Melody

"Melody"  (pastel, 6x6 inches) sold

Melody is the twin of Cadence, from some shots I took out of my studio window. I sure hope the lot next door never gets built on. The only place they could put a house is right where the deer hang out.

Here are some progress shots.

The 3 layers of gold primer. This is Quiacridone Nickel Azo Gold fluid acrylic color mixed into Golden (brand) Fine Pumice Gel at about a 1/4 (color/gel) ratio. The gel is clear, so the color mixture is semi-transparent, and gets darker on each application.
Then (below) I add Art Spectrum (brand) Pastel Primer in the terra cotta color. I lay it into the darkest areas, then scrub and dry-brush it into the medium values of the gold to continue the value scale and add more depth to the monochromatic underpainting.

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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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Big Red

"Big Red"  (pastel, 7x5 inches)  sold

Here's a handsome little rooster to start your weekend. I didn't get any progress shots of this one, but here's the photo and the underpainting:

Fajita

"Fajita"  (pastel, 7x5 inches)

Getting ready for the Rockport Art Fest (Rockport, Texas) this weekend July 7 & 8. My new dailies this week will be going right into their frames for the art fest instead of to the auction. At least until I run out of 5x7 frames!

Fajita will definitely be with me in Rockport. See more info on the fest here: www.rockportartcenter.com/events

Progress shots below! this time I decided to include all the primer steps...

 I use Golden (brand) Fine Pumice Gel with Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold acrylic color added. Since this is transparent, every added layer gets a little darker and richer. Above is with the second layer of gold.

 ...and a 3rd layer of gold...

 Now the terra cotta Art Spectrum Pastel Primer.

 Lastly, the black Art Spectrum Pastel Primer (shown with photo) And it's ready for the pastel!

 Starting with the Terry Ludwig Eggplant - my essential black!

 (These pics were taken outdoors, so the color and contrast is a little off...)

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Floppy (The Return of the Bunnies!)

"Floppy"  (pastel, 7x5 inches)  click here to bid

The bunnies are back!

Last month took me back to Pflugerville, TX, where an incredibly inspiring petting zoo comes to the Deutschen Pfest. Along with the usual baby cows, donkeys, goats and pigs and occasional chicken, their piece de resistance is the dozens (or is it hundreds?) of bunnies of all shapes and colors. My short series of rabbits from last summer was exclusively from references taken in Pflugerville.

Today's bunny I call Floppy. She has an uncanny ability to look like a stuffed toy, so I painted her a colorful room to sit in.

I only took a couple of progress shots because I was into the zone big time. The first is with the reference photo:

But to satisfy your curiosity a bit more, here are the primer underpaintings that I prepared this weekend for several new small 'daily' paintings including Floppy, which I will finish with pastels this week:

I use 2 or 3 layers of gold primer which is the Golden (brand) Fine Pumice Gel with Quinacridone Nikel Azo Gold acrylic color added. Because this is transparent color, it gets darker with each application.

Then I use Art Spectrum Pastel Primer, the terra cotta color, for the dark areas. Some of this I will 'scuffle' or dry-brush where I want a transitional value or texture. One of the bunnies will also have some black primer - the second bunny at the top - which will have black ears and interesting patterns across his face.

Stay tuned this week for more posts!
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Brotherly Love

"Brotherly Love"  (pastel, 24x30 inches) $2800

One of the three large cow paintings I've been working on this week. I mostly finished this one earlier in the week, and it's been hanging around my studio, waiting for my verdict. It only asked me for a couple of small adjustments in the past few days so I'm going to call it done now.

Below is the primer underpainting that I gave you a sneak peek of on Wednesday:

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Ewenice

"Ewenice"  (pastel, 7x5 inches)  sold

You can tell by her expression that Ewenice is a nice ewe!

Here's a progression (ignore the various exposures)

Cauliflower

"Cauliflower"  (pastel, 7x5 inches)  sold

This young goat was so very white, I used pure white as the lightest color, something I rarely do.

I'll be teaching my primer underpainting technique at my upcoming workshop in Ulysses, KS, April 5-7. There are a couple of spaces left - it's not too late to join us! See my workshop page for info.

Enjoy Cauliflower's progression pics below!

The reference photo with the primer underpainting

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Spook

"Spook" (pastel, 7x5 inches)  sold

Spook was done on the combination of 3 primers, the gold, the terra cotta, and black. See the photos below:

I will be layering primers like these in my upcoming workshop in Ulysses, KS, April 5-7. There are only a couple of spaces left! See more info HERE.

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