Autumn and Winter in the Studio

Last year I started this  painting of a male Elk.  It's been hanging on my studio wall ever since set aside for other pressing work that needed to be completed.


Winter is a wonderful time to hunker down in the studio and catch up on all those such paintings.
It's a bit chilly out and rain is in the forecast.


This Male Elk making his presence known to all those willing gals is once again on the easel.
Yesterday I began by filling in all the rocks beneath his feet.  Today much of that is still to wet to work on so I'll be painting in the legs and slowly working in the body.

In the image to the right you can see the rocks are roughed in.  It will be a slow process tying all upper and lower levels of water together.   Oil dries way to slow during the chilly winter months.  


The Elk painting measures 22" x 28" and is on stretched canvas.


So far I'm still on my original design track.  However, anything can change as I see something that can me made better as I move along.

As you can see the level of the water drops off the further back into the image.   The water in the foreground will be shallow.   I'll be leaving some of the rocks above the waters surface to enhance the look.


As mentioned above I'll be letting the work from yesterday dry while I begin work on his legs.


I'll post the progress as time allows.   I hope you have enjoyed the painting process so far.  I do believe there are earlier posts from last year.  I''ll check that to make sure.    And repost if anyone is interested if not.

Here is the latest update on my oil on canvas Elk Painting.  Today I'm trying ever so hard to keep my focus.  The Holiday is fast approaching and it seems more appropriate to bake cookies, plan for dinner quests and so forth.


I'll stay on task today and perhaps sneak out of the studio later for those cookies!  The dough is in the refrigerator waiting to be rolled out and cut with cookie cutters.  :- )


I'll be painting in the second layer on the antlers today.  This layer will simply define the grooves and directional growth on them.  As you can see, I've left a significant portion of the canvas vaguely defined with rocks.  I prefer leaving the canvas somewhat clean in preparation for many layers of washes which will still reveal them. This technique is only used with water.   I'll add more golden colors along with some dark shadows as these layers progress.  Under the hooves, the Elk has kicked up some bottom sediment.    The final few layers will reveal blue sky reflections and water movement.  


This is a rather large painting.  As stated in earlier post, 22" x 28".  Seems small size to some, but for all the detail I try to paint in, it's HUGE!  


Drying time makes for a slow process in this large piece. ( I've yet to find a happy resolve to painting water with acrylics which I have recently worked with) .  A challenge for a later day...    I'd say with the thin washes I apply at any given time, a couple of days sometimes more hanging on the wall is adequate.


When working strictly with oils, I might have as many as five paintings or so hanging on the wall between stages.  These days since also working with acrylic, it's not a matter of staging a rotation of paintings dry enough to return to.  I love that aspect of acrylic painting.     


I'll post a new progress image after I have started on the fore ground.    If anyone has any questions regarding my techniques, please feel free to post them.  I'll answer as soon as I can.  Of course, you can always email your questions for a speedier response.


Warm wishes everyone!    :- )

Black Bear - On the easel.............

I've chosen these two bear cubs for an 9" x 12" oil on canvas.  Here I'm just starting the base coat.  After the base coat dries I will begin defining more detail in a second coat.     


The reference for these juveniles were taken at a location in Idaho.     I've produced a number of paintings from this trip.  Who can resist babies! 


It would be lovely to take another trip up that way.
Early to mid June is a great time to capture all the babies.   


It was in Yellowstone that I captured some amazing baby photos of Elk, Moose...........  


Of course, it's also a bit nerve racking to attempt to hike with all the Mothers in protective mode.   I did little hiking that year!!!!!!!  Grizzlies were out in numbers looking for easy marks making hiking simply out of the question for me.   


I'll post the progress on this piece as it develops.       Oh and again, I'd like to thank all of those who have emailed or posted comments.   They are always a pleasure and welcome!

Red Fox

Happy New Year Everyone!  I hope the last year provided some excellent memories for you and this year we are all able to create the most memorable ever!   I wish all good health, and prosperity beyond your dreams! 

I have a list above my drafting table of painting ideas and animals I'd like to paint.  The list is often longer than time allows.  (Isn't that the case with most of us....)     I'll be painting more Raptors this year.        

Several years ago I drew three Red Tailed Hawk chicks in a nest.   I was going to include the female but ran into a creative block with her position and set the whole piece aside to work on other paintings in progress.   This is a piece I'd really love to work out and complete.      I'll probably start work again on it once all the "deadline" work is behind me.   Ugh!  don't you just love deadlines?  ha ha ha! 

The above painting is titled:  "Vole Crazy".   The image is small here but, there are flying bits of snow where this Red Fox is busily digging up one of his favorite niblets!  Voles!As usual,  I'd love to hear from you!  I've received a lot of wonderful comments by email.

I really appreciate them, thank you!