday, May 16, 2011

A Painter's Paint



I previously posted the first painted pass for this painting a week or so ago.  The painting is now completed.  I love the long lean canvas and the contemporary feel it brings to this painting.  The photographer, Judi Zoboll,  allowed use of her photo for reference.  Painting this gorgeous Paint loafing in the pasture made for, "A Painting Day.

Work in Progress - "A Painter's Paint"

"A Painter's Paint", 12x40-inches, oil on canvas by Ruth Andre

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Photo Play & Moses Botkin May Challenge


It is time for the May Moses Botkin Challenge.  This month  we were asked to paint a camera.  We could paint any size canvas and a camera by it self or as an accent in a scene.  I agonized over this challenge and hunted down old cameras and photos of old cameras.  I love the look of these old guys but nothing hit me as being something I wanted to paint.  Then I had a flash and said "That's It".  If you knew me better you would know the words, "That's It" have made for major changes in my life.  I started a basket business for childre, Wild Pony Baskets one day saying just that.  So the little camera I chose to paint is a child's play camera and it was a lot of fun to paint.  I was tempted to use paint right out of the tube to get these bright primary colors.  I hope you enjoy this bit of whimsy for it made for, "A Painting Day".  Please find the other Challenge entries below.  I think they are super!

"Photo Play" ©  6x6 inches, oil on canvas by Ruth Andre





5"x7" Oil on hardboard
©2011 Diana Moses Botkin
http://dianamosesbotkin.blogspot.com



"The Camera" 16x20, oil on canvas





"Bite Me"
8x10" oil on panel

"Sure Shot" 5x7-inches
http://sharmanowingspaintings.blogspot.com                               
Sharman Owings

















Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Break in the Clouds


Today was "A Painting Day" for the Moses Botkin Challenge and the painting needs to stay on hold and be posted this coming Sunday.  So I have to keep it hidden away until the whole group posts their paintings.  Please check back in for the new challenge post. I took a look back at a few of my plein air paintings painted in Volcano, California.  Volcano is a small town and  you can see from one end to the other with out getting on your tip toes.  I mean it is a small old Gold Rush town full of old buildings and character.  I was painting at one end of main street under the eaves of an old hotel.  It was a lovely day and what  you would say, perfect.  Then I heard a thunderous sound and saw a group of motorcyclists coming up the road,  parking just a few feet from where I was painting.  It was quite a group to see in their black leathers.  They were in for lunch at one of the restaurants on the boulevard.  It was, "A Painting Day".

"Break in the Clouds" 8x10-inches, oil on canvas Sold



Monday, May 9, 2011

Butterscotch


The painting today is of a local girl that I found as I drove the back roads around Sutter Creek.  I saw the small herd of cows and pulled to the side of the road.  There is usually one cow that takes on the duty of Security in Chief.  This little lady came to the fence and gave me a good look to see what I was doing?  Enjoying my ride through the hills made for, "A Painting Day".

"Butterscotch" 11x14-inches, oil on canvas by Ruth Andre

Friday, May 6, 2011

Eye Blanco


When I started painting years ago I only painted landscapes.  Then one day I looked out to the pasture and saw my horses and asked myself why I was not painting what I truly love, horses?  My first steps to teach myself to paint horses was to start with the eye of the horse.  I did a series of eye horse paintings and concentrated on the beauty of the horses' eye.  The painting today is "Eye Blanco" one of the first paintings in the "Eye Series".  To look into the eye of the horse is to see its soul.  Learning to paint horses made for, "A Painting Day".

"Eye Blanco" 10x10-inches, oil on canvas by Ruth Andre SOLD
A canvas print of "Eye Blanco" 10 x 10 x 1.5 is available $90.00


Wednesday, May 4, 2011

May Calendar


May is here and the green-green hills of winter and spring are just now turning to a golden hue.  It won't be long and the hills will be full of light with the sea of grasses making the oak trees dark silhouettes.  This is a favorite time of year and I hope you will enjoy the May Calendar.  I am off for, "A Painting Day".

Jack #2 oil on canvas by Ruth Andre

Angus


As  you may recall my goal for the year has been to paint larger works and I have a work in progress below to show you what is on the studio easel at the moment.  The little Angus calf is an older work but one that is dear to my heart.  The rancher next door has Angus cows and a few new calves are romping in the pasture this spring.  It is a delight to see how the herd welcomes a new calf by coming over and either just taking a good look or licking the new calf.  The BIG Angus bull is part of the welcoming committee as well.  Seeing the spring calves has made for, "A Painting Day".


I love the long lean canvas format of the "My Cayenne" painting shown in the last post and thought I would paint a Paint horse using the same size canvas.  I am enjoying this painting as I work from side to side.  Hopefully the painting will be completed in the next few days for its debut.  Please enjoy "A Painting Day".

"Angus" 8x10 inches, oil on canvas by Ruth Andre SOLD
"Painter's Paint" working title and Work In Progress by Ruth Andre