Job well done oil painting progress continues

The top photo here is where I have left off today. You can see the work that I did in the cropped up close images below.

The photo above here is where I left off on Sunday and began today on. I have the leg wraps blocked in with color. And I had worked on the sky, adding highlights to the clouds.


I worked on the lower pant leg, boot, stirrup, and straps and the knee brace. I also worked on the breast plate.

I'm getting ready to start on the bridle and halter and bit area. I've added highlights to the eye and nostril.

Here, above, you can see the detail in the muscle and shine of the horse. I started laying on color on the cowboy's hands too. Notice detail in the saddle. The saddle pad is still the under painting. I haven't touched the saddle pad yet.

Here you can see the detail in the hat, the saddle, and the shirt. I'm still working on the hands and will be cleaning up the edges and applying more highlights. That very white looking area on the back of the saddle will also be brought down so it is not so bright. I'll be adding a pattern to the outline of it also.
This cowboy also needs a belt! I'll be adding that later.
I'm very pleased with the whole painting so far and I am enjoying painting this one.

I hope you are enjoying it as well.
Debbie

Lil cowpoke dreams blocked in with Oils

Sunday morning I blocked in "lil' cowpoke dreams" in oils on canvas. This canvas is an 11 x 14. I used the same color palette of Ivory black, Ultra Blue, Alizarin Crimson and Titanium white. When this is dry, I will start adding glazes of color mixed from the same palette with yellows and brighter reds added. Getting the soft and furry feel to the stuffed horse should be a fun challenge!

Thanks for following along and reading.

Debbie

Job well done oil painting, continued progress

A lot done on this today! I have the sky worked in. Once it is dry, I'll probably go in with some highlights to the clouds and the horizon. Once I get the grass and ground color in, I'll be able to gauge the sky better. Each element plays off the other, so each one has to be laid in to see where colors need to be changed or not.
I also did a lot on the horse. Worked on the head and neck and a bit on the rump & barrel. The horizon grass was softened too.
Just a tiny bit of detail was worked on in the pants.
I'm very happy with this so far.

Thanks for looking!

Debbie

Lil Cowpoke dreams, Graphite

This is what I was working on all day today! "Lil' cowpoke dreams" Graphite on Strathmore paper. It photographed a bit dark, as the sun was setting and light was dimming in the studio.
This is the image that came to me as I cleaned my studio yesterday. Sitting in piles of stuff and sorting I found things that reminded me of how I used to drag around my favorite stuffed horse and play with the plastic ones, until I fell asleep and dreamed about being a horse or riding one!
I enlisted my 8 Yr old son to be my model. Cookies work great as a bribe! Ha.
They are oatmeal cookies, so they are kind of healthy! But don't tell him that!
I feel much better, getting this scene out of my head and onto paper! I'm thinking about now working up a painting of this...in color. I'd love to try my hand at this on Oils!

Until next time, cheerios! (we eat lots of them in this house!)

Debbie

Job well done oil painting progress

I had a small amount of time this afternoon to apply some glazes of color to this. I worked on the shirt, pants, hat, and saddle. Also a little bit on the barrel of the horse. My reference photo has the rider in a bright yellow shirt & the horse has matching leg wraps. I didn't want anything that bold, so I mixed up this fun color of brown-orange. Ivory black and Scarlet red created this awesome color! I added a tad of lemon yellow with titanium white to bring up some highlights on it. I'll be tweaking it more, once it is dry.
I really need to start puting in some sky color. That will change the appearance of the shirt. So until I have that sky as I want it, I will leave the shirt alone. Yellows & oranges pop with Blues and purples, so we shall see what happens.

Thank you for following along,

Debbie

The start of 'Job well done' in oils

Back this past winter, I did a graphite titled "Job well done". Now I am rendering that graphite in oils on canvas! A 14 x 18 is in the works. I just love the emotions and the position of horse and rider so much, I wanted to put them into a painting.
Here I have them blocked in on the canvas., using Ivory black, ultra blue and Alizarin Crimson & Titanium white. I started the blocking in on Sunday the 22nd and finished that blocking in today, the 23rd.
Now I wait for it to dry before I can start my layering of glazes and color.

Debbie

Free style-foal Oil painting

The Free style 18 x 14 oil on canvas is finished! What a cute little guy, rearing up in the open land and sky. Life is good for this little one on a 'weather changing' Spring day.

Enjoy!
Debbie

Zebra's New Day. Oil on Canvas

Zebra's new day 11 x 14 oil on canvas. I just love this little painting. I've never been to Africa or any of those types of places. I've never seen the Zebra living free. But this is how I envision the land. Probably in the real world, Zebras don't have much time or luxury of laying down and resting, when the mighty Lions and tigers roam the land. But I gave this Zebra some peace. The Zebra that modeled for the photo I took, was at a fair. It was lying there in the evening, so tired and wanting a nap. And so many people and children walking through wanting to see and pat the Zebra. I felt sorry for the little guy and have placed him in the peace and quiet of a new day, just for the Zebra.

Debbie

White Tiger in progress

This is the first blocking in of a white tiger in oils. On a 14 x 18 canvas. This is from a photo I took at a fair last summer. Boy, these cats are big! I hope I can convey that with the use of the grass.

Deb

Free style~ foal oil in progress

The Zebra painting is still wet, so I worked on the Free style foal today. I don't know how my images of this painting is getting those wavy lines. None of my other images are doing this.
I worked on the foals coat with highlights of sky color and I worked a good amount on the legs. I still have a lot more to do on the hooves and those areas. Then I will tackle the grass.
I've got some plans for the sky horizon too.

I even got a chocolate cake baked today! Needed some of that chocolate and soft sugary stuff!!
I got the taxes done yesterday and sent out in the mail today, so I am feeling a lot better and not so pressed to get those numbers crunched!
And it is the first day of Spring! And a Friday!!!! Saw some Robins today!!! Ahhhh...life is getting good!

Deb

Zebra in Oils, the start

This is the start of a Zebra in oils on a 14 x 11 canvas. Again, like the other recent oils I have been doing, I have started this one with an under painting of Ivory black, Alizarin Crimson, Ultra Blue and Titanium white. I can already see where the light and shadows will be in this painting and applying color should be a snap when this is dry. Ha...I hope!
I love doing the stripes. Something about mapping them out is so fun to me. I get the same feeling when I am painting a horse under harness. Mapping out the harness is great fun!
I started this Zebra while I wait for that Free style-foal painting to dry. This seems to be a habit. While waiting for one to dry, I start another!
In the wings waiting for paint is a White striped Tiger! It's all drawn onto the canvas today. I guess that one will get worked on while I wait for the Zebra to dry. Can you say...assembly line?
I will also tell you the canvas I am using. Because the support can be so important too. I used to use Fredrix, as that was usually what was available to me in my area. But I have in the last few years been purchasing Winsor & Newton pre-stretched canvas. I really like this canvas brand so much better than Fredrix. Sorry Fredrix...but the W & N lets the paint glide on so much easier! I would stretch my own to get the odd sizes I'd like to have, but my hand & arm strength just isn't there to do that. I used to watch my grandmother and grandfather (when he was alive) struggle with that task! No thanks.

Ya know, painting sure can make one "Dog tired!"

Talk with you later,
Debbie

Free style-foal oil on canvas

I started this painting with the same palette as the Moody mule. This oil painting is 18 x 14.
Ivory Black, Alizarin crimson, Ultra Blue and Titanium white.
The top image is where I have left off today.
I;m not sure what is going on with the wavy lines through the photo. I don't know if it will show that way when I post it. If it does, sorry about that.
Some days, things like that happen.
While I have had this in progress, I have also put another image on another canvas. It will be a Zebra! It's actually the Zebra I had done the graphite of, laying down. That'll be fun!
But my easels are a bit full at the moment!

Happy Saint Patty's day!!!

Debbie

Moody Mule finished!

Moody mule, 14 x 18 Oil on canvas is finished! I'm enjoying looking at this painting...a lot. The mood and atmosphere is just terrific, if I do say so myself! The glow under his belly and on his legs gives a hint of light coming upon his day.
He reminds me of Eeyore from the Winnie pooh clan. "Woe is me". Or is that Whoa...hee-yaa.
Ok, I'll post the next one that is on the easel in the action!
Deb

Moody Mule progress Saturday

Here is Saturdays work. I worked on the color of the grass. Mixed my green using Ivory black, Alizarin crimson and Naples yellow. A little dab of Titanium white to punch up a few highlights. I also added more color to mule's body and his cute white legs!

I'm off to go work on him some more today! Much more still needs to be done.
Have a great Sunday!
Debbie

Moody Mule continues Oil on canvas

I started adding color to my Mule today! Yeah....the fun part!
For the Mule I used Ivory Black, Ultra Blue, Quince Red, Naples Yellow and hints of Titanium white. the yellow and white have been very sparingly used.
The sky is the same black and blue with hints of white to tint. Staying on this same color palette keeps the whole painting as one. I'm so glad that I haven't had to use the umbers as they tend to be chalky and dry dull. With these few colors I am using, I have been able to get a great range of colors, especially rich browns.
Poor Mule...he's so moody. Hmm...I wonder if this is a self portrait! Ha.

Hope you all are having a great Friday the 13th!!

Debbie

La cadeau Du Cheval Mural & The Appaloosa Journal

I created this oil painting panel for the La Cadeau Du Cheval, the horse gift Mural
This is panel number 3 on the mural. I painted this of my father and the horse I grew up with, which was an Appaloosa.
A few days ago, I was told that the mural and the panels that were of Appaloosas had a blurb in the Appaloosa Journal Magazine, March 09 issue. I was told that my name and my panel was in there!
Today I was mailed a PDF of the page from the magazine! It's on page 14 of the magazine if you ever go looking for it.
The wonderful friend who emailed me all this info is Pat Getha, a wonderful artist who works with painting as well as photography! Naturally Equine art and other animals. Check out her website here: http://www.patriciagetha.com
Thank you Pat for taking the time to gather the info for me and sending it to me!

Debbie

Moody Mule Oil on Canvas In Progress

Ok, I've gotten a little more serious now with my oils. Those little 6 x 8's I did was a good loosening up practice!
This is the under painting start of 'Moody Mule'. A 14 x 18 Oil on canvas. The under painting is done in three colors. Ultra marine Blue, Ivory Black, and Alizarin crimson. Highlights are brought up using Titanium white. No one color is used by itself, they are all mixed in different quantities to give me the light or dark range I am looking for. I made a mixture of Turpentine and Linseed oil to thin the paint down with to create a nice thin glaze. I will be adding another layer of glazes when this layer is dry.
The reason for such an under painting is to find the values of shadows and light areas. So nothing gets lost anywhere.
Once I am happy with my value range of lights and darks I will then apply glazes of color (the real fun part!).
I have painted this Mule before, in Watercolor with a little girl. The painting is actually in my book! "Children & their 4-legged friends, a series of watercolor paintings & poems".
I would tell you what his markings are, but I want you to be surprised! (Unless you've got my book in front of you and you're looking at him, then you all ready know! Ha ha.)

Thanks for following along!
Debbie

Quick oil on canvas

"Sunrise on field" a 6 x 8 Oil on Canvas. This original quick study Can be yours for $75.00. The first inquiry coming into my email in box gets it. debflood@debfloodart.com

Today was a real Monday for me! I was up all the night before with my youngest son, who is sick. Then my alarm clock/radio had the sound turned all the way down and I over slept. So that meant my older boy missed the bus. It was the bus that woke me up!
While taking my oldest to school, the sunrise was brilliant and glowing! It inspired me to paint this painting and 4 more this morning! They look really good in a little gold wood frame! Up close this painting doesn't look like much, but back away and it all pulls together.

Thanks for following along!

Debbie

Studio tour continues

My studio tour continues with a photo of my 2 easels and the upright file unit behind them.

That file unit in the back has two shelves and open pipe like dividers. I have this piece of furniture loaded down! I have completed paintings, both framed and unframed, stored on the top and I have empty canvas', watercolor board, mat board, foam board and watercolor paper tightly together on the bottom shelf. It's also on locking casters and I can roll it around wherever I may want it. I purchased this unit from Dick Blick when they first came out. I've noticed that these units can be purchased elsewhere too and the prices have come down a lot, since I purchased.

The easel to the left of the photo is a small one that my grandmother gave me. She purchased it and tried using it. Yes, she is an accomplished artist and has a big monster of an easel already. I'm not sure her reason for purchasing this one, but I think the lighter weight appealed to her. She found it was too light weight for her and the thing moved all over the place! It's not on casters, but I may put some locking ones on it to move it around easier. It's a bugger to move! I have to pick it up. It works great when I do small paintings that don't take a lot of poking and pushing from the brushes. It also makes a great display easel, when I'm working on a watercolor and I want to see how it looks upright. I also use this easel to photograph my paintings.

The easel to the right is my main easel for working in oils on. I've had this easel since the very early 1980's when I got my first non-artist job right after high school. I purchased me an easel! This one is on locking casters and it is weighted down even more, from all the paint that has been plastered all over it through the years!

The black and steel three legged easel in the foreground is my photography tripod. My dear husband purchased that for me! I have used that so much! It's just awesome. It folds up into this little tiny thing and stores with ease. I have it up and in the way, because I've been photographing my paintings.


To the right of that large easel is my Taboret. Love that thing! It's on casters and rolls easily to and from my easel. I've got oil paints, brushes and other supplies in this. I love it. Bought this back the early to mid 1980's.

To the right of that is my sink! Yes a sink!!! When we built the house, I said..."I am not running up and down stairs to the bathroom or kitchen to wash my brushes, hands and have clean water for my watercolors!". It's both hot and cold water. I draped a sheet around it to hide the plumbing underneath. This sink is a laundry tub sink. Nice and big for whatever I may need to fit in there. I actually did some laundry in there, when we had the ice storm of 1998! We had no power for 16 days!

Above the sink on that wall is a set of three shelves. It's really a mess right now, on those. I put them up as I was moving back in from a studio I rented in town. And under those and next to the sink is a small drawing table that I had purchased for the rented studio.

That's my tour so far and I will be posting more as time allows me.
Thanks for following along, I hope you enjoy this virtual studio tour.

Debbie

Safe upon his back Appaloosa Native Watercolor

I've completed another watercolor. This is "Safe upon his back". 18 x 13 inches. $850.00
The whole painting is shown at the top of this post and the other images are crops so you can see the details. Isn't it the details that make it so great?
I'm enjoying the light in this painting too, how about you?
Inquires to purchase may come into my inbox at debflood@debfloodart.com
Thank you for viewing and passing the blog post on to your family and friends.

Debbie

Legends of the Selkies Watercolor

This is from the "Legend of the Selkies" for the monthly challenge on the Watercolor Wednesdays Blog. A Selkie is a Legend of a seal that can take it's coat off and transform into that of a woman. There are very interesting stories and myths of this, which reminds me a bit like the Mermaid legends. You can find out about these stories here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

This painting turned out rather nice, with the play of light upon the water and the rock. Inquiries to purchase may come to me at debflood@debfloodart.com

Thank you for reading, following and passing my blog on to your friends!
Debbie