Horsing Around: Empty Nest

6"x6" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

My youngest daughter has taken up horseback riding lessons. I decided to take the opportunity to use the hour lesson time to work on some quick-draw plein air painting. 

When we arrived this time, all of the horses were out in the field to graze and run around—which left the barn empty and quiet. I have always been fascinated by the value differences in this scene. The dark barn doorway contrasted by the bright, distant, atmospheric pasture makes me want to run out and play too.

Old Country Store

6"x6" Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

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30 Paintings in 30 Days: September, 2014—Day 16

As you drive down the highways of Tennessee, you will find little gems like this old country store. These relics from the past are so full of character. They are so much fun to paint.

Simplicity

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: January—Day 9.

And now something completely different—a country house painted with the Zorn color palette. 

Anders Zorn was a Swedish painter during the turn of the last century. He was known for using a limited palette of only four colors: black, white, yellow ochre and red. While painting with the Zorn limited palette, I first mourned the lack of blue to make green and nice cool shadows. I was beginning to think this was going to be an epic fail. As I kept working with the palette, I discovered the color range was more diverse than I thought. The most interesting thing was that I had to think more in terms of value than color. 

In the end, I am very pleased with the painting. I'm glad I didn't give into the temptation to add blue to the mix. This little country house, in the Zorn limited palette,  is a testament to the beauty of simplicity. Though I'm not quite ready to move into the house of Zorn just yet, it was a very nice visit.

Yellow Field

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: September—Day 9.

Today’s painting comes from a photograph I took this past spring of a field full of yellow blooms. Scenes like these are a joy for the artist’s eye. It makes me thankful to live in a world so diverse with color.