Kindred Spirits

 

oil on panel, 18" x 18"

Been wanting to paint these two compadres for a while, and just decided to jump in and get it done.  The aptly named cattle egret consumes the ticks and flies it finds on its bovine buddy, which makes them perfect for each other!

Holy Cow

oil on panel, 24" x 24"

I started this painting in New Mexico and finished it here in California.  This is one of those iconic Southwestern sights, and a reminder of our temporary status here on earth, that we, too, are just passing through.  I find the bones themselves to be luminous and wanted to accentuate that quality. I also love the curvilinear shapes of those horns!

The Steering Committee

oil on canvasboard, 18" x 24"

This is a painting I've had in mind to do for a long time, simply because I loved the colors of the four steer in combination.  I used a carving block for some of the foreground, one of my new favorite painting tools acquired from a recent workshop, and the palette from that workshop as well.  Ever since this workshop, my output has slowed down considerably in order to apply coats of Liquin in between painting sessions.  The Liquin seals the paint on the surface so that any new paint applied will not mix with the underlying layer(s).  This is especially useful for glazing, a technique that I've never employed until now.  Lots of learning going on in my studio at the moment!