Today's Painting - A Kestrel

This is the first kestrel for this year's 75 for $75 project.  They used to be called a Sparrow-Hawk but actually is the smallest of the falcon family. When you're driving through an agricultural area, you'll often see kestrels on the telephone lines keeping an eye on their hunting grounds.  I suspect they each stake out their own territory, about a mile apart.

 Kestrel

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

A Red-tailed Hawk

This isn't a 5" x 7" but rather a 12" x 9" oil on board that I did using the same technique as I've used for the little studies.  I'm pleased with the way it turned out and can see that the 75 for $75 studies have really helped my understanding of edges and broad brush strokes.  The still untitled piece will be going to one of my galleries.

The Second Piece for Today - Red-tailed Hawk

I really like this study and may use the idea for a larger gallery painting.  I'm out of the boards I've been using for this project so resorted to a board with a slightly smoother/slicker surface - which resulted in some fun textures. 

Red-tailed Hawk #2

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

A Little Egret for Today

I was at the easel at 5 this morning with the goal of finishing a 75 for $75 by the time the sun came up. I try to squeeze these little studies in between the pieces I do for galleries.

This study is radically different from the others.  One of the reasons I'm doing this project is to work on strong, broad brush strokes.  The Little Egret started out that way but he was too hard edged and screamed to be softened so using my favorite watercolor mop brush, I softened edges.  Much softer and the bird would disappear into the fog.  But I like this piece and might do a larger painting from this study.  Many of my 75 for $75 studies will end up as larger more complete paintings...these little guys are only studies that help me work out color, value and edges.

Little Egret

5" x 7" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

A Barn Owl

I think this is the second barn owl I've done for this year's 75 for $75.  They're strange looking birds....which perhaps is why I've not painted many in the past - but they're fun to paint.   Especially the little dots and pure white on the bird's face and chest.

Barn Owl #2

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

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

An Egret for Today

I like painting egret but I probably turp out as many as I paint.  There's something about the beak and location of the eye that is hard to get just right.  I wasn't sure about this study - the colors felt too warm.  I photographed it and looked at it in Photoshop....flipping it horizontally, which gives me a different perspective (same as looking at your painting in the mirror)  and decided I really like it! 

The entire reason for my 75 for $75 project is to loosen up and get bolder with my brush strokes.  Generally I use Silver Bristlon #4 flat for the backgrounds on these studies...but the other day I bought a Connoisseur #4  flat (#265).  It's a much softer brush which works well for softer parts of the painting but it's difficult to get bold brushstrokes with it.  I tried painting the background on this egret study using the Connoisseur and ended up having to forget 'bold' and go for 'soft'.  I softened the background even more with a watercolor mop brush.  I know I sound like a broken record, but I have learned so much from this project! 

Egret #2

5" x 7" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

Another great horned owl!!

Yet another Great Horned Owl!    I enjoy lining them up and seeing the evolution from one to the next.

Great Horned Owl #4

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

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

SOLD

(and I do believe the time it took from posting to SOLD broke all records...thanks Sarah!) 

Another Great Horned Owl for Today

 

Great Horned Owl #3

Oil study on board, unframed

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

 SOLD

I really enjoy painting Great Horned Owls...maybe it's because I've figured out that I don't need to paint all the detail on them.  Just a suggestion of the markings, a few broad brush strokes and dashes of white and it's finished.

 

I lined up the three owls I've done for the 75 for $75 project to see how they look together - and to make sure that each painting is different.  I like the way they look together.  Hmmm - this gives me an idea for a larger painting....  

(the left owl is sold, middle owl is available, right owl is on hold)

Today's Painting - A Great Horned Owl

I've had a week off, but only because I've  had a house full of grandkids for the past six days.  It is the only thing that keeps me away from the easel!  I had really good intentions to post daily - I even painted ahead - but by the time the day was done - so was I.  But come to think of it,  I didn't promise that my 75 paintings for $75 would be painted on 75 consecutive days! :-)

I've had lots of requests for more Great-horned Owls....so this piece is on HOLD.  If you like it, check back in a day or two to see if it has sold.  If you request a specific species, I'll give you first-right-of-refusal.

  Great Horned Owl

7" x 5" oil study on board, unframed

$75 plus $6 shipping

SOLD

A Cactus Wren for Today

It's late and I'm tired so I will not get too chatty about this piece other than to tell you that it is an oil study of a cactus wren.  If you'd like to see the rest of the small studies I've done for my 75 project (I think this is #18) you can scroll down on my blog or go to my website where you can see them as a group. 

Cactus Wren

5" x 7" oil study on board

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

SOLD