The White House

It is raining today here in the foothills and the day reminds me of a painting workshop with Howard Rees last fall.  We were to meet for three days and the first two days the rain poured.  I mean it was really raining hard.  We met in Amador City the first morning and each artist took shelter under an eve of the old town buildings.  My first priority was staying dry and once finding a good spot I looked out and up to find this little white house on top of the mountain outside of town.  It was cold, it was wet but the memories are warm and we all had a great time and have stories to tell.  Heading to Amador City with Howard and the gang made for, "A Painting Day".

"The White House"-6x8-inches, oil/canvas by Ruth Andre sold
www.ruthandre.com
andre@ruthandre.com

My Day

"Half & Half 6x6-in o/c

 My day was planned.  I would get my morning choirs done and head for the studio.  Nothing could stop all my good intentions then I got the email asking if I could send the painting "Bella" along with my other entries for the coming Holiday Sale at the Clymer Art Museum in Ellensburg, Washington?  Need not ask twice and I went to find the mysterious Raven and finding her was a bit of a search.  I think I now know where everything is in my house, my studio, my barn and storage units.  I did find her and she is on the way to Washington to be shown with her buddies.  Getting ready for the the Clymer  Holiday Art Exhibit made for, "Painting Days".

                                                                     "Elk"-6x6-in o/c

"Bella"-5x5-in o/c

"Roseta" 6x6-in o/c

"Apple of My Eye" 4x4-in o/c

"Strawberry Shortcake" 6x6-in o/c

"Rodeo Queens" 6x6-in o/c

 Paintings available at the Holiday Miniature Art Exhibit
Clymer Museum of Art
16 Pearl
Ellensburg, WA 98926
www.clymermuseum.org - 509/962-4616

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

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
www.ruthandre.com
andre@ruthandre.com

Roberta

Rabbits were seen all over the farm lands in Missouri.  Farmers do not take kindly to these little creatures but I am sure even in farm country they are good for something. We have rabbits here in the foothills of Northern California but they look more like Jack Rabbits with long ears that stand straight up.  This little one just needed to be painted.  Seeing Roberta made for, "A Painting Day".

"Roberta"-6x6-inches, oil/canvas by Ruth Andre
www.ruthandre.com
andre@ruthandre.com

Savannah

Until you walk in another artist's shoes, make no comment!  My words to myself.  I enjoy following other artist's blogs and seeing these fresh wisps of brushwork and I think, they must be having fun.  Well, I took on the challenge to work fast and furious to make this little oil sketch.  I painted, I scraped, I painted, I scraped and I painted.  Did I say, I painted.  It was a two day session in the studio to finish this quick sketch.  My time at the canvas is usually  more methodical and step by step and it usually takes me two days to finish a small painting.  I had fun with this one but what you see in the fresh fast look of some painting styles takes a lot of savvy and good brushwork.  My hat goes off to the Quick Sketch!

This is Savannah a little mare that lives in upper state New York at Sawyer Creek Appaloosas.  She is a sweetheart and just a few days old.  Seeing Savannah and taking on the Quick Sketch made for, "A Painting Day".

"Savannah"-4x4-inches, oil/canvas by Ruth Andre

www.ruthandre.com

andre@ruthandre.com

Commissions Welcome

Desert Son

This miniature painting is a cropped view of a horse showing the intensity of the eye as it looks out into the world.  You can feel his uncertainty mixed with a wee bit of fear.  The eye tells all.  Watching horses has made for, "A Painting Day".

"Desert Son"-3x3-inches, oil/canvas-Framed by Ruth Andre
www.ruthandre.com
andre@ruthandre.com
Commission a Painting.

The Loner

Today the painting is of a lone bison bull on the prairie in North Dakota.  It reminds me of what it must of been like when small bands of buffalo survived the ravages of extinction during our settlement years in the late 1800's.  The brave and proud buffalo roamed the land, their land.

I also have an update on my mare, Angel.  The vet was here yesterday to say at best Angel may see shadows but be basically blind in the injured eye.  It was hard news after over 2 months of care and medicating the eye.  We still have weeks ahead of us before this sagais over.  Thank-you for all the messages of support.

"The Loner"-6x8-inches, oil/canvas by Ruth Andre

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

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

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

Mesquite

This little filly caught my eye.  Her white blaze is unique making her markings, one of a kind.  She is a red roan and her head will most likely stay dark and her body will get lighter as she gets older.  You can see how her wildness is overcome by her inquisitive nature.  Seeing this young filly made for, "A Painting Day".

"Mesquite"-12x9-inches, oil/canvas by Ruth Andre
Available at Texana-361-645-2074
www.ruthandre.com
andre@ruthandre.com
Commissions Welcome

Strawberry Shortcake

This is Sky a yearling Paint.  She is delightful and inquisitive.  Her coloring is luscious so came the title for her painting, "Strawberry Shortcake".  Seeing Sky made for "A Painting Day".

"Strawberry Shortcake"-6x6-inches, oil/canvas by Ruth Andre
www.ruthandre.com
andre@ruthandre.com
Commissions Welcome