Bela et Blanche

 

"Bela et Blanche" (pastel, 10x22 inches) $990

I had this one sketched out quite a while ago, but ended up changing the drawing when I decided to switch the two calves' positions from how they were in the original photo. The larger shadow area on the front calf's shoulder looked ever so much better behind the other calf, and set off her face nicely!

I decided to give this pair French names, since they are Charolais, after all.

Enjoy a little slide show of progress pics Here! 

"Bela et Blanche" will be part of my Solo Exhibition, Kindred Spirits, at the ARTS for Rural Texas in Fayetteville, March 27 - May 29, 2021. Opening Reception March 27, 5-7pm. Karen will be loading new images into the site for the next several days as I finish new paintings... check this page frequently to see the show online!

Hay! It's What's For Lunch.

 

"Hay! It's What's For Lunch." (pastel, 36x36 inches) $6200 

I'd been sold out of large paintings for more than a year. I'm so thankful my friend and Director of the ARTS for Rural Texas invited me to have a solo exhibition this spring. With only three months to prepare, it was the exact kick in the butt I needed after the sluggishness of 2020.

This long overdue new Longhorn painting was years in the making! Started as a partial underpainting demo at a Large Project Workshop in Kansas three summers ago, I was finally motivated to finish it.

Watch a quick little still progression video HERE!

This painting will be my centerpiece for my Solo Exhibition, Kindred Spirits, at the ARTS for Rural Texas in Fayetteville, March 27 - May 29, 2021. Opening Reception March 27, 5-7pm.

 

Sunset Silhouette

 

"Sunset Silhouette" (pastel, 18x18 inches) $1290 + shipping

I'd had this juvenile Longhorn calf planned for a while, and my upcoming solo show gave me a reason to get it done! I was struck by the dramatic contrast of black and gold in the reference photo; it was that magical hour just before sunset, and the late summer Texas grasses were glittering with gold. A perfect backdrop for his shiny black coat.

 

I had fun with the background textures. I experimented with a paintbrush handle to swipe some grassy lines in the gold primer. 

See a quick little video of this tip, along with several progress pics of the painting, here!

This painting will be a part of my Solo Exhibition, Kindred Spirits, at the ARTS for Rural Texas in Fayetteville, March 27 - May 29, 2021. Opening Reception March 27, 5-7pm.

The ARTS director, Karen, has started loading my paintings into the website; you can view them here: https://arts.mybigcommerce.com/the-ross-gallery/rita-kirkman/ Check back often the rest of the month!

 

 

"Taj" the Brahman steer (and Speed Video!)

 

"Taj" (pastel, 16x16, $1025 framed) 

I'm about to take off into a painting frenzy for my upcoming solo show! Here is "Taj" the Brahman steer. I loved how his symmetrical face and horns filled this square format. I'm also very happy with the freshness of this one - I kept control of my liiiiight touch!

"Taj" will be available at my Solo Exhibition Kindred Spirits, at the ARTS for Rural Texas in Fayetteville, March 27 - May 29, 2021. Opening Reception March 27, 5-7pm.

For a $10 pledge you can watch the full-length complete process video of the painting of Taj on my Patreon Page. Full of instructional tibits and description of my process the whole way through.

Or, enjoy this 2-minute Speed Demo video!

Taj, framed:

"What's for Dinner?" (and Save the Date!!)

 

"What's for Dinner?" (pastel, 16x20)

These are two young Brahman calves I can across on my travels. They were up by the fence looking at me. I couldn't resist when one boy licked his lips as if saying to his sister "Hmmm, think she has any treats?"

SAVE THE DATE! 

Reception for my Solo Exhibition at the Arts for Rural Texas, March 27, 2021, 5-7pm.
114 N Live Oak, Fayetteville, TX. 

Hope to see you there!

 

For a $10 pledge, you can watch the creation of "What's for Dinner?" on my Patreon Page.

 

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Happy Moo Year Cow Paint-Along!

 

Kick off your new year with a Happy Moo Year Cow Paint-Along!

$20

Join us Saturday January 16 to paint this cute white faced cow. I painted her way back in 2012 from another pic. She's mighty photogenic!

Register EARLY to have time to prep your drawing! I will send you the Zoom invitation, the reference photo, some surface prep info, a materials list including alternative underpainting methods in case you don't have what I use, and even a line drawing that you can use to transfer to your board or paper in case you don't have time to freehand your drawing. Easy Peasy!

Register here! https://www.ritakirkman.com/event/147017/happy-moo-year-cow-paint-along

Warm Fuzzy #45 - Asa

 

Warm Fuzzy #45 - "Asa" (pastel, 6x6 inches) click here to bid or buy

This whiteface calf had such a noble pose and elegant look about her. She fit so well perfectly centered in a 6x6, and I decided to make the background dark to better set off the glowing white of her face.

For a $10 pledge, you can watch the full-length video of the creation of Asa on my Patreon page here!

"Castor and Pollux" in the Pastel Journal "Spark"

 "Castor and Pollux" original sold, giclee prints available.

I'm excited today because my Pastel Journal just came in the mail, and I was invited to write a little blurb for the "Spark" section of the and here it is in the December issue! 

 

 

Visit my public post on Patreon, where I've transcribed the text so you can read the article, and posted larger pics!

"Castor an Pollux" also happens to be one of the canvas giclee prints I have available at the Woodlands Waterway Arts Fest this weekend! See more about it here. 

 

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My Faves of January!

As a review of my first January 31-in-31, here are a few of my favorites!

Clockwise from upper left:
"Intent" (pastel, 6x6) on hold for the Austin Pastel Society Members Exhibition in March.
"Passing Stormclouds" (pastel, 14x14) available at the Carriage House Gallery.
"Chewy" (pastel, 8x8) also available at the Carriage House Gallery, along with
"Road Sketch #35" (pastel, 3x5)
"Frog #20" (pastel, 6x4) sold
and "Firebrand" (pastel, 12x12)

It was a real challenge to do the dailies so early in the year in a month usually reserved for resting, paperwork, and planning, but I'm glad I did, because who knows when some of these paintings would have been done otherwise!? I've resolved to at least paint more frequently this year than I did last year... that's as much as I can promise...



But for now I'll be taking a short rest from blogs and social media while I get ready for the San Antonio Rodeo, where I'll be in my 25th year drawing quick portraits from life (and now caricatures too!) Find me in booth c-415 on the floor of the Coliseum just down the stairs from the front entrance.
February 6-23. SARodeo.com

Mooya

“Mooya” (pastel, 6x6 inches) click here to bid or buy

Mooya boo-ya!

Progress shots below:

Thanks for reading! Please share!

November 31-in-30!

Well, I didn't do my original 60-in-30 personal challenge (see my Nov. 1 post) but I did have a painting to post every day of November, and even with using two posts to brag about older paintings getting published, I still created 31 works of art in November. Two of them were portrait commissions, which I couldn't post the actual works yet, but instead posted older portraits. And that left 3 extra 'dailies' which I posted in the first days of December!

This poster is late because I was out in Del Rio TX over the weekend to show my work during the First Friday Art Walk at the Lee-Bunch Studio Gallery (Her site will be updated soon!) A large selection of my work will stay there through most of January 2015.

Tomorrow I will try to post pics from the weekend, it was a fun time!

(btw: the poster collage above was created on picmonkey.com.)

Double Trouble

"Double Trouble"  (pastel, 36x36)  sold

My newest showstopper for the Bayou City Art Festival in downtown Houston TX, this weekend, Oct 11 & 12, 2014.
Find me in booth #590 on Dallas Street, facing north!

Chick Profile #2

"Chick Profile #2"  (pastel, 4.25 inch circle)  click here to bid

Here's a little something to tide you over while I finish prepping a new load of dailies. I started this one a few weeks ago so I put the finishing touches on it for today. This one will be auctioned in this cute little yellow frame (including glass)...

I've also primed my underpaintings for a new large longhorn painting (36x36) and a medium piece with goats (16x16). Here's a sneak preview of the progress so far:

 For those of you not familiar with my underpainting method, I use two pastel primers. The first is Golden (brand) Fine Pumice Gel with quinacridone nickel azo gold Fluid Acrylic Color added at about a 2/1 gel/color ratio. This is slightly transparent because of the gel, so gets darker on each application. For the darkest areas of the composition I use Art Spectrum Pastel Primer in the terra cotta color, and occasionally, for black subject matter, the black primer, as you see below.
My support of choice is 3/16" Gatorboard, although this method would work just as well on mounted or stretched watercolor paper. I like the Gatorboard because it won't warp.

These two underpaintings are ready now for the pastel. I'll be working on these for the next couple weeks, in between my 'dailies'. Stay tuned!

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Timid Twins

"Timid Twins"  (pastel, 36x24 inches)  sold

Finally! This will be my newest large showpiece for the Beachcomber's Art Show and Sale, South Padre Island, TX, Convention Centre, this weekend July 26 & 27, 2014.

My large paintings have sold fairly well over the last 2 years. "Nibbling Sibling", which was slotted to go to The Gallery at Round Top since they sold "Familial Bliss", just sold to a client from Cactus Jack's this week! So I'll be trying to compose some new large works before October and the Bayou City Art Fest in downtown Houston. This one will probably go to Round Top if it doesn't sell this weekend.

Here are just a handful of the progress shots for Timid Twins (the background gave me the most trouble!):

 Above was my first stop to analyze. Thought it might be done. Looked just like the photo (!) but something wasn't right. (Probably because it 'looked just like the photo'! Duh!)

 Not enough contrast behind the calves' white hides. Also too even a distribution of lights and darks. It had no 'strength'. So away went the photo, and away went the background!

 Instead, I put in a barn wall and another grassy shadow. Also subtly neutralized the shadowed sides of the hides using violets and greens.

 Leaving just the one streak of light to illuminate the calves.

Thanks for watching! Please share!

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Corabelle wins cover of 2cd Cow Volume!

"Corabelle"  (pastel, 7x5 inches)  sold

Great news!! My "Cows Etc. - 100 Miniature Portraits - Volume 2" is finished and ready for purchase at CreateSpace.com.

It was difficult to choose an image for the cover. After narrowing it down to about 5 'favorites', Corabelle won by virtue of her expression and vibrant color.

"But," you say, "all your cows have expression and vibrant color!"

"Well, yes." says I, "But Corabelle just kind of spoke to me... Plus, she looks so good in orange."


Let's not forget about the first "Cows Etc." released in 2011, which now boasts a "Vol. 1" on the cover!

"Volume 1" is still available at www.createspace.com/3718769

The new "Volume 2" is available at www.createspace.com/4507410

(Or by clicking the book images in the right-hand column on my blog!)

Thanks for shopping! And please share!

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Bandit - in the Pastel Journal Feature!

"Bandit" (pastel, 8x6 inches)  $1150

Bandit has the thrilling prestige of being the front image of an 8-page feature in the October 2013 issue of the Pastel Journal, THE magazine for pastel artists! The article (written by the talented Sarah A. Strickley) highlights my Renaissance portraits series and includes a step-by-step process of one of my portraits and a side-bar of 4 mini 'daily' cows.

I've been so excited about this for months, and bursting to tell the news. Now that the mag is out, I finally can! You can order your copy HERE! (Including an instant digital download!)

(The collectors of my Renaissance portraits "The Miller's Wife", "Bride's Maid", "Juliet", "Red Robin" and the 4 cows published "Bubba", "Buddy", "Lou Lou" and "Starry", if I've got your current address, I have a free copy for you!!)

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'The Aunts' on British Greeting Card!

"The Aunts"  (pastel, 24x24 inches) sold

I have a fun brag from this summer that I want to share! My first licensing deal! Woodmansterne, a prominent British greeting card publisher, found this painting of mine online a few months ago, and contacted me about using it on one of their blank cards. After making sure they were a legitimate company (because you never know!) I was excited to accept their offer!

Last week, I received 12 comp cards by airmail, and sent 6 of them off to the collector of "The Aunts." I've been told I can purchase more at the artist discount of 15% off of 'trade' (the Brit term for 'wholesale' I think... and am still trying to find out from them how much that actually is...) but my contact has said one can inquire to their customer service to find retailers in your area: custserv@woodmansterne.co.uk. I'm still waiting to hear from them about that, but it has been only a couple days. I just couldn't wait to brag!
To inquire about this card specifically, they have named it "3 of a kind" (by Rita Kirkman) on the back.
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