J = Jay, My Oil Study for Today

It has been a while since I've painted or posted here!  I've been on the road - now I'm in Colorado where I start a month-long artist-in-residence program tomorrow at the Tin Shop in downtown Breckenridge, part of the town's Art District.  I was artist-in-residence here last year and loved the experience, so I asked to do it again.  If you're in Breckenridge, stop by and see me!

I found time this morning to get a little study done for my 75 for $75 project and also for a daily Facebook project called Alphabet Mini's.  This is J = Jay.  Nothing like doing a little oil study to get me back in the painting mode!

278 - Jay

5" x 7" oil study on board, unframed

$75 plus $6 shipping within the U.S.

SOLD

Three New Paintings for Windrush Gallery

I just delivered four new oils to Windrush Gallery in Sedona,  Arizona - showing three of them here.  These oils are 12" x 12" painted on 2" deep Ampersand panels which gives the work a more contemporary feel as they are unframed - much like 'gallery wrap'.  I really enjoy painting the large shapes of cactus and succulents as they are less fiddly than the foliage of shrubs and trees.

"Waltz"

12" x 12" on 2" deep Ampersand board

"Point of Contention"

12" x 12" oil on 2" deep Ampersand board

 

"Yavapai Jade"

12" x 12" oil on 2" deep Ampersand board

I = Ibis

As I continue to paint my little oil studies alphabetically, I realize there aren't a lot of choices for the letter 'I'.  Ibis, orioles (genus Icterus) and a few other birds that I don't have much information on.....so why not an Ibis?  I see the White and Glossy Ibis when I'm on the East Coast - and the White-faced Ibis around Blythe and Brawley when I'm driving to California.  But seldom paint Ibis though I paint lots of Egret - a similar bird.  The egret is Cinderella and an Ibis the ugly step-sister. They look great in a group, but not nearly as elegant in flight. Perhaps I misjudge the Ibis and should get to know them a little better. Anyway, this Ibis is the Eastern U.S. variety - the White Ibis.  

277 - White Ibis

5" x 7" oil study on board, unframed

$75 plus $6 shipping within the U.S.
SOLD

H = Horse

I'll be gone all day tomorrow so this is tomorrow's 75/75 plus my submission for the Facebook Alphabet Mini project. This one is titled, 'H = Horse'.

Last July I was artist-in-residence at The Tin Shop in downtown Breckenridge, Colorado.  The Tin Shop program is sponsored by the Breck Arts District.  I had a wonderful month there - and will be there again this coming July.  The model for H = Horse is one of a pair of draught horses that pull a carriage through the streets of Breckenridge.  Their regular route takes them right past the Tin Shop several times a day.  I must look like someone that the horse knew because he watched for me at the Tin Shop door.  As he passed by, he'd turn his head to look at me until the carriage turned a corner. Maybe I look like someone who fed him apples.

I like this little study and will use the idea for a larger gallery painting. 

276 - Horse

5" x 7" oil study on board, unframed

SOLD

G = Gull

Last year I did a gull study along these lines but without ocean - just sand.  I really liked the tonalistic quality of it - so I've carried the idea a little further but this time it is gulls and ocean.  I like the way it turned out - perhaps I'll use the ideas from both pieces for a larger gallery piece.  Also, in order to keep this as a learning project, I'm trying to do more landscapes (with a bird or two).

This study is G = Gulls for the Facebook Alphabet Mini project I'm doing with sculptor Paul Rhymer and other artists - but it is also a study for my 75 for $75 project.  You know what they about killing two birds with one stone.  : -)    Perhaps I need to change the title of my 75 for $75 project as I'm now up to 275!

275 - Gulls

5" x 7" oil study on board, unframed

$75 plus $6 shipping within the U.S.

SOLD

F = Falco sparverius aka American Kestrel

Today's study for both my 77 for $75 project and the Facebook project "Alphabet Minis" is an American Kestrel, the smallest of the falcon family.  They used to be called Sparrow Hawks. I've only ever seen them go after grasshoppers and cicadas but my field guide says they will go after small birds, mainly in the winter.  Their diet is usually insects, reptiles and small mammals.  I usually see Kestrels in farm country - about one per mile, always sitting on a telephone line while surveying their domain. 

274 - Kestrel

5" x 7" oil study on board, unframed

$75 plus $6 shipping within the U.S.

SOLD

E = Egret

Today's post is an oil study of an egret.  This is for Paul Rhymer's Facebook project called "Alphabet Minis" but it's also my 75 for $75 study for the day.

273 - Egret

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

$75 plus $6 shipping within the U.S.

SOLD

C = Cardinal

I did another C = Cardinal.  This oil study is inspired by Ace Basin, about an hour south of Charleston where I've painted every year for about 15 years.   Except for the alligators, mosquitoes, fire ants, snakes and chiggers, it is a beautiful place!

I'm trying to do more little landscapes (with a bird) for my 75 for $75 project so that I'm continuing to learn.  

272 - Cardinal

7" x 5" oil study on board

$75 plus $6 shipping within the U.S.

SOLD

D = Deer

What happened to my previous post....C = Cardinal?  I deleted it because I couldn't get a good photo of it.  I will try scanning it when the oil is dry.

In the meantime, this piece is a 5" x 7" titled,  "D = Deer".  This study is for a daily painting project on Facebook started by my friend, sculptor Paul Rhymer, called "Alphabet Mini's".   I like the colors in this study and will use the piece as reference for a larger gallery painting, so though it is one of my 5 x 7 studies, it isn't for sale at this time.  

D = Deer

5" x 7" oil on board
 

B=Blackbird, Today's Study

This is my little study for a project that Paul Rhymer has going on Facebook, called "Alphabet Mini's". This very contemporary little piece is B=Blackbirds (red-winged) but it's also a study for my 75/75 project.  If I wasn't a bird artist, I might say that I'm killing two birds with one stone.

 271 - Red-winged Blackbirds

5" x 7" oil study on board, unframed

$75 plus $6 shipping within the U.S.

SOLD

Immature Black-chinned Hummingbird Study

It's been a while since I've posted a study.  I'm painting work for my galleries but thought I'd squeeze in a few studies in the next week or two before heading to Colorado.

This summer, there are hummingbird nests everywhere - and I also have baby Painted Redstarts in a nest in a wreath on my frame shop door.  All these feathered babies have inspired me to paint a young black-chinned hummingbird.

I have fibbed about the chin color on this little guy.  A fledging wouldn't have the neck color but rather a white chin with some speckles.  The dark chin worked better against the light background so I lied.  It is called artistic license!

270 Immature Black-chinned Hummingbird
5" x 7" oil study on board, unframed
$75 plus $6 shipping within the U.S.

SOLD