COLOR AND LIGHT

Almost The Last of the Studies

2012-02-03T09:11:00.002-07:00

Today's little studies (reduced in price - I've got to sell them all before I leave for three months) are a spotted towhee and a rabbit. I painted the rabbit when I first started the 75/75 project more than a year ago, but it was WAY too detailed so I put it in the reject pile. As you must know by now, my goal for the project was to become more painterly. As I painted more of the studies, I learned to just wipe them off and start again if I found myself painting too much detail.

There are a few more left. I may post another two this afternoon.

244 - Rabbit

7" x 5" oil study on board

SOLD

230 - Spotted Towhee

5" x 7" oil study on board, unframed

Work in Progress

2012-02-02T14:50:00.001-07:00

If you're looking for my little oil studies, I'll be posting more tomorrow!

This is a 24" x 48" oil that I'm working on, photographed at a strange angle to reduce the glare. I can't move it because I've just painted the gallery wrap sides. Perhaps it's finished....I won't know until I live with it for a couple of days. It's a companion to Counterpane, a painting I finished last week and posted here. (it's also on the front page of my website, www.AdeleEarnshaw.com. Both pieces will be exhibited at the Southeastern Wildlife Expo (SEWE) in Charleston, South Carolina on February 17-19. You can find me at Charleston Place, upstairs in the ballroom with ~~the lead pipe~~ where I'll be exhibiting my work.

Gallery-wrap sides take forever to dry unless you put a little dryer in the paint. I use Cobalt Dryer - just a smidgen is more than enough. I mix enough paint for all four sides. Then I paint three sides then let it sit overnight....the extra paint goes in the freezer. It's usually dry enough the next day to move off the easel. The following day I flip it upside down and paint the fourth side using the paint that I stuck in the freezer. (let it thaw first!) This way all four sides are exactly the same color.

I'm stuck for a name for this piece. Remembering that the companion piece is Counterpane, do you have any suggestions for a title? I'd like a name like, End of Day or The Remains of the Day, but I've already used those names for other pieces. Sometimes I think that naming a painting takes more effort than painting it.

Work in Progress

24" x 48" on gallery wrap canvas

Two More Studies...

2012-02-02T07:49:00.002-07:00

Here are two more oil studies. I painted the raven when I first started my 75 for $75 oil study project then I realized I'd painted it on a 6" x 8" board rather than a 5" x 7" so I put it aside. I just remedied the situation by trimming it to a 5" x 7"....and find I like it better anyway! As these pieces are already dry, I'm scanning them and getting much better images than when I photograph the wet studies.

There aren't many studies left but I'll have a look around the studio and see what else I can find.

243 - Raven

5" x 7" oil study on board

SOLD

215 - Swallow

7" x 5" oil study on board

SOLD

Another Study for Today

2012-02-02T07:05:00.002-07:00

I've found some pieces that I painted for my 75/75 project and never posted - this cow is one of them.
As I'm leaving for three months and don't want to haul all of these pieces with me to New Zealand, I'm seriously discounting the remaining studies. There aren't many left. I might post another this afternoon so stay tuned!

241 - Cow

7" x 5" oil study on board

SOLD

A Plein Air Study - Cows

2012-02-01T16:56:00.003-07:00

Wow - it didn't take long for this morning's studies to sell. I'll be posting a few more tomorrow. In the meantime - here's a little piece I did on location a few years ago...it may have been a demo for students. It's been gathering dust in my studio so I'm including it in the sale. It's a 5" x 7" oil - a quick plein air study.

Cows - A Plein Air Study

5" x 7" unframed

SOLD

"I'm Leaving the Country" SALE on remaining studies

2012-02-01T07:30:00.003-07:00

I leave in a couple of weeks for a show in Charleston, South Carolina, then I'm off to New Zealand for three months. I've been trying to figure out how to handle my 75 for $75 sales while I'm gone...so I've decided I'd better sell them before I leave. For the next week, I'll offer a few studies a day for $45 each plus $6 shipping. There are about ten left - out of the 100+ I've done in the past few months, that's not bad!

228 - Flicker

5" x 7" oil study on board, unframed

SOLD

222 - Chipmunk

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

SOLD

208 - Loon

5" x 7" oil study on board, unframed

SOLD

Come to New Zealand!

2012-01-31T11:12:00.009-07:00

COME TO NEW ZEALAND AS AN ART STUDENT,
PROFESSIONAL ARTIST

OR ART INSTRUCTOR

WHAT BETTER WAY TO SEE NEW ZEALAND THAN WITH A NEW ZEALANDER!

I am a New Zealander and my country's best ambassador. Though I live in the U.S. and have family here, my house is on the market and once sold, I'll move back to New Zealand. But I'll have a foot in both countries as I'll spend four months of each year in the U.S. supplying galleries and doing a few shows.

I've taught art workshops in the U.S. and around the world with my artist buddy Joe Garcia and we've had many requests to teach in New Zealand. So five of us (me, my sister Joanne and her husband Jim plus Joe & Anne Garcia) formed Southern Cross Artventures for the purpose of offering painting trips to New Zealand. As my sister and I grew up about an hour north of Auckland on the beautiful Kowhai Coast, we know the area well - so this is where our Painting Holidays are based.

We offer three ways for you to see my New Zealand.

COME AS AN ART STUDENT:
The Southern Cross Artventures team will pick you up at the airport in Auckland, transport you to our resort, provide most of your meals and all daily excursions to the islands, bays and beaches of the Kowhai Coast. Bring your travelling companion as there will be lots of things for non-painters to do, including hiking, swimming and snorkelling. The upcoming February 2012 Earnshaw/Garcia Painting Holiday is full and at this time we don't have any scheduled but we are offering artist workshops by other instructors in 2013. Cost: $2500

Though Joe and I won't be teaching the following workshops, we will be escorting you each day, providing everything you need for an enjoyable week including information on the landscape, plants and birds.

Barrett Edwards New Zealand Painting Holiday, February 24 - March 2, 2013, Oil painting workshop on location.

Michael Chesley Johnson New Zealand Painting Holiday, March 5 - March 11, 2013, Plein air painting workshop, any medium! Michael has his own website on this workshop.

COME AS A PROFESSIONAL ARTIST - New Zealand Painting Holiday March 14 - 20, 2013
As with the art workshops, we will pick you up at the airport, transport you to our resort, provide most of your meals and all daily excursions to the islands, bays and beaches of the Kowhai Coast, but there will be no instruction provided. This is for professional artists who would like the opportunity to paint some of the prettiest motifs in New Zealand without the hassles. Cost: $2100

COME AS AN INSTRUCTOR:
If you would like to teach a painting workshop for us in New Zealand and think you have 16-20 students who would like to accompany you, please contact us!

Whether you are taking a workshop as an art student or spending a week painting with us as a professional artist, the following is included in the cost of your Painting Holiday:

Transportation to and from Auckland Airport
Transportation to and from your daily painting locations
All breakfasts, all lunches and most of your dinners
Wine is provided with some of the meals
Kawau Island and other excursions
Accommodation. Our resort accommodates four people per bach (bach=summer cabin). Each bach has a kitchen, living room, internet, television and two bedrooms, each with their own bathroom. One bedroom has a king bed, the other has a queen or twins. There's an additional $300 fee if you would like single accommodation.

Not included is your round trip airfare from the United States to New Zealand. We can advise on airlines and where to visit in New Zealand after your Painting Holiday and can help with any other information you may need.

For more information contact me or go to our website: www.paintingnewzealand.com or our blog
www.PaintNewZealand.blogspot.com

Kia ora,
Adele

Light Through Trees

2012-01-30T12:27:00.001-07:00

This is an 8" x 8" oil on panel, #6 in my Light Through Trees series. Like my little bird studies, this painting is an exercise in loosening up. This painting will be one of 30 that I'll be exhibiting at the Southeastern Wildlife Expo in Charleston, South Carolina, February 17-19

Light Through Trees #6

Oil on panel, 8" x 8"

I added the little bits of red at the last minute but I'm not sure if I'll leave them in. The painting had a subtlety that I liked before the red was added.

Flying Canada Geese for Today's Oil Study

2012-01-28T12:02:00.001-07:00

This little study looks more detailed than it is. I painted it for the sky, which I intended to be stormy, but I guess my colors were too blue because the clouds look like nice-day kinda clouds.

I live in Northern Arizona. I got a shock a few weeks ago when I heard the familiar honking that I hear when I'm in Maryland in November. Suddenly a flock of about 60 Canadas came over the red rocks and up the canyon. Quite a sight!

239 - Canada Geese in Flight

5" x 7" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

Color and Light, 8 & 9

2012-01-27T14:12:00.003-07:00

When I have a little extra time at the end of the day - and some colorful paint left on my palette, I work on my little landscape series called Color & Light. These two are the 8th and 9th of the series.
I really like #8 as it is ~~almost~~ an abstract design. I thought about putting a bird in it but decided a bird would ruin the abstract quality...so I hope you understand the painting! #9 is a little more literal. These little paintings are done on cradledboard - which is a gessoed panel on 3/4" deep birch ply sides. The sides are painted a predominant color from the landscape. They do not need to be framed - but can be if you prefer.

Color & Light Series, #8

4" x 4" oil on board, unframed

$150 plus $6 shipping within the U.S.

Color & Light Series, #9

4" x 4" oil on board, unframed

$150 plus $6 shipping within the U.S.

A Canada Goose for Today's Study

2012-01-27T09:20:00.002-07:00

It's a bright, sunny day outside so I felt like painting something colorful. Today's oil study is a 5" x 7" oil study on gessoed board. If you would like to see the rest of my studies in my 75 for $75 project, just click on this link. There are some unsold pieces!

The silent auction on the little rabbit, The Ears Have It, ends today at 5:00 pm mountain standard time. The current high bid is $150. If you'd like to see it, or bid, just scroll down to last Monday's post.

238 - Canada Goose

5" x 7" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

A Mourning Dove for Today's Oil Study

2012-01-26T16:57:00.001-07:00

I spent the day working on commissions and had enough time left to do a little study. I haven't done a dove in a long time - so today's study is a Mourning Dove. Now I have the itch to paint an Inca Dove - maybe tomorrow, we'll see.

237 - Mourning Dove

5" x 7" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

Two Commissions

2012-01-26T14:43:00.001-07:00

I've just finished this 10" x 8" oil of a finch for a client. It's been sitting in the studio half-finished for a month or more while I decided what it needed. My paintings always work out better if I don't rush them. Once the piece is about 80% finished, I lean it against the wall in the studio for a couple of days. Sometimes I know within a day or two what needs to be done to finish it - other times it will take a month or more as with this piece.

This second commission is a 12" x 16" of black-billed magpies, and is at the lean-it-against-the-wall stage. When a painting is at this stage, I also photograph so it can flip it horizontally in Photoshop...the equivalent of looking at it in the mirror. If I like the flipped or mirror image - I know it is working.

This is my third attempt at this painting. I've discovered that magpies aren't easy birds to work into a composition because of the long tail and the dramatic black and white markings but I'm happy with this composition. Once the brush and birds are tweaked a little, it will be finished.

I'm hoping to do a little 75 for $75 study before the end of the day. Stay tuned!

Today's Study is a Female Wood Duck

2012-01-25T09:48:00.001-07:00

I really like this little study. It has a bit of detail around her face but the rest of the duck is just suggested - I way I like to paint, plus I like the right-up-the-middle composition.

236 - Female Wood Duck

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

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

An Egret for Today

2012-01-24T11:37:00.001-07:00

Today's 5" x 7" oil study for my 75 for $75 project is an egret. It was inspired by the Blackwater Refuge in Cambridge, Maryland - where I saw a dozen or more egrets feeding in a small marshy area of rust colored grasses and reeds. The image has stuck in my brain so I had to paint it.

235 - Egret

5" x 7" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

Today's Oil Study - A Western Bluebird

2012-01-23T14:17:00.002-07:00

I'm trying hard to get back into the 75/75 mode but I've got an upcoming show in Charleston in a couple of weeks, so it's hard to find the time to work on my studies.

Today's little oil is a Western Bluebird. I like the way his little feet repeat the shapes of the barbed wire.

234 - Western Bluebird

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

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

The Ears Have It

2012-01-23T09:44:00.006-07:00

I painted this little guy for my 75 for $75 project. I posted it here but decided to keep it for an upcoming show in Charleston, rather than sell it for $75. I've had so many requests to purchase it, I've decided to try something new. I'm selling The Ears Have It on a silent auction. Most art collectors are familiar with this type of auction but if you're not, I'll explain it.

If you would like to bid on the this little oil, then click on 'COMMENTS' then enter your bid into the comments section. Bids starts at $100. If you are the only bidder, then when the silent auction ends, the bunny is yours. If others have placed a bid, you can scroll through the comments to see the latest bid. Please bid in $15 increments. If you have trouble placing a bid in the comment section, email me and I'll post your bid for you. www.AdeleEarnshaw@gmail.com

The silent auction will end on Friday, January 27th at 5:00 PM Mountain Standard Time. If you have the highest bid, the painting is yours! I'll notify you by email - and I'll also post it here. Good luck! I hope this little rabbit finds a nice home.

The Ears Have It

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

Silent auction price plus $6 shipping

SOLD

"Counterpane"

2012-01-13T12:02:00.000-07:00

I just finished this 24" x 48" oil on gallery-wrapped canvas. This gives a more contemporary look and doesn't require that the piece be framed - though it can be if the client wants framing. I painted it for my exhibit at The Southeast Wildlife Expo where I'll be showing my work February 16 - 19, 2012 in Charleston, South Carolina. I've been painting small, soft, moody landscape with a goal of painting the same mood but much larger. This is my first attempt - and I like it!

Counterpane

24" x 48" oil on canvas

A Cute Pooch

2012-01-12T16:13:00.001-07:00

This 8" x 8" oil on Ampersand gessoed board, is a gallery commission. It was a little blah so I replaced the neutral background color with the orange/yellow and a warm red separated by a blue band. Then it popped!

8" x 8" oil on gessoed board

SOLD

233 - Flying Egret

2012-01-12T08:24:00.001-07:00

I had this little oil study done by 7:30 this morning. I was inspired to paint it after working on yesterday's large oil. This little guy is an egret - perhaps an immature snowy?

233 - Flying Egret

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

Work in Progress

2012-01-11T17:28:00.000-07:00

This large oil (24" x 48") is heading for the Southeastern Wildlife Expo (SEWE) in mid-February. It's not finished yet - very much a work in progress. I'll probably add three flying egret, flying from left to right. They'll be small, as it is the landscape I'm talking about, not the birds. The oil is inspired by the landscape at Ace Basin, about an hour south of Charleston - though it could be anywhere. I've been painting small studies of this landscape for years. This is my first attempt to paint a really BIG piece based on small studies

I may call the painting 'Counterpane' from a song I learned years ago in New Zealand. I've googled the words and find no record of it online.

Day has passed in crimson splendour
night has come with noiseless tread
and upon the darkening landscape
soft her counterpane has spread.

Another Bun for Today's Study

2012-01-11T10:09:00.001-07:00

Today's oil study looks like I labored over it for a long time, but it didn't take long to paint.
The study is not as detailed as it appears here. I'm working on a smooth gessoed board and use rags to move paint around. The weave of the rag can leave really interesting textures. Most of this little guy was 'painted' using a rag. I've been on a bunny kick lately....perhaps because in the past I've had so much trouble painting small mammals. I will keep painting them until I figure them out.

232 - Rabbit

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

A Cardinal for Today's Oil Study

2012-01-10T16:04:00.000-07:00

I was inspired by the little rabbit I did a few days ago so wanted to try a few oil studies with that soft look. This is more detailed than I intended - but oh well - tomorrow is another day.

231 - Cardinal

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

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

The Bun of the Day

2012-01-08T16:04:00.002-07:00

Neon Bun (for lack of a better title for now)

7" x 5" oil on Ampersand panel
SOLD

I've been lax on my 75/75 project but I've been getting commissions out of the way. I also rephotographed a few of my unsold 75's that did not photograph well and have posted them below.

222 - Chipmunk
SOLD

199 - Osprey
SOLD

Artist's Cottage for Sale - More Info!

2012-01-05T13:02:00.000-07:00

Since this morning's post about my cottage, I've had four inquiries.....so I'm posting a couple more photos.

My Artist's Cottage (and it's for sale!)

2012-01-05T08:46:00.000-07:00

Taken from my front door

I live in one of the prettiest places in the United States...Oak Creek Canyon, which runs from Sedona up towards Flagstaff in Northern Arizona. I bought a cottage in the canyon 34 years ago. Now I'm ready to sell and return to New Zealand where I'll live 8 months of each year. The other four will be spent in the U.S. resupplying my galleries and spending time with my grandkids. It is about 1200 s.f. 2 or 3 bedroom (I use the largest bedroom as a studio), 1.5 baths. I am in a small neighborhood of 15 homes - almost all used as second homes. No short-term rentals allowed - so the neighborhood is quiet and private. We're surrounded by Forest Service land....ponderosa, oak, pinon and sycamore. The house is about 100' from the creek and included legal deeded creek access. There are critters in the woods including white-tailed deer, black bear, raccoon, ring-tailed cat, etc. If you're interested in more information on my house (the perfect second-home) let me know and I'll send you more information.

I'm Back! A Spotted Towhee Study for Today

2012-01-02T15:54:00.001-07:00

I really didn't intend to take so much time off, but first there was Christmas - then the grandkids were here - then the weather has been so gorgeous with close to 70 degree weather (I'm usually shoveling snow at this time of year) so of course I had to work outside in the garden. Today is the first day back in the studio since before Christmas.

My Christmas card of a junco in the snow has inspired me to do more snow studies. This is a spotted towhee, formerly known as a rufous-sided towhee. They're fairly common where I live but I still get a thrill when I see one as they're such pretty birds.

230 - Spotted Towhee

5" x 7" oil study on board, unframed

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

Today's Study is a Bald Eagle in Flight

2011-12-20T16:17:00.000-07:00

I've been on a cloud-painting kick. When my son was a little kid and we'd be on a road trip, we often talked about the color of the landscape, especially clouds. I would ask, 'if you could cut out a piece of that cloud and put it on a piece of white paper, what color would it be'? When asked to analyze the color, he'd realize the 'white' cloud was actually yellow, brown or even green. Any surprise he also earns his living as an artist? www.blot.com

I'm still intrigued with the color of clouds so today's oil is a cloud study - with a bald eagle. Hope you like it!

229 - Bald Eagle in Flight

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

Stocking Stuffers!

2011-12-20T07:38:00.002-07:00

These are a few original oils from my Color & Light Series. They are painted on a 3/4" deep panel with birch sides painted a solid color to complement the landscape, so no need to frame this painting though it can be framed if you prefer. They're 4" x 4", dry, ready to ship and would make great stocking stuffers!

Color & Light Series #5

4" x 4" oil on 3/4" deep panel

$150 plus $6 shipping

Color & Light Series #4

4" x 4" oil on 3/4" deep panel

$150 plus $6 shipping
SOLD

Color & Light Series #2
4" x 4" oil on panel

$150 plus $6 shipping

Color & Light Series #3
4" x 4" oil on panel

$150 plus $6 shipping

228 - A Northern Flicker for Today's Study

2011-12-19T15:01:00.002-07:00

Today's 7" x 5" oil study is a Northern Flicker. I didn't realize until I researched it prior to starting the study, that flickers are found all over the U.S. This particular bird is a Red-shafted Flicker.

228 - Northern Flicker
SOLD

227 - A Golden Eagle Study for Today

2011-12-18T14:06:00.001-07:00

Today's study is a golden eagle. I don't think I've painted one before so this is a first. I like the way it turned out!

227 - Golden Eagle

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

Today's Study - Red-tailed Hawk in Flight

2011-12-17T10:07:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year I painted a study of a raven in flight - looking up at it with clouds behind. I really liked the painting so decided that I'd like to do some cloud studies with the focus on the clouds rather than the birds. I chose a red-tailed hawk as the bird's orange/red tail makes it more dramatic against a sky. But the bird became more important than the clouds, so I guess this is bird study after all.

226 - Red-tailed Hawk in Flight

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

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

225 - A Steller's Jay

2011-12-15T19:05:00.000-07:00

I decided not to paint a study for today as I got caught up in cleaning the studio. But later in the afternoon, I felt a little guilty for slacking off so I got the brushes out and painted a Steller's Jay. I only need to look out my studio window to see one - they're everywhere. I always associate the noisy Steller's Jays with camping trips. At dawn, they seemed to congregate in the trees over my tent and screech until I got up.

Tomorrow is my granddaughter's birthday so I must go shopping. No painting tomorrow!

225 - Steller's Jay

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

Another Vulture Study!

2011-12-14T10:45:00.000-07:00

It never occurred to me to paint vultures - but I find they're not only popular, but interesting to paint with great body and wing shapes. Judging by the shorter tail, I believe these are black vultures rather than juvenile turkey vultures. I often see these birds at Ace Basin in South Carolina. I don't know what it is about this little study, but I really like it. Perhaps the color?

To see many of the other 5" x 7" oil studies in my 75 for $75 project, click on this link which will take you to the 75 for $75 page on my website. There are still unsold studies available.

224 - Black Vultures

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

A Tufted Titmouse For Today's Study

2011-12-13T11:15:00.000-07:00

After painting birds for 30 years, I still find plenty of species that I've never painted before. This is my first tufted titmouse. I have bridled titmice where I live - but no tufted so I've never been inclined to paint one. They're cute little birds.

If you would like a specific bird species - email me and I'll see what I can do. You would not be obligated to purchase the study - but you would have first dibs.

223 - Tufted Titmouse

5" x 7" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

Today's Study - A Chipmunk

2011-12-12T13:03:00.002-07:00

What looks like an easy subject matter to paint isn't necessarily so. I thought this little guy would be a cinch to paint but I really struggled over keeping it simple. When a critter has fur and whiskers, my natural tendency is to paint them. I think I took more paint off the board than I put on it.

I'm listening to NPR as I write this - specifically to Garrison Keillor's Writer's Almanac. He commented on an author who said he "spent all morning putting in a comma and all afternoon removing it". I know how the author feels!

222 - Chipmunk

SOLD

A Chicken for Today

2011-12-09T13:45:00.000-07:00

Today's study is a chicken - or 'chook' as they're called in New Zealand. There, a baby hen is a chicken and slang for a grown hen is chook. I grew up on a poultry farm in New Zealand - perhaps that why I have a thing for the feathered species?

221 - Chicken

5" x 7" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

A Hummingbird for Today

2011-12-08T14:29:00.000-07:00

This little study is really just a quick study - but it looks more detailed. The background is a combination of soft edges using my magic-softening brush and some hard edges. I like the feel of movement. I've painted quite a few hummingbirds for my 75 for $75 project so I look at the images of the previous hummingbird studies to make sure each one is different.

220 - Hummingbird

5" x 7" oil study on panel, unframed

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

SOLD

A Peregrine Falcon - Today's Study

2011-12-07T15:01:00.000-07:00

I don't know that I've ever painted a peregrine before, but they are magnificent birds - I hope I can do it justice. The study felt a little ho-hum until I put the orange band behind the falcon. I like my brushwork in this piece - which is exactly why I'm doing these studies!

219 - Peregrine Falcon

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

A Scissor-Tailed Fly Catcher for Today

2011-12-06T12:30:00.000-07:00

Today's 5" x 7" oil study for my 75 for $75 project is a scissor-tailed flycatcher. When painting a ST flycatcher there is always the dilemma - do you paint a little bird, leaving room for the tail or do you paint a big bird and imply that the tail is there - out of the image. As the tail is really what a scissor-tailed flycatcher is all about, I elected to go with the 'little' bird.

There are unsold studies in my 75 for $75 project. You can see many of the 5" x 7"s in one place if you click on this link. If the little image doesn't have a red dot, it is still available. To see a larger version of the study, just click on the thumbnail.

218 - Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

5" x 7" oil study on board, unframed

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

Today's Study - A Fox

2011-12-05T14:42:00.000-07:00

I'm continuing to experiment on different surfaces, this fox study is done on a 5" x 7" Centurion stretched canvas. It was frustrating working on canvas after painting on gessoed board though it's an ideal surface if you don't want to paint any detail. I'm going back to board, thank you!

217 - Fox

5" x 7" oil study on stretched canvas, unframed

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

SOLD

An Oil Study for Today!

2011-12-04T17:39:00.000-07:00

I didn't think I'd get one done. It was one of those days that you can read about in today's earlier post. But painting the little 4" x 6" bunny on a completely different surface that I've been used to, inspired me. Perhaps painting birds has me temporarily birded out. So I decided to take a break and paint some critters. I took an old 75/75 painting dud that never made it to the project, sanded it really smooth, sprayed it with some retouch varnish and decided to paint another rabbit.

Like the oil-primed linen panel that I used on today's previous bun, this super-smooth surface was fun! Though the painting looks detailed, it isn't. I painted it - smoothed the edges with my little magic watercolor-mop-brush and it was done. I like it.

216 - Rabbit

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

Baby Bun

2011-12-04T15:04:00.001-07:00

My muse doesn't like cold weather so she must have headed south. It has been one of those days where I spent the day wiping off paintings...including my 75/75 study, which was getting out-of-control-detailed. It actually was a nice little piece, but as you probably know, my goal with the studies is to loosen up. Detail is not tolerated.

So I gave up on doing a study and instead, rummaged through my supplies and found an interesting surface that I've not worked on before. At one of the plein air festivals, I was given a Source Tek linen panel, #66 oil primed panel. My friend Lindsay Scott hates oil primed linen so I was turned off it before ever trying it...but to my surprise, it was an interesting surface to paint on!

Today's effort is a little 6" x 4" oil on an oil primed linen panel. I like it. Not sure what I'm going to do with it at this point. The bottom of the painting is actually as dark as the top, but as the bottom is painted in a more opaque paint, it has photographed lighter.

"Baby Bun"

6" x 4" oil on linen panel

SOLD

Today's Two Oil Studies - A Swallow and Vultures

2011-12-03T14:15:00.001-07:00

It's a snowy day in my part of the world. The roads that weren't closed were a mess so I made chicken stew and spent the day at the easel.

My first oil study is a tree swallow, which are found over most of the U.S. I came to know a tree swallow on a first name basis some years ago when during Arizona's monsoon season, I drove over a wet bundle of feathers on the road near my home. Realizing it was alive, I stopped and rescued a bedraggled tree swallow. After drying him with the hair dryer (on warm) he sat in a basket on my big drafting table while I painted. Initially he wasn't very responsive, but after dozing under a warm light for a few hours he started to preen himself. A few hours later he was sitting on the edge of the basket singing and preening - even allowing me to scratch his head. Later that day when it stopped raining, I released him where I found him. He flew off without a backyard glance, but he certainly added to my day.

The tree swallow in my study is a male in Spring plumage. The little guy I rescued was a male in fall plumage. (see photo at the end of this post) I really like this study - one of my favorites so far.

215 - Tree Swallow

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

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

My second study is another vulture piece. I could have sold the first one a dozen times so decided to do another, not so similar piece.

214 - Vultures

5" x 7" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

This is the tree swallow that lived to see another day.

Today's Oil Study - A Crow

2011-12-02T13:03:00.000-07:00

I haven't painted a corvid in a while - so today's study is a crow. I really like this piece....something about the broken background at the bottom right.

213 - Crow

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

Today's Post - a Turkey!

2011-12-01T17:50:00.000-07:00

I thought about doing this at Thanksgiving - but it was just too....I don't know what....but painting a turkey on Thanksgiving just didn't seem right. So today's study is a female turkey. IMHO, male turkeys are pretty ugly unless the light and angle are just right.

I did another vulture study earlier and posted it here momentarily, but then removed it when I decided to rework the study. It was just too fussy. So I fulfilled my goal and painted two studies for today but I'm only posting one! I really like this study!

212 - Turkey

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

Two Studies for Today - Baby Quail & Red-winged Blackbirds

2011-11-30T16:40:00.000-07:00

There's a storm coming with much colder temperatures and snow :-( so I had to tear myself away from the easel this morning to run errands. But I did get my two 75 for $75's finished and photographed! I can see that I'm straying away from the 'bird study' idea. I'm not sure if this is a good or a bad thing - but for the moment, I'll see where it takes me.

The first study is of baby quail. Many years ago I raised five baby Gambel's Quail from day old chicks. Someone found the chicks huddled up against a big ol' toad on her patio...no sign of the parents. As she watched, the toad suddenly decided it wanted baby quail for dinner. Who would have guessed that a toad would eat a baby bird! The baby was halfway down the toad's throat when she saved it. She took all five babies to the local radio station and I ended up with them. I didn't hear the toad story until months later - but had wondered why one of the baby quail had what seemed to be dry glue on his head. Toad spit!

I've since seen baby California Valley Quail and they looked exactly like these little guys. I'm guessing that young Bobwhite look much the same.

210 - Baby Quail

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

My second study for the day is of Red-winged Blackbirds. Like the gull study that I did the other day, I painted little bird shapes with no detail, allowing the group of birds to have impact, rather than just one larger bird.

211 - Red-winged Blackbirds

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

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

Two oil studies for today, a loon and egret

2011-11-29T10:59:00.002-07:00

I've had some emails saying, "but all your studies are sold"! Actually, there are a few left - you can click here to see them - and I realize that you've got to click on each image to see if it is available. FASO, my website company, used to put a red dot on the thumbnail as soon as it was marked SOLD. I don't know what has happened to the red dot system - but I'll give FASO a call and ask. UPDATE: I called my website company and not only are the red dots back but the thumbnails are bigger! Check it out! Now you can see at a glance which paintings have sold.

To keep up with demand, I can raise the price of the little studies - or paint more. I'm really opposed to raising the price so I'm going to try to do two 75 for $75's a day. In time, I may go to an auction system (not Ebay!) but not yet. So here are today's two studies!
The first is a loon. I resist painting loons because they sit so low in the water there's not much bird to paint,. So in this first study, I concentrated on interesting colors and brush work in the water.

208 - Loon

The second study of the day is an egret. I've painted quite a few egrets for the 75/75 project so I tried completely different brushwork on this piece. It looks detailed - and I confess I used a smaller brush - but it didn't take any longer. I flared out the bristles on a #6 round watercolor brush to paint it - and rather like the effect. It's softer. I can see using this technique for more tonalistic pieces.

209 - Egret

5" x 7" oil study on board, unframed
$75 plus $6 shipping within the U.S.

SOLD

A great article on my work and a new 5" x 7" oil study!

2011-11-28T12:13:00.000-07:00

Today, Wildlife Art Journal released an extensive article on me and my work! I'm really honored as it is a well-respected online magazine. If you click on the link, you can read the article without subscribing. Not sure how long it will be 'free' - perhaps just today.

Today's 5" x 7" oil study is of gulls. I seem to be on a trend - painting smaller birds and more background. If you'd like to see many of the other 5" x 7" oil studies that I've done for my 75 for $75 project, click on this link. It will take you to the 75 for $75 page on my website. There are still half a dozen or more available. I've had to delete a lot of the sold 75's - just no room on my website!

205 - Gulls

5" x 7" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

Today's Oil Study - Flying Cattle Egret

2011-11-27T15:14:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to figure out how to paint fields of green grass without rendering...so decided to paint cattle egret in flight. They're seen from coast to coast, but I often see them out in the middle of the desert at the California/Arizona border in Blythe and Brawley, both agricultural areas where it is not uncommon to see mixed groups of cattle egret and white-faced ibis.

I like this piece for its simplicity. I'm so used to painting great or snowy egret, I just shortened the necks and legs - and voila, cattle egret!

204 - Flying Cattle Egret

5" x 7" oil on board, unframed

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

SOLD

Today's Oil Study - Vultures! (but I'm keeping it)

2011-11-26T06:26:00.000-07:00

This little vulture painting demonstrates exactly why I do these little oil studies. I wouldn't have done a larger painting of vultures...afraid it would never sell. But it doesn't matter if a study doesn't sell because I don't have much time invested in these little guys (a half-hour in this one). Also, for this piece, I experimented using a pre-painted/dry board - an old 75/75 that didn't work. I liked the background color so I saved the board and used it for this piece. I've worked on boards that have been stained a color but never on thicker paint that is completely dry. I usually work completely alla prima. It was fun working on dry paint, allowing a little bit of the under painting to show through. (the gray in the bottom right hand corner). For the background texture, I used thick paint on a large brush and dragged the brush edge over the board. I also put the subject matter smack-dab in the middle of the board. Why not! It's only a study. But I think in this case, it works because the eye goes to the large wing rather than to the center of the vulture group.

So this is why I do these little studies....I can be brave and boldly go where I've never been before. If it doesn't work, I can always turp it out. If it does work, then I've got information I can use on larger, studio oils.

I like this vulture study and am wondering if it will work as a larger piece, but perhaps it will lose the spontaneity if larger. So for the moment, I'm not going to sell it. With a tweak or two, it could be one of my two entries into Birds in Art 2012.

203 - Vultures

5" x 7" oil study on board

Not for sale at this time

Today's Oil Study - A House Wren

2011-11-25T13:25:00.000-07:00

Today's oil study is a little house wren.. I know spring is here when the house wrens sit in my apple tree and sing their hearts out. I have a couple of nesting boxes that are occupied every year. I watch the parents hop in and out the box feeding the young but I always seem to miss seeing them leave.

The paint on this study is pretty thick in some spots so it will take longer than usual to dry. It might be a couple of weeks before it is dry enough to mail.

202 - House Wren

7" x 5" oil on board, unframed

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

SOLD

Study for Thanksgiving Day - A Flying Hummingbird

2011-11-25T09:28:00.000-07:00

I intended to post this yesterday but I had 12 people for Thanksgiving dinner. By the time the dishwasher was loaded and everyone had gone, I was ready to enjoy a glass of wine and call it quits for the day.

This is my post for yesterday - Thanksgiving Day. It's a ruby-throated (eastern US) or a broad-tailed (western US) hummingbird. There's very little difference between the two when you're not painting detail.

201 - Flying Hummingbird

5" x 7" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

Today's Study - Red-Tailed Hawk

2011-11-23T09:07:00.000-07:00

Today's study is way too detailed for me - but no time to do another! My goal for the 75/75 project is to do loose studies, avoiding detail. Oh well....

200 - Red-tailed Hawk

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

Today's Study - A Flying Osprey

2011-11-22T11:17:00.001-07:00

Today's 7" x 5" study is a flying osprey. Every now and then I see one flying past my studio window as it cruises over the creek that is about 100 feet from my house. It seems that osprey are always associated with larger bodies of water so it seems a little strange to see an osprey in red rock country hanging around a creek. But there are large lakes on the rim above the canyon where I live, so perhaps the osprey is just doing a day-trip for a change of scenery.

199 - Osprey

7" x 5" oil on board, unframed

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

SOLD

Today's Study - A Burrowing Owl

2011-11-21T12:13:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've painted a burrowing owl. They're cute little birds, looking a bit like a kid's wind-up toy. I am now officially 'caught up'. Will try to get a few extra done and in reserve for Thanksgiving and weekends so that I can post a study every day. There'll be a new one up tomorrow.

198 - Burrowing Owl

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

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

Today's Study for Yesterday!

2011-11-21T09:53:00.000-07:00

This is the oil study for yesterday. As soon as I post another study for today, I'll be caught up with my goal to post at least one piece a day between November 15 and December 31st.

This 7" x 5" oil is of a Hairy Woodpecker. I see them on my apple trees in the winter along with the Downy (similar to the Hairy, but smaller), the occasional Northern Flicker and the Red-naped Sapsucker. Years ago, I photographed a Red-Breasted Sapsucker on my apple tree, here in Northern Arizona. As this bird is only found in the very western part of the west coast, certainly not in Arizona, I sent the photograph to Audubon. It was published as a 'rare and unusual sighting' in the American Bird magazine. Sadly, the next winter, I found it dead on my deck.

197 - Hairy Woodpecker

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

Friday and Saturday's oil studies

2011-11-20T18:09:00.001-07:00

Today I'm posting two 5" x 7" oil studies - one for Friday and one for Saturday. After all, I did say I'd post one a day between November 15th and the end of the year! I've got a third piece almost finished but I've run out of daylight. I'll post it tomorrow.

I painted the egret on Thursday but couldn't get a good photo of it so I've repainted some of the dark areas to make them more opaque as transparent darks don't photograph well.

195 - Egret

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

My second piece is a White Crowned Sparrow - one of my favorite birds but I think this is the first one I've painted. This study really is a 'study'. Just the bird, no branch nor shadow. I like my brushwork in this piece.

196 - White Crowned Sparrow

5" x 7" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

Grandkids take priority over painting!

2011-11-18T17:58:00.000-07:00

There aren't many things that I allow to interfere with my time in the studio. Family, mainly the grandkids, are the only things that can tear me away from the easel.

This morning I was called into action as my two-year old granddaughter was sick and couldn't go to pre-school. Her mommy works and daddy (my son) had a couple of book covers due today so I dashed to their house to spend the day playing "this little piggy" and to watch in amazement as she navigated her way around her daddy's Ipad.

So unfortunately, there was no time for a 75 for $75 oil study today. Does it count that I posted two yesterday? Tomorrow, the two older grandchildren have their last soccer games of the season - so I won't be posting a study tomorrow either!

I will work hard on Sunday and will post THREE to make up for it.

Day 3 - Nesting Hummingbird and Thrush

2011-11-17T15:35:00.000-07:00

I've been busy! In addition to framing and packing three pieces for the Holiday Small Works Show at the Legacy Gallery in Scottsdale, Arizona...I've also done two little studies for the 75 for $75 project. I don't know what came over me - must have been the Wheaties I had for breakfast. I actually did a third piece - a Great Egret, but darned if I can get a good photo of it. I might have to wait until it is dry then put it in the scanner.

A month or two ago I did a nesting hummingbird, which sold right away - and since then have had lots of requesting for another. This little gal is really tucked down in her nest so you can't see much of her but I was happy with the way the painting worked out.

193 - Nesting Hummingbird

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

The second oil study is a thrush - at least I think it's a thrush. Maybe it is an oven bird? I can't even remember where I photographed the bird, which would give me a clue.

194 - Thrush

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

Day 2 - Another Study - Hummingbird

2011-11-16T11:04:00.000-07:00

This is the second 5" x 7" oil study for today - a hummingbird. A broad-tailed or a ruby-throated? It could be either....

192 - Hummingbird

5" x 7" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

Day 2 - A Canada Goose

2011-11-16T09:31:00.000-07:00

I guess I've got Canada Geese on my mind as I spent the past week on Maryland's Eastern Shore at the Waterfowl Festival. There are usually thousands of Canadas in the sky - long ribbons of them - but this year I saw very few. I heard they are arriving late this year.

191 - Canada Goose

5" x 7" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

Day 1 - A Nuthatch

2011-11-15T14:37:00.000-07:00

Today is the first day of a new 75 for $75 project. I will post at least one a day until the end of December.

Today's cheery little bird is a White-breasted Nuthatch. I only seem to notice these little guys in the winter when the leaves are off the trees and I see them scooting up and down the trunk of the tree. Is it the white-breasted or the red-breasted nuthatch that makes a beeping noise that makes me think the aliens have landed?

If you aren't familiar with my 75 for $75 project....I paint at least one 5" x 7" oil study a day. You can purchase the paintings for $75 each, unframed plus $6 shipping within the U.S. The painting will be shipped as soon as it is dry - usually in about a week.

My son, Shane, plans on contributing a few 5 x 7's to this month's project. He's up to his ears in commercial work but still would like to get a few done.

190 - White-breasted Nuthatch

5" x 7" oil on panel, unframed

$75 plus $6 shipping with in the U.S.

SOLD

"Traveller"

2011-11-07T12:24:00.000-07:00

I've been obsessed with fall colors lately, perhaps because that's what I'm seeing out my studio window...though right now there is fresh snow falling on the autumn leaves. This little piece is an 8" x 8" oil on a gessoed panel. It was difficult to photograph. The colors here are not 100% accurate but it is this intense. Perhaps I'll do a larger piece using these colors for the show in Charleston in February.

Traveller is a gift for the couple who are generously providing a home for me while at the Waterfowl Festival. I liked it so much I painted a companion to it, Into the Mystic, which will be available at the show.

Traveller

8" x 8" oil on panel

All Clean and Ready to Go!

2011-11-06T07:21:00.000-07:00

I'll be painting for the 75 for $75 project again, from November 15th through the end of the year. My son, Shane Rebenschied, a commercial illustrator, www.blot.com, hopes to contribute some 5" x 7"s to the project. As he's up to his ears in freelance work and deadlines AND has three kids, he won't be contributing a painting every day, but hopefully he'll have time for a few beauties.

He sent me this photo of his oil palette - all clean and ready to go!

Shane uses Turpenoid, but I have asthma so I use Gamsol which seldom bothers me. He's done some research into mediums and decided that he'd like to try a mix of stand oil/linseed and dammar varnish. I'll be curious to see how he likes it....but linseed oil scares me as it is so often the cause of spontaneous combustion. We both like to work on glass palettes. Mine is a sheet of thick, tempered glass, a door from an old stereo cabinet. Shane's is an old aluminum framed window. Glass makes a great palette and can be cleaned easily using rubbing alcohol. Though artist friends who have seen mine will attest that it is seldom clean.

Back to the 75/75 project: I'll paint at least one 5" x 7" a day, maybe more, depending on how quickly I can finish commitments for some galleries. I've promised new Southwest pieces to Windrush Gallery in Sedona, Arizona, I've still got a couple of small oils to finish for The Legacy Gallery's small works holiday show and I'm long overdue on new work for The Pierson Gallery in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The good news is that I've supplied Walt Horton Fine Art Gallery in Beaver Creek, Colorado with new pieces and The Horton Hayes Gallery in Charleston, South Carolina, is well supplied too. Legacy Gallery in Scottsdale also has lots of new work.

I leave on Tuesday for The Waterfowl Festival in Easton, Maryland, which open on Thursday night and runs through Sunday evening. (November 11-13). I'll have close to 40 new oils so if you're in the area, come by the Armory on Harrison Street and check out my new work! I'm back on the 14th and will start the 75/75 project on the 15th. No rest for the weary...

p.s. I've had a lot of people tell me that though they'd like to buy one of my $75 oil studies, by the time they see it, it has already sold. I'd really like to keep these little guys priced at $75 - which makes art affordable to all and gives me the incentive to keep experimenting, learning and growing with the studies. In time I may go to an auction system (not Ebay!) but for now, they'll remain at $75. So if you would like me to send you an email when I post a new 75/75 study, email me - and I'll do a group email the minute a new piece is up. Email: adele.earnshaw at gmail.com Please substitute the 'at' with a @ and leave out the spaces. I'm trying to foil the spammers.

I'll be in New Zealand for three months - mid February through mid May, 2012. I'm going to paint the 75's while I'm there - but will increase the price just a bit to cover the additional postage from New Zealand.

The Process of Painting

2011-11-03T10:29:00.000-07:00

I'm often asked how I go about painting an animal or landscape. I thought you might be interested in seeing the process for One Mile to Go, a landscape that I posted a couple of days ago.

In 1997 I painted a little plein air oil on location in Bear Island at Ace Basin, a wildlife refuge about an hour south of Charleston, South Carolina. Working from several photos of the area and using the plein air sketch, I came up with the finished painting. So yes, I do work from photographic reference - but no, I don't 'copy' a photograph. From both photo and plein air painting I took the idea of the shadows across the road and the dark trees with 'sky holes' and incorporated them into One Mile to Go.

The Road to Bear Island

6" x 4" painted on location in 1997

Reference photo

One Mile to Go

finished studio painting, 18" x 18"

Journey

2011-11-01T19:04:00.000-07:00

This is a little 8" x 8" oil that will be one of 40 original oils that I'll be exhibiting at the Waterfowl Festival in Easton, Maryland, November 11-13. I really like the feel of this piece and would like to
use the idea for a much larger oil.

At the request of a few of the galleries that represent me, I don't give specific prices on my website - except for my little 75 for $75 studies. A piece this size in a frame will sell for between $400 and $500.

"Journey"

8" x 8" oil on board

"One Mile to Go"

2011-10-31T14:20:00.000-07:00

One Mile to Go and one week to go before I leave for the Waterfowl Festival in Easton, Maryland. November 11-13th you'll find me exhibiting my work at the Armory on Harrison Street. I'll be one of many artists in town for the festival. You'll find paintings, sculpture and wood carvings by some of the top artists in the U.S. at locations all over Easton. The 'flat work' will all be at the Armory.

I just finished this piece, One Mile to Go. It's the last of the bigger pieces that I'll be taking. By tomorrow, it will be on a Fed-ex truck heading east. I just have a few small pieces left then I'll be done!!

One Mile to Go

18" x 18" oil on panel

"Night Falling"

2011-10-30T14:15:00.000-07:00

Phew! I've just finished this oil that took more planning time than painting time. I wanted the piece to be about mood first - color and light second but also trying to show the minute or two before the sun sets and the colors change quickly from warm to cold. You can see the cool color moving in across the painting, gobbling up the warm light. I couldn't help but think of Stephen King's "The Langoliers" while painting this.

This painting is one of 35 originals that I'll be exhibiting at The Waterfowl Festival in Easton, Maryland, November 11-13th.

"Night Falling"

22.75" x 22.75" oil on board

A New Series, "Color and Light"

2011-10-28T09:11:00.001-07:00

I started my 75 for $75 project after reading the book, "The Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell. Gladwell talks about the "10,000-Hour Rule", stating that the success can often be attained by practicing a skill 10,000 times. He uses the Beatles (and many others) as an example. When in Germany, they were playing about 8 hours a day....and this is how they refined and perfected their music.

Since switching to oil six years ago, I've been struggling with 'painterly brush strokes'. After 30 years of working in watercolor I was tired of detailed rendering. I knew how I wanted to paint but wasn't sure how to get there. So I challenged myself to painting 10,000 oil studies. My rules were simple....quick studies with no detail and no rendering. Emphasis would be on broad juicy brush strokes. The 75 for for $75 project has been very successful. I've learned so much and see the evidence in my larger oils. But I'm still just beginning the project and have about 9,800 (or thereabouts) paintings to go. Starting on November 15th, I'll be back to painting at least one daily 75 for $75 until the end of the year. My son, Shane Rebenschied, a commercial illustrator, will be joining me again. He may not have time to do one a day but he'll contribute some.

I'd also like to loosen up when I paint landscapes. So based on my first project, I'm starting a series called "Color and Light" - all landscapes. They'll be simple tonalist oils that talk about color, light and mood. I've been painting landscapes along these lines for a few years but I want to get braver with them. For some reason, painting small takes the fear out. I'm starting with 4" x 4" on Ampersand cradled board, which is a panel mounted to birch, 3"4" deep...sort of like a gallery-wrapped canvas. The sides will be painted a solid color that is harmonious with the painting and sold unframed. The following images are the first six in the series. I'll be taking these to the Waterfowl Festival in Maryland in a week or two. If they go over well, I will be doing more. I'm not sure if I'll be selling these online or just through shows and galleries - we'll see!

I'm not wild about the way these images have photographed. The cradled board I'm using has a texture that makes them difficult to photograph. Also, I may add a bird or two to some of the images - nothing more than dots on the horizon. The first is my favorite but it's a lousy photo. When it's dry I'll scan it and see if I can get a better image.

All of these little guys have been sold

Color and Light 1

Color and Light 2

Color and Light 3

Color and Light 4

Color and Light 5

Color and Light 6

"Ovation"

2011-10-25T06:11:00.000-07:00

I'm gearing up for The Waterfowl Festival in Easton, Maryland, November 11-13. Easton is a charming little town on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Though the show is called The Waterfowl Festival, it's not just about waterfowl. There are exhibits all over town; paintings, sculpture, world class wood carvers - also fly fishing and retriever demonstrations. Masterclasses are offered in painting, carving and photography. Joe Garcia and I will be jointly teaching a one-day Master class in watercolor on Thursday, November 12. As the proceeds of the festival benefit conservation and education projects for the Chesapeake, I'm proud to be exhibiting for my 26th year!!

From the festival's website: "Paying homage to the annual migrating Canada geese flying overhead, Easton closes colonial streets, decorates historic buildings with natural greens, and recruits 1,500 volunteers to greet 15,000 visitors and 300 of the nation's finest wildlife artists, craftsmen and vendors with a ready smile and a helping hand. Excitement radiates throughout the town and neighboring St. Michaels, Oxford and Tilghman Island. Enjoy the 41st annual Festival, the tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay, fine restaurants, and quaint shops lining historic streets."

"Waterfowl Festival, Inc. is dedicated to wildlife conservation, the promotion of wildlife art, and the celebration of life on Maryland''s Eastern Shore." In its 41 years, the Festival has become a leader in the conservation of waterfowl and wildlife habitat. More than $5 million has been raised and donated to projects throughout the Atlantic Flyway, and in particular the Chesapeake Bay.

This year, all of the painters will be under one roof in the Armory on Harrison Street. This is where you'll find me and my thirty+ paintings, including this new 20" x 16" oil Ovation.

Ovation

20" x 16" oil on panel

Light on Water

2011-10-16T15:35:00.001-07:00

"Light on Water" isn't the title - but it is until I can come up with something better. This is an 18"x 18" oil that I'll be showing at the Waterfowl Festival in Easton, Maryland, November 11-13. Easton is a great little town on the Eastern Shore. Nearby is one of my favorite places in the U.S. - the Blackwater Refuge. This painting is of the Blackwater with Canada Geese. Three or four years ago I did a 7" x 7" study that I liked so much, I decided to do a larger piece based on the study. I'm not sure if the painting is completely finished - I may make a minor change or two after I've lived with it for a few days.

SOLD

Scammer Alert!

2011-10-16T08:23:00.000-07:00

Many of my blog followers are artists, so I'm giving you a heads-up! I got an email from Charles Frey, wanting to buy a piece shown on my website. The bad English and sentence structure was sort of a give-away but I'm sure there must be legit art collectors out there who are not fluent in English (are there?)

I googled 'Charles Frey' + art - and got almost 8,000 hits on this scumbag. Beware!! In fact, beware of any 'client' contact via email requesting information on (usually) your most expensive piece or pieces.
Google the name. If nothing comes up, let the person know that because of unscrupulous scammers who prey on poor artists, you only ship a painting once payment has cleared through a credit card or Paypal. Don't accept a check or money order. If you accept a credit card, call the credit card company first (not with the number the 'client' provides - but find it through the credit card company's website) and make sure the account is legitimate.

I sell a lot of work over the internet, and it isn't difficult to sort out the scammers from the legitimate clients.

Sun Bath

2011-10-14T14:21:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure of the title for this new piece, but for now it's titled, "Sun Bath". It's a 20" x 16" oil on Ampersand board. I'll be exhibiting this piece at The Waterfowl Festival in Easton, Maryland in November.

I don't bother with a tight pencil drawing - I just knock it in with a brush. This is the start of 'Sun Bath'.

Five Agaves

2011-10-09T15:55:00.000-07:00

These five new oils are for Legacy Gallery, just in time for their 23rd Anniversary Annual Open House, which starts Saturday, October 22. The oils are all the same size - 24" x 12" on 2" deep Ampersand cradled board. I enjoy painting agave, not just because of their fabulous colors, but also because the broad leaves make for interesting compositions.

"Reach Up"

24" x 12" oil on 2" deep cradle board

"Chiracahuan Jade"

24" x 12" oil on 2" deep cradle board

"Do-Si-Do"

12" x 24" oil on 2" deep cradle board

"Sonoran Turquoise"

24" x 12" oil on 2" deep cradle board

"Heart and Soul"

24" x 12" oil on 2" deep cradle board

"Eye Candy"

2011-10-08T16:03:00.000-07:00

This is the finished piece that I posted yesterday. I'm hoping I didn't push the detail too far. I resisted putting the spots on the cactus pads but the piece felt like it needed some interest.

"Eye Candy"

20" x 7.5" oil on Ampersand board

Not quite finished....

2011-10-07T16:50:00.000-07:00

This piece isn't finished - but you get the idea. It's a 7.5" x 20" on Ampersand Gessobord. I'm having fun painting it and am trying hard to keep it painterly. When finished, it will be heading for Legacy Gallery in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Small Works Show, Legacy Gallery

2011-10-06T16:22:00.000-07:00

This little 8" x 10" oil, "Dash Away", is heading for Legacy Gallery's Holiday Small Works Show which hangs from December 8 through the end of the month. Legacy Gallery is in Scottsdale, Arizona, and is the finest gallery in Scottsdale!

"Gold Fever"

2011-10-03T14:23:00.000-07:00

This 18" x 24" oil is hot off the easel - just finished this afternoon. It's heading for The Walt Horton Fine Art Gallery in Beaver Creek, Colorado....a classy gallery in a beautiful area! You'll find the gallery in the Plaza at Beaver Creek, next door to Paderweski Fine Art, by the ice rink. The gallery manager tells me that sometimes bears can be seen rummaging in the trashcans in the plaza. The perfect spot for a wildlife gallery!

Walt Horton Fine Art was started by Walt and his wife Peggy. Sadly, Walt died shortly after the gallery opened but you can still see his fabulous sculpture in the gallery including his signature species, the bear!

"Gold Fever"

18" x 20" oil on panel

This painting can be purchased through Walt Horton Fine Art Gallery

Today's Oil Study - A Harris Hawk

2011-09-18T17:26:00.000-07:00

I don't think I've painted a Harris Hawk before. The bird is only found in a small part of the U.S. so it may not be a very well-known bird...but I painted one anyway because of the fabulous colors. I used the complement of the orange/brown for the background and like the zing it added to the painting.

189 - Harris Hawk

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

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

New Work

2011-09-18T14:55:00.000-07:00

I've not been doing my little 75/75 oil studies as I've had my nose to the grindstone trying to get ten oils finished for Art for the Sangres. It's a one afternoon/evening show in Westcliffe, Colorado - September 24th. I'll be there with my work. If you'd like to see the work of the other artists, find out more information on the show, or fill out an 'intent to purchase' on a painting, click on this link and it will take you to the online catalog.

"Dreaming of Summer" 16" x 20" oil on board
SOLD

"September Shuffle" 8" x 10" oil on board
SOLD

"Yellow Fever" 20" x 16" oil on board
SOLD

"Straight and Narrow" 8" x 19" oil on board
SOLD

Today's Oil Study - A Snowy Owl

2011-09-08T10:53:00.000-07:00

A white bird is almost never white - except where the sun is hitting it. This is one of the reasons I enjoy painting egrets, snowy owls, etc. I'm amazed when I mix the color for the shadowed side of a white bird and it is SO dark - and certainly not white. I had to double-check my colors when I painted this little study as the color for the darkest shadowed 'white' on the palette was a very dark gray. It wasn't until I finished the study that I felt that I'd mixed the colors correctly.

188 - Snowy Owl

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

Today's Oil Study - Red-tailed Hawk

2011-09-06T09:17:00.000-07:00

I'm working on paintings for Art for the Sangres, a one-day show in Westcliffe, Colorado on September 24th. What's the expression, 'the hurrier I go, the behinder I get'? That seems to be the way it is this month for pieces for Art for the Sangres. I was in the studio at 6:50 AM in order to get this little study done as I find I paint better the rest of the day if I start the day with a little piece. It is like stretching exercises before you go running.

187 - Red-tailed Hawk

5" x 7" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

On a sadder note, the well-known painting-a-day artist, Carol Marine, has lost her home and studio in the Texas fires. She and her family are safe but only managed to save a few things. I hate to hear of someone losing their home, but to also lose your art is tragic. Artists are always trading their work - so I'm guessing that Carol had a pretty extensive art collection.

Today's Study - A Nesting Hummingbird

2011-09-05T13:32:00.000-07:00

I finished today's oil study, photographed it and was ready to post it when I realized I'd made a major mistake. I'd painted a male broad-tailed hummingbird on the nest. Oops. That just doesn't happen as the male hummingbird leaves the incubating to the female.

I've lived in my house in Northern Arizona for 34 years where I see dozens of hummingbirds at my feeders, representing five different species. For most of the years I've lived here, I've been looking for a hummingbird nest. When my son was a kid we found one on an apple tree...but when we checked it again a few days later, it had been destroyed. Perhaps by another bird - a jay or a crow?
Now my house is on the market and wouldn't you know it - this summer, there are three hummingbird nests within 100 feet of my house.

186 - Nesting Hummingbird

5" x 7" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

Yellow Fever

2011-09-03T07:50:00.001-07:00

I painted the majority of this 20" x 16" oil in one sitting - then spent the next week looking at it, trying to figure out what else it needed. I keep picking up the brush to add ground - and foreground - but have decided to leave it as is. It's done.

"Yellow Fever"

20" x 16" oil on board

SOLD

2011-09-02T16:05:00.001-07:00

One of the reasons I've been painting the 5" x 7" oil studies for my 75 for $75 project is to give me ideas for larger pieces. The little owl painting is one of my studies that sold a month or two ago. It inspired the larger (still unfinished) 12" x 9" owl with moon. I've still got to add the fence post the owl is sitting on, then it will be done. As with the little studies, I'm not going to do much more detail on the owl. I like seeing the brush strokes - it gives it a more painterly feel.

5" x 7" Great Horned Owl, Oil study
SOLD

Not quite finished 'Vantage Point'

12" x 9" oil on board
This painting can be seen at Walt Horton Fine Art Gallery in Beaver Creek, Colorado.

Today - An Oil Study of a Pukeko

2011-09-02T09:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's study was a Common Moorhen, found in North America (and perhaps elsewhere?). Today's study is a Pukeko, one of my favorite New Zealand birds. The Pukeko (poo - keck - oh) is is a New Zealand icon. In addition to seeing them in paddocks, estuaries and even alongside the road, tourist shops are loaded with pukeko souvenirs. The bird is about the size of a large chicken. They can fly long distances and also swim. They eat mainly plant material which they hold parrot-fashion with one foot. There is a similar bird in the South Island called a Takahe - though it is flightless and much heavier.

185 - Pukeko

7" x 5" oil on board, unframed

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

SOLD

Today's Painting - A Cardinal

2011-08-31T16:32:00.000-07:00

Today's oil study is a cardinal. I've had a hard time working on my larger gallery paintings the last couple of weeks and decided it is because I've not been doing these morning oil studies. I've done a couple of studies this week and the larger pieces are starting to come a little easier. Who knows why artists go through these spells? I tell my students that you've got to work through it....if your brain thinks it can get away with 'not being in the mood to paint', it will pull this trick more often to get out of the studio.

Tomorrow's oil study may be a female peacock - we'll see!

183 - Cardinal

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

A Crow - my second study for today

2011-08-29T12:01:00.000-07:00

I've been working on paintings for Art for the Sangres, a one evening show (September 24th) in Westcliffe, Colorado, and having a really difficult time getting back into the swing of things. I've been really unhappy with what I've been painting after being on a roll for months. So what is the difference?

The only difference is that I've not been doing my morning 75 for $75 oil studies. The studies seem to loosen me up and make me a better painter for the rest of the day. I really hadn't stopped doing the studies - it just seems that other things were taking priority for the past two weeks. So now I'm back to doing a little study first thing in the morning....hoping it'll make the bigger studio pieces come a little easier.

I realized this morning that I've never painted a crow before - so this is the first. As I was painting the study, I was reminded of the fish crows that I hear while painting on location in South Carolina. They call back and forth to each other and sound exactly like they're having a conversation.

Crow #1: uh - oh, uh - oh!
Crow #2: huh?

Crow #1: uh - oh!
Crow #2: Oh!

The other night I watched a fabulous documentary, 'A Murder of Crows' (Netflix) about these highly intelligent birds. It's a fascinating film that I really enjoyed.

182 - Crow

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

A Moose!

2011-08-29T08:35:00.000-07:00

I did this little piece as a study for bigger moose paintings - and because several people asked for mooses. Hmm- what is plural for moose? Mooses? Meeses? Or just moose? I've scanned the image instead of photographing it and still can't get an entirely accurate image of it. The body of the moose is more even - less blotchy than it appears here.

181 - Moose

5" x 7" oil study, unframed

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

SOLD

Scissor-tailed Fly Catcher and a Swan - Two Oil Studies for Today

2011-08-15T12:27:00.000-07:00

I've never painted a scissor-tailed flycatcher before because by the time you put the entire length of tail into the painting, there was never much room left for the bird. But I've learned by doing these 75 for $75 oil studies that it's OK to leave part of the tail out. This piece was fun to do - I like the background color. I've almost finished a second piece so stay tuned - I'll post it below the flycatcher in just a bit.

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

5" x 7" oil study on board, unframed

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

My second piece is a swan. This is to make up for not lifting a brush all weekend. I had more important things to do with (my grandkids)

180 - Swan

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

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

I'm on a Roll - Another Study for Today!

2011-08-10T15:12:00.000-07:00

Actually, I'm catching up with the daily studies I didn't post between August 1st and 4th when I was relocating from Colorado back to Arizona.

This study is completely different than anything I've posted for the 75/75 project - and I really like it.
It may become a larger painting at some point. It's simple but says what I wanted to say about the nice shape of a dark raven against a light sky. If you're not a birder, a simple way of telling the difference between a raven and a crow (in flight) is that a raven has a pie-shaped tail, but a crow's tail is straighter.

Scroll down past this post to see the bluebird I painted and posted earlier today.

178 - Raven

5" x 7" oil on board, unframed

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

SOLD

Today's Study is a Bluebird

2011-08-10T13:58:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've painted a bluebird so this little guy is today's study. It is an oil painted on
gessoed untempered masonite.

177 - Bluebird

5" x 7" oil on board, unframed

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

SOLD

Making a Watercolor Sketchbook

2011-08-10T09:26:00.000-07:00

I often work in a watercolor sketchbook when traveling. I've tried different watercolor sketchbooks over the years and couldn't find one with decent paper so I resorted to making my own. I've learned there are some major advantages to this - mainly that if I wait until I get back from my trip before having the paper bound into a book, I can leave out the paintings I didn't finish or I didn't like! I can also arrange the pages in the order I like.

I'm teaching a workshop in New Zealand next February. I've posted instructions for my students on how to make a watercolor sketchbook on my workshop blog. If you're interested, check out "Making a Watercolor Journal" post at http://paintnewzealand.blogspot.com/

Another Piece for Today

2011-08-08T15:09:00.000-07:00

This Canada Goose oil study, my second piece for today, to make up for not posting a piece yesterday.
I wouldn't want anyone to think I'm slacking off....

176 - Canada Goose

5" x 7" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

Today's Oil Study - Bullock's Oriole

2011-08-08T13:25:00.000-07:00

I think this is the first Bullock's Oriole I've ever painted. I have seen them on occasion in my apple trees but more commonly, I see the hooded oriole. The Bullock's Oriole range is primarily the western half of the U.S. from Canada all the way south into Mexico. I didn't intentionally do the circular brush strokes around the bird nor did I intentionally use complementary colors, but I like both.

175 - Bullock's Oriole

5" x 7" oil study on panel, unframed

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

SOLD

A Sapsucker for Today

2011-08-05T11:03:00.000-07:00

This could be a Red-naped or a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. The main difference between the two is that the Red-naped has a little red patch on the back of his neck. But I haven't painted enough detail is this little guy to show the species.

I have three big apple trees and every winter the sapsuckers enjoy the last of the apples left on the tree. This year my trees are groaning with the weight of the apples so I'll have lots of sapsuckers this winter and possibly a bear or two in the fall. A half-grown black bear wandered through the neighborhood a few weeks ago, possibly doing a reconnaissance?

When I first bought my house 34 years ago, I had lots of broad-tailed hummingbirds, black-chinned and rufous hummingbirds. Then the Anna's hummers arrived - now not only do they outnumber the broad-tailed hummingbirds, but they often stay all winter. I wondered what they ate in the winter but then read that they're known to follow the sapsuckers, using tree sap as a winter food source.

My house is for sale, so perhaps this autumn/winter someone else will be enjoying the apples, sapsuckers and bears.

174 - Sapsucker

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

$75 plus $6 shipping within the U.S

SOLD

Today's Oil Study - an Egret

2011-07-30T11:02:00.000-07:00

Today's oil study is an egret. I finished it, photographed and realized the background color just killed the color of the egret. So I wiped it off and repainted the background with more oomph. Later today I'll post both images here so you can see what a difference the second background made.

173 - Egret

5" x 7" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

A Cardinal Marathon!

2011-07-29T12:14:00.000-07:00

Today I'm posting three oil studies of cardinals. I got up early and painted the first piece, liked the way it turned out so I painted another....and so on. I don't have time to put the 'buy now' buttons up yet - will try to get them done in a few hours. In the meantime, if you're interested in one of the cardinals, email me and I'll go by first-come-first-served. adele.earnshaw@gmail.com

75-170 Cardinal

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

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

75-171 Cardinal

7" x 5" oil on board, unframed

SOLD

75-172 Cardinal

5" x 7" oil on board, unframed

SOLD

Today's Oil Study - Flying Swans

2011-07-26T11:06:00.000-07:00

During last year's 75 for $75 project I painted a flying egret that I really liked. Today's oil study of flying swans was inspired by last year's study. I'd like to do a larger painting based on this piece - maybe for the Waterfowl Festival in Easton, MD in November.

168 - Flying Swans

5" x 7" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD