Turning - Ruth Andre

In the Mid-West the summer landscape is an intense green. The richness seems unreal. When August arrives, you can see the slightest color change and in a couple of weeks the summer greens have started to transformed into pale green, gold and yellow. The season's change gives reason to believe there is a rhythm to all things.  The season of change has made for, "A Painting Day".

"Turning" 6x6 inches, oil on canvas by Ruth Andre

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The Chosen Three-Plus One - Ruth Andre

I mentioned in a previous post I received a request from a patron to paint two more paintings in a 6x8 size to display with "Lupine", a painting she bought a few weeks ago. Dana sent me photos of her favorite Ruth Andre  paintings. She loved these paintings but they were not the size wanted. I took the challenge and painted all three images and to my surprise Dana has asked for all three new works. I painted each piece with the colors and the landscape in mind. Each painting has its own life and feel. Taking the challenge has made for, "A Painting Day".

"Morning Waking" 6x8", o/c by Ruth Andre Sold

"Pink Mist" 6x8", o/c by Ruth Andre Sold

"Ice Storm" 6x8", o/c by Ruth Andre Sold

"Lupine" 6x8", o/c by Ruth Andre Sold

Pink Mist - Ruth Andre

I received an interesting request and it is to paint two 6x8 paintings for a grouping to go with a painting previously purchased by a patron. Dana said her painting, "Lupin" looked lonely and she wanted to group three paintings together. Dana chose 3 of my paintings and asked if I could paint two of them in the new 6x8 inch format. I loved the challenge and went to work revisiting "Pink Rain Clouds". The second painting maybe slightly more vibrant but the pink misty feeling is still there. Taking the challenge has made for, "A Painting Day".

"Pink Mist" 6x8 inches, oil on canvas by Ruth Andre Sold

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On Hold

Ice Storm - Ruth Andre

I remember the first ice storm we had on the farm in Missouri. I was in awe with the beauty of the ice covered trees and horrified at the bent tree branches, heavy with ice. What to do? I learned you just had to let nature takes it course and hope for the best. We had many ice storms to follow and each winter there was a skating rink of slip and slide on the ground as I tried to walk from the house to the barn. These memories have made for, "A Painting Day".

"Ice Storm" 6x8 inches, oil on canvas by Ruth Andre SOLD

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HIgh Country Bison - Ruth Andre

I finished this Bison painting today and thought it might be a stronger painting cropped down to showcase the Bison. The canvas is 9x12" and the cropped version would have been 8x10". Then I let the painting sit for a little bit and added a frame to take another look and decided it works as it is. The frame brought the painting together by enclosing the image. I cannot say enough about good painting frames and good framers. Each step adds to the beautify of your paintings. Painting the wild Bison made for "A Painting Day".

"High Country Bison" 9x12 inches, oil on canvas by Ruth Andre

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Aspen Holiday - Ruth Andre

As I set in my office looking out on the horses and the tree line following the creek I can see two deer moving quickly to the horse corral and scooting in with my oldest mare, Mystery. The deer seem to be accepted by the horses. None of them seem to care that two wild deer are sharing their dinner. I am sure the deer were watching my every move and were just waiting for me to leave the corral and walk to the house. It makes me wonder what else is just out of sight, hidden by the canopy of wild blackberries and old oaks. The painting today is a small forest of Aspen trees and they remind me of where I would like to visit sometime soon. Thinking of an Aspen Holiday has made for, "A Painting Day".

"Aspen Holiday" 8x6 inches, oil on canvas by Ruth Andre


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The Quiet - Ruth Andre

I had many names for this painting but wanted to impart the feeling of serenity and quiet that is felt when the ground is covered with snow. The quiet is so beautiful as is the land. While living on our farm in Missouri I would be in the pasture with the horses and all was so serene. The trees were filled with winter colors and the ground frozen covered with snow. Winter was a beautiful time on the farm and it has made for, "A Painting Day".

*Note: I have received a few very nice emails from my last post about studio aliens. I thank-you all for your support with this painting transition. I have decided to just follow my heart and enjoy the painting process and I do appreciate each and every comment received.

"The Quiet" 4x10 inches, oil on canvas by Ruth Andre

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Pink Rain Clouds - Ruth Andre

I know there are those of  you out there saying,-What is she doing? I am in the same boat with you and ask myself the same thing. Today I  headed to the studio with good intentions to clean up a little plein air painting I had just about finished and then I changed one thing and then another and the painting left plein air and became a totally contemporary landscape. I have always found it amusing when an artist says I am interrupting the landscape but shoot, I think I am doing just that. Has anyone else been taken over by aliens living in their studio? Traveling through space has made for, "A Painting Day". 

"Pink Rain Clouds" 8x8 inches, oil on canvas by Ruth Andre Sold

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Snow Flurry - Ruth Andre

There was just a bit of a breeze today as the temperatures rose past 100-degrees. My studio was a haven but even it seemed rather warm today. I have a 12x12 Colt portrait painting in the works and will be showing it in a few days if all goes well. Later in the day after the horses were fed I decided to try working with a transparent white oil paint that has been lurking in the paint bin. The colors came out so cool and I decided to stay  with the feeling as I painted a small snow landscape study. It made for, "A Painting Day".

"Snow Flurry" 6x6 inches, oil on canvas by Ruth Andre

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Winter Forest - Ruth Andre

I had a few of my paintings delivered to Park City, Utah today and it got me thinking about how special summers must be in the high mountain regions. Since it was over the top hot here in the valley today I decided to think about the winter season just a few months away and painted a forest of red pines. Don't run for your down parka quite yet but it was fun to cool down painting a forest of red, that made for, "A Painting Day".

"Winter Forest" 6x8 inches, oil on canvas by Ruth Andre

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Afternoon Breeze - Ruth Andre

Last Tuesday I drove to Murphys, California to meet up with a group of artists at the Ironstone Vineyards & Winery-Sierra Foothills. It was a first time visit to the winery and it was just a perfect day. The winery grounds cover many acres and as you walked along the path ways there are gardens and quiet places to sit and relax. It is a painter's haven and it will be fun to go back again some day. There was a nice breeze as I set  up my easel under the oaks and I could hear the creek water rushing by just a few feet away. I did paint the creek and may post that painting tomorrow? Traveling old Hwy 49 to Murphys made for, "A Painting Day".

"Afternoon Breeze" 8x6 inches, oil on canvas by Ruth Andre

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Silent Quest - Ruth Andre

This sunset painting is a little more dramatic than the one from yesterday. The force of the setting sun is at its peak. The painting title is, "Silent Quest" and painting sunsets maybe a quest of my own as I plan to explore a few more sunset studies. The day is slipping away to dusk and has made for, "A Painting Day".

"Silent Quest" 6x6 inches, oil on canvas by Ruth Andre Sold

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Cradled by the Day - Ruth Andre

Whispers from the desert continue to come my way. The quiet drama of the desert sky feeds one's soul. A small sunset has made for, "A Painting Day".

"Cradled by the Day" 6x6 inches, oil on canvas by Ruth Andre

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Meanderings - Ruth Andre

I have had the desert on my mind lately and find myself wanting to spend some time just painting the wildness of the untamed land. The natural vegetation and the spectacular sky during the morning sunrise and sunset are so inspiring. Today's painting is a nod to the ever changing colors of the desert. There is a quietness to the desert that gives reverence to the land. Thoughts of the desert have made for, "A Painting Day".

"Meanderings" 4x12 inches, oil on canvas by Ruth Andre

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Puesta de Sol - Ruth Andre

The studio took on a life of its own today as I laid out my paints. I thought of the sun setting when the valley has started to cool. It is a favorite time of day, the transition from day to night. The muse of the setting sun made for, "A Painting Day".

"Puesta de Sol" ("Setting Sun") - 18x24 inches, oil on canvas by Ruth Andre Sold

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Shallow Waters - Ruth Andre

I was out the door this morning to complete a series of errands. The painting "Ellis" was delivered and greeted with good words all around. Whew! I am always so happy when a commission is accepted. The challenge is always to make the painting, the animal being painted and recognizable to the owner.

I also took several paintings to my framer and friend, Jim Ginney in Placerville. The painting today was one to find the perfect frame. "Shallow Waters" was painted in the afternoon last Friday at Silver Lake. The water was so beautifully clear and the colors shown from delegate greens to the bluest of blues. There was a gusty wind that made everything feel totally alive and made for "A Painting Day".

"Shallow Waters" 6x8 inches, oil on canvas by Ruth Andre

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Ellis - Ruth Andre

Just when you thought I had abandoned the animal kingdom I am here to show you the latest commission to come my way. This is Ellis. She is Harlequin Great Dane meaning she is black and white in color and a big girl. This painting is going to be a wife's gift to her husband for his birthday. Talk about stress! "Ellis" is being delivered tomorrow and lets hope the painting is approved. Taking on a commission painting challenge made for, "A Painting Day".

"Ellis" 8x8", oil on canvas by Ruth Andre Sold


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Thunder Mountain - Ruth Andre

"Thunder Mountain"

8x8", oil on canvas by Ruth Andre

Friday morning I met my painting friend, Bruce Hancock, in Amador City and we drove up Highway- 88 to meet a few painting friends to paint in the Sierras. We met at Silver Lake just about an hour away. My first impression of the area was filled with being overwhelmed with the beauty of the area. The grandeur of the mountains and of course the lake itself was so beautiful and full of color. We all found a shady spot and went to work painting in our different locations. The mountain range that surrounds the lake was just so amazing. As I painted the mountain the light changed and I realized I could stay in the same spot all day and create many paintings all very different than the next. Photos below of the painters.

Julie Trail took this photo - Ruth Andre, Howard Rees, Vickie Chew & Bruce Hancock

Julie Trail Taking the Painting Challenge

photo by Bruce Hancock

I loved getting out with friends and it made for, "A Painting day".

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Impending Storm Changes - Ruth Andre

I was waiting for the farrier to come and trim two of our mares and decided to duck into the studio for a second look at the painting, "Impending Storm". I made one change and then another and finally made several changes. The photo does not show the nuances of color in the dark purples near the bottom of the painting but they are there. I am much happier with the painting and felt more confident moving the oil paint with the palette knife around this large canvas. A revisit to "Impending Storm" made for, "A Painting Day".

"Impending Storm" 36x36 in, oil on canvas by Ruth Andre

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Forest Interlude - Ruth Andre

Today as I was searching the Internet I found a site showing paintings by Forrest Moses. I instantly fell in love with his paintings and prints.They are representational but full of mystery and subtle color. This little painting, "Forest Interlude" is my interruption of one of Forrest's prints. I used oil washes followed by thicker oil paint. Finding Moses made for, "A Painting Day".

"Forest Interlude" 8x6 in, oil on canvas by Ruth Andre

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