Jazz

Jazz has come back home to Monroe, Louisiana. She's staying in the family and will soon be worked with a professional trainer.

A Change in the Wind

SOLD! (October 2011)
watercolor on watercolor canvas

Are Those New Shoes?

pencil on paper, 7" x 5"

Horse Silhouettes

This is also a prototype of the wall sculpture/drawing going to the Southeast Arkansas Arts Center. The final piece will be about 31 inches high and 10 feet long, with drawings of horses within the silhouettes.

This is the prototype for my wall drawing/sculture which will be approximately 31 inches high x 11 feet long. There will be hundred's of horse drawings within each horsehead. This work, along with three other large, new pieces, will hang at the South Arkansas Arts Center, in January 2011, an exhibition of three women artists: Donna McGee, Tommy Sue Slaughter, & me.

Saintly Landscape I

Saintly Landscape I is complete & is headed for the Hoover Watercolor Society Show. Hope it does well in the competition.

Saintly Landscape I

A work-in-progress, 16" x 20" watercolor. I'm trying to get this one ready for an upcoming watercolor exhibition/competition. It helps sometimes to post the image and study it on line as well as in my studio. Still needs some tweeking here and there, but I need to be careful because there's a fine line between "done" and "overworked."

IF: atmosphere

This seemed to work for Illustration Friday's word-of-the-week, atmosphere (This is a watercolor, not a silkscreen as listed by mistake on IF), and it's a painting of Bella Minnie, my St. Bernard, sleeping--a small watercolor study 6" x 6". I'm working on a larger watercolor painting of Bella Minnie as a "landscape"--sort of surrealistic. She makes a great subject. I'm getting a painting ready for an upcoming exhibition, but I'll soon get back to my horse series.

Braiding for the Show

For some reason, I struggled with this one--overworked it. The image is from a photo that I took at a horse show in West Monroe. A young girl was completely wrapped up in braiding her horse's mane, getting ready for the show, and her horse seemed happy to have her attention. (watercolor on Yupo paper, 6.5" x 9")

Bella, the Boxer

This is Bella, my nephew's sweet boxer. The image is watercolor on Yupo paper, approximately 9" x 9" and can be purchased in my Etsy shop

New Orleans Charm II

an original watercolor on Yupo paper ACEO (artist cards, editions, originals). Another sweet mule from New Orleans. "New Orleans Charm II" can be purchased in my Etsy shop

New Orleans Charm

I thought I'd add a mule to my continuing series of watercolor horses, drawings & paintings (this one is an 8.5" x 8.5" watercolor on Yupo paper). So far, there are 20 paintings/drawings of various sizes in this equine series. This mule was in New Orleans working faithfully and adding to the charm of the Quarter. I've entered the painting in the Watercolor Artist Competition--hope it makes it in. Prints and greeting cards of this image are available in my Etsy shop

Yupo paper is very slick and when used with watercolor can be wonderfully unpredictable. It's easy to rework areas, but it's not for artists who render tightly. It's great for loose, painterly effects.

Horse in Motion

This ACEO and others can be purchased in my
Etsy shop

Horse of the Sun

My watercolor drawing/painting series of horses is continuing, and I now have 18 images of various sizes. This is a mixed media painting (5"x5"), and it can be purchased in my Etsy shop

Running Horse

Running Horse is part of an ongoing series of watercolor paintings and drawings of horses that I'm currently working on, and it is 6.5" x 10.5" on heavy watercolor paper. So far, I've created 16 images in this series (various sizes), including this one. This painting and several others can be purchased in my Etsy shop

IF: double

I haven't posted to Illustration Friday in so long & this is an oldie but seemed appropriate. Horse Chess is a mixed media drawing (ink pen & color pencil). It's available for purchase in my Etsy shop

ACEO Horse in Motion

an ACEO is 3.5" x 2.5", a tiny treasure of an artwork, very popular right now. ACEOs can be traded, collected, or given as unique gifts. They are usually resonably priced. This original watercolor drawing ACEO image of a horse and the following three drawings can be purchased for $12.00 each in my Etsy shop

ACEO Wild Horse

(watercolor on watercolor paper)

ACEO Pony Head

This image worried me & it has now totally changed--it's now a mixed media painting (watercolor & mixed media on heavy watercolor paper). You can see the new image (a golden dappled horse) in my Etsy shop

ACEO Horse

This image no longer exists. It became an underpainting & I worked mixed media over it. You can see the finished "Dappled" brownish grey horse in my Etsy shop (watercolor & mixed media on heavy watercolor paper)

Horse Head

This image and the next four are small watercolor drawings, all part of a continuing series. These five images are approximately 3" x 4" (too large to be considered an ACEO) and they are available for $15.00 each in my Etsy shop

Horse Head

watercolor drawing approximately 4" x 3"

Waiting

small watercolor drawing approximately 4" x 3"

Curious

small watercolor drawing approximately 4" x 3" (too large for ACEO). Watercolor drawing of horse head.

Going Through the Paces

small watercolor drawing approximately 3" x 4" (too big to be an ACEO)

Go with Me

This whimsical horse is cantering into the joy of life and asking you to "go with" him. This image is part of a new series that I'm developing, all of horses and all unique (watercolor drawing on watercolor paper; image size approximately 12" x 10"). You can purchase this image on Etsy

Shadow Dancing

This fanciful image of a young horse playing with his own shadow can be purchased on eBay for a starting bid of $70 or now for $90 (black & white watercolor drawing on watercolor paper; image approximately 12" x 10")

Wild Freedom

watercolor drawing on watercolor paper; image size approximately 12" x 10"

With the Wind

Finally, I've had some time to work! This summer has been a test of nerves & patience...long story. I'm currently working in a series, hoping to create 100 watercolor line drawings. After using photos as reference for the past several months, my drawing has tightened up way too much. Time to loosen up...allow the muse back in! This series is of horses, of course...

introducing...JAZZ!

This is a drawing-in-progress of Jazz, my new paint mare! So happy to have a horse once again in my life...yea!

Longhorns

A little longhorn image for the CPSA Dallas/Plano, TX chapter.

Pet Portrait

Playing with my Prismacolors & drawing someone's dog. Not sure what kind of dog this is...anyone know? The Downtown Artfest was rained out about half way through. I did sell a couple of pieces and some greeting cards, but the heavy wind and rain got the best of me. This little piece (7" x 9") is a work in progress. When completed, it can be purchased for $75, with 15% going to PAWS of Northeast Louisiana.

Downtown ArtFest!

I'm getting ready for Monroe, Louisiana's Downtown ArtFest this coming Saturday, June 5th, 2-6pm. I'll be displaying & selling my artwork in a tent along with fellow artist-friend Donna McGee. This drawing, Blue Horse (11" x 14" ink & Prismacolor) will be available matted 16" x 20" for $75.00, along with many, many, many more drawings and paintings of various sizes, media, and subject matter.

Swimming

I'm "Swimming" in things to do this summer & loving it! Studio things--lots & lots of studio of things...please visit this blog frequently and see what's up. Coming soon, I'm an art presenter at the Downtown Artfest, Monroe, Louisiana, June 5th, 2-6pm. I'll soon have a work winging its way to the Colored Pencil Society of America's International Exhibition in Los Gatos, CA (July 22-August 20, 2010). The work will be going through a second juroring process. Wish me luck!

IF: Fearless

Horses are fearless--they love us even after much abuse & neglect. Please visit Another Chance 4 Horses and help the fearless horses in need.

Waiting

more of Dutchie, Alice's sweet dog
pencil on cardstock
ACEO (3-1/2" x 2-1/2")

Great Dane

graphite on paper

ACEO II

My second ACEO card (Artist Cards, Editions & Originals). The one rule is that an ACEO must be 2-1/2" x 3-1/2". The card can be any media, including collage. This card was created with a Sharpie marker & Derwent watersoluble pencils.

You can see more ACEO's here

Al & Dutchie

This is a drawing of my friend Alice with her sweet dog Dutchie who passed away. Alice is much prettier than I've drawn her (Dutchie too!).

Bellator

My second attempt at creating an ACEO. The original photo for this image was made by Linda Shantz, equine artist. This is Prismacolor & the image was taken into Photoshop Elements and changed to black & white for greater contrast. You can view this work and other responses to the photo at Virtual Party which is hosted by Kimberly Santini and Linda Shantz.

Bellator

This is my first attempt at doing an ACEO (Artist Cards Editions & Originals), which must be sized as 3-1/2" x 2-1/2". The image is for Virtual Party, an equine site that sets up challenges for artists. The original photo is by equine artist Linda Shantz. I wasn't too happy with this image, so I didn't send it. (Prismacolor on paper)

Day Two of Plein-Air

Yesterday, I worked on a larger canvas (14" x 11") & found that a little larger canvas works better for me, probably even larger would be better. Day two of Plein-Air oil painting went much better--at least I felt a little more comfortable once I got into the painting. The day was beautiful and the animals seemed happy to have us around, especially the little lamb that kept running around between us bleating for it's mommy. We realized that it wasn't lost from its mother; it just really liked being out among people and grazing on the other side of the fence. When I stated that I was concerned about my color, Peter said don't worry, it's not a legal document. That made sense--the color police aren't going be checking my painting against the acutual scene, so I need to be a little more confident & paint what I see--not what others see.

day one of plein-air painting

This image is from day one of my plein-air painting class with Peter Jones at La Tech University. This very small, 5" x 7", painting on canvas board was meant to be one of two or three quick studies. It turned out to be one frustrating, humbling experience trying to capture the light and colors of an overcast day. Peter says every stroke should count and each stroke should mean something, representing a specific part of the landscape. He also said that we shouldn't try to paint every little twig and leaf. At first, I spent a great deal of time "fussing" with too much detail. I finally settled down enough to simplify the values and shapes (that's a grazing sheep by the way). We'll see what this Thursday brings. Thank goodness Peter is patient and encouraging.

from the Linda Hardy workshop

This is a Prismacolor drawing that I almost completed (background & foreground are still in need of completing). It was an absolutely excellent workshop. Linda Hardy is a great teacher who gave us all many tips on the use of Prismacolor. Her favorite tip was "keep your pencil sharpened"! This 9"x7" drawing was developed to this point (no pun intended) after approximately 10-12 hours of intense drawing. Prismacolor is a slow, layering process but one that is very satisfying once completed. Linda Hardy has another workshop in Prismacolor coming up in early June 2010 in Texarkana. She'll demonstrate her technique of blending Prismacolor with a brush.

from the Bonnie Auten workshop

This is an image completed at the Bonnie Auten workshop in Plano, TX this past weekend. Great workshop. Bonnie is a wonderful instructor, and I learned a lot. The media is Caran d'Ache Neocolor soluble crayons combined with Derwit colored pencils on UArt paper.

White Dog

mixed media (Caran d'Ache Neocolor II water soluble Crayons with Derwith soft color pencils, & watercolor) on watercolor paper. This is not working! I think I'll give it another try.

Our Teddy

A very sweet rescued dog now living happily with my daughter.
(water soluble crayons on watercolor paper)

Lonely Saint

This is an image for the upcoming Canine Art Guild (CAG) exhibition. They're celebrating five years, so the image is 5" x 5". (Caran d'Ache Neocolor II water soluble Crayons on watercolor paper) Image is available for $150.00 on my web site, and 15% of sale goes to Luck & Legends St. Bernard Rescue in Magnolia, Texas. Go to "portfolio", then "paintings" on my web site .

Red Roan

watercolor pencils on watercolor paper
7-1/2" x 7-1/2"
$125

Girl & Nature

oil painting on board