Fur In The Paint

So I spent my Sunday doing a couple of my favorite things. Painting and gaming. I’ve had this old girl drawn out for a couple of weeks and have been eying it longingly ever since. Well today is the day.

Here’s a well kept secret about me . . . I love cattle. I love cattle almost as much as horses. Not all cattle are worthy of my affections, mind you. Primarily, cattle of color and particularly rodeo/longhorn types. I have nearly as many photos of these types of cattle as I do of draft horses.

Now I’ve done at least a dozen draft horses paintings (probably more) in the past 10 years. Comparitively, how many paintings of cattle have I done in that same amount of time? One. Yup just one. Want to know the reason?

Because cattle are harder to sell than horses. While that may not be completely true in the broader sense, for me it is a fact. Perhaps it is because I have spent the past 10 years marketing horses and have become somewhat known for them that I think this. Who knows, maybe after painting cattle for 10 years in multiple works of art, the same would be true for them. I doubt it, though I’ve got no real proof as to why. It is just a feeling. (You know, like it is just a feeling that I’ll never be a ballerina.)

Anywho, this lovely lady was one of a local herd. I took this photo many years back and am finally getting around to committing her to paper. (10 1/2″ x 13″ hand made paper that is.) She had a calf on the side which is why she’s giving me the eye.

No, she is not done. But I would think one more uninterupted afternoon should she her finished. I kinda went wild with my colors. I seem to need to do that every now and again.

I decided I needed a quickie, (in terms of artwork that is.) So I pulled out the photos from my recent Blank Park Zoo trip and selected a fun angle. I’ve done four giraffe paintings and am feelin’ the need to have another in the gallery, as the others have long since gone to their new homes. The upper left photo is about 1 hour of playing around. This again is another one done on the handmade paper, so it is 10 1/2″ x 13.”

Here, I have about 2 hours in. I changed the mouth. I had planned on having it open and chewing on acacia, but then opted for a more dignified look. Thus without the branches coming in on the right, my giraffe is now a little off center (kinda like the artist I suppose.)

I may well just change my mind again in the morning and have her blissfully chewing away by the time I finish her up, which hopefully will be tomorrow.

Colton
16 1/2″ x 22″
Watercolor Pencil Painting on Arches 140# Hot Press

So here he is all finished. I waited to post him until I sent an image to Karla Siebert of IERAL. He is a little more portrait-y than I would have liked. But it is a pretty enough painting that it will hopefully make them some money. I chose to do a background very similar to Catch’s portrait because of the time constraints. (Meaning I had no time to start again if I buggered it up.)

Progression of the painting,

The early stages with only the nose completed.

Head and neck are complete and shoulder is started.

Body is completed.

The mane is added.

The early stages of the background. Many changes yet to come before the painting is declared finished.

Finished image (same as the top most pic.) He is slightly tilted in this photo because I didn’t get it quite square in the camera lens. However, he is also leaning forward in the painting as that is how he stood much of the time while I was there. I imagine since he is blind, he does this when he’s curious about something.

Shh . . . do you hear it? It sounds like a kind of a frantic pitter-patting. No, it’s not Budda trying to catch me unawares. That my friends is the sound of panic . . . (in a hushed voice) and I think it’s gaining on me.

So I am down to the wire on the Colton painting. I have 2 weeks left (and that includes time for scanning and print making AND shipping. Plus depending on time and just how generous I am feeling, framing as well. YIKES!!!)

I haven’t done a single thing on the Colton painting since the last time I posted a WIP. And so now that art shows are done (for a little while) and I have met most (there was quite a few) my deadlines with the exception of this one. It is time to chain myself to the drafting table and get after it. I had seriously thought of keeping my gallery doors locked yesterday for a full day of uninterrupted working, but in the end I kept the gallery open. I mean really, that is what I am supposed to do. And yes I had customers. And yes it blew my afternoon with no work getting done on the painting.

So what’s a girl to do? Come in, in the evenings of course. When I can keep my doors locked completely guilt free. I was at the gallery until 9:30 last night and in by then the following morning. I plan to work non-stop on Colton today, until some framing comes in via SpeeDee delivery, and then I’ll work on framing for awhile. But I’ll be back tonight.

And to add to the pressure I really want to run wild this weekend. There is a horse event that I really want to see, that I missed last year as it was same weekend as the Octagon. But this year we got separate weekends. Whoo Hoo!

The best laid plans . . .
So since I am short on time I had decided to start a new painting using oil pastels. As they are so much quicker. (Let’s call that Plan B as Plan A was my first WCP painting of Colton.) But then as the hours rolled by while I was looking at my reference photos trying to come up with a new composition. I realized that I was wasting time and since the hard part of my watercolor pencil painting of Colton was done (and Karla Siebert of IERAL had already approved it) I’d be farther ahead to just finish it. Besides, I can’t work oil pastels at night because of the whole metamerism thingy that happens.

But then, late last night as I lay in bed glassy eyed, with images of Colton rolling through my mind, I had an Aha! moment. A composition came to me, that would be simple yet artsy. I thought “Thats it! That’s what I’ll paint. I’ll go in first thing in the morning and (with doors locked mind you) get the new drawing started and with any luck I’ll be able to knock that painting out in 3-5 days.”

So what do I do? I get up early, run into the gallery and look at the Colton piece I have so far, glance at my stack of reference photos and return to plan A. Finish what I’ve got. It’s a good start and has the potential to be a good painting.

So thats how I know it is panic gaining on me. Because I am switching my mind back and forth, when what I really need to do is stick with Plan A. And that’s exactly what I’m gonna do . . . I think.

Here is my progress for today on my Flamin’ Sheep painting. (Located Below: it’s a little dark) If all goes according to plan I will finish them tomorrow.

I really like this little flock of sheep and photograph them often. The models for this painting are located just outside of town and I drive by nearly every morning on my way to the gallery. In fact the photo here is from just this morning. It is a small enough group that they form ever-changing, infinitely interesting groupings.

Flamin’ Sheep
This was almost the title of my post but I was concerned over the type of person who might be attracted to that kind of wordage. Anywho Primary Colors seemed safer.

I was needing a little something fun to do, so I broke out all my glaringly bright colors. My plans include 3 more sheep (which you can barely see penciled in) and some neon green and emerald green grasses.

I should be able to finish this little (11×13) oil pastel painting in one long afternoon. Unfortunately I won’t have one of those for a couple more weeks. My hope was to have it done by this weekend’s event. While I may get it completed I certainly won’t get it framed and ready to go in time. Ah well.

Here’s my latest on my Colton painting. Not making a lot of progress but I have been packing for an upcoming event. So far so good I think.

Technicalities
Okay, I am unsure if white is technically considered a color. But not being one for caring about such things, I’m going ahead with the premise anyway.

Here are all the various colors that went into creating my white horse, (actually, technically it is a grey horse.) Mostly I used both warm and cool grays, flesh and bubble gum pink, a nice rusty ginger color (which I love,) periwinkle (of course, must have periwinkle if I got a ginger color) and smoky blue.

I realize it doesn’t look like it but I have been layering like a madwoman. Layer in of darks, then scrub in a layer of lights, then back to the darks.

It is a little challenging to get a good idea of proper contrast without having my background in yet. I may have to put that in soon, so I can progress along without having to do too much more thinking about it

Colton
So here is the very beginnings of a painting featuring Colton. I haven’t quite given myself completely to the idea that this will be the IERAL painting. I am not so very much in love with the composition (just a little predictable) However if I get some lovely colors going, it could turn out beautiful.

So as not to jinx myself, I am looking at this as an exercise in getting nice looking whites. I find large amounts of white, as I may have previously mentioned is the hardest color to make believable (in water soluble pencil.) That’s one of the big reasons I like doing pintos and zebras. The other colors provide adequate contrast and creating a good white is much easier.

The only part of this piece that is done is the nose. The yellow cheek is the first color layer only. I do want a nice glow but in the end it will look more gray than it does here.

Since Colton is blind, nearly all the photos I have of him has his held tilted dramatically. (thus I am having some difficulty coming up with a pleasingly unique composition.) The head tilt thing, endearing though it is, is also a little sad. And since they are hoping to have surgical correction for him, it will not be how is he in the future. So I opted to straighten him up a bit.

Here’s my tiger so far. (10 1/2” x 13” on handmade paper) As usual she is looking a little harsh and the colors are off, but it will give you an idea. At this point I nearly have her done (will finish her today) so will post the completed painting tomorrow.

Organizing your list.
This post will deal with the actual list itself. The information you should collect and how to organize it for easy reference. Since you need to tailor your mailing list to fit your needs, it is impossible for me to know what those needs are. So the best way I can think of explaining it all, is to describe how I use mine.

Currently my mailing list is in a program that my husband wrote. It is very utilitarian, but I can search and cross reference to my hearts content. For me the key to using my mailing list effectively is to be able to search for the right folks to contact.

I have organized my mailing list searches in the following ways:

• By area This is mostly for artshows. If I am returning to Omaha I can search for all my Omaha address’s (and surrounding communities) and then mail them out a postcard as to when I’ll be there and what booth they can find me at.
• By interest Like horses, exotics, birds (sub-categories might include things like breed (friesians) or type (draft horses) I use these when I finish a painting and then send out a mailing to offer first chance to buy or promote a new print release.
• Lastly by Name I rarely search by name, but occasionally do when I know of someone who has a specific interest (like for my Rhino.)

So lets take my Rhino for example. I could go to my mailing list and search for rhino. If that only pulls up one name or two. I might extend my search to include exotics (one of my key search terms.) All those people with an interest in my exotics would be pulled up and shown. I could then go ahead an email a jpeg or send them a note by mail.

There are all sorts of software packages you can buy (and possibly a few shareware versions.) If investing in software isn’t a need or in the budget just yet, you can always do it the old fashioned way, by using a tablet or some index cards. No need for anything fancy, just something that gets the job done. I started off with a tablet for my mailing list. Eventually it got to be too cumbersome, but it served me well for many years.

Information to collect.
In Omaha this past weekend I gathered only two names to add to my mailing list. One was a woman who had both my flamingo images in print and really wants another. And the other was a woman who purchased 6 of my horse prints.

So the information I wrote down (at the event so I didn’t have to remember later) was:

• Where we met. At the event (or online, etc.) and the date
• The area of interest (flamingos, horses)
• Name and address (of course,) email (if I had it.)
• The amount of purchase and what they bought.
• Make note of any personal information (like they are a dressage judge or have been to Africa.)

Updating the list
I try to go through my mailing list once a year. At this point this is a huge undertaking so it doesn’t always happen that frequently. Because I spend so much time on the computer, (and don’t want to spend even more regularly working on my mailing list) I also print out a hardcopy for me to make notes on.

Ways that I update my list:

• Change of address or name
• Whenever someone adds new art of mine to their collection
• When I send out notes (like Christmas cards, Thank You’s, invitations.) and what, if any response I receive back.
• When someone hasn’t responded in years (they get removed)

Upcoming posts
I will post my completed tiger painting along with her story and later will finish out my mailing list posts by wrapping up with a brief discussion on communicating and engaging patrons via the list.

Here’s my progress thus far on my lambs. Still not liking the cute thing, but what am gonna do about it? I put down brown paper so when I color the deckled edges I don’t completely mess up my drafting table.

These lambs are from our first year crop of lambs. A few years after we moved to Iowa we decided we needed to raise some livestock and we thought sheep were the critters for us.

We bought about a dozen ewe lambs of mixed heritage and let them mature fully. We like to think of our critters health in terms of the long haul, and waiting a little longer to breed them was they way to go. So when the time finally came, we went shopping for a ram. Since we had so few ewes, and since we intended to keep the ewe lambs, we picked out an older (cheaper) ram, which we would replace the following season.

He was a handsome stately gentleman, whom we named Chester. (why? Mike liked the sound of it. And of course “He just looks like a Chester.”) Chester was gentle, and there was nothing bully-like in his behavior at all. (You know, what you actually picture a ram’s personality to be.)

Well the girls loved him. He was always surrounded by two or three ewes, nuzzling his nose and ears, leaning against him and just in general following him around like a bunch of groupies. They never gave him a moments rest.

A few short weeks later we found him dead in the paddock. No coyotes or anything noticeable as to why he died. So we just surmised it was old age. Chester had done his job though. Every ewe had at least one lamb.

The following season we got a new younger ram. The girls wanted no part of him. He was course where Chester was gentle. He harassed them while Chester just let them come to him. It was then that it dawned on us that perhaps the girls had just sexed Chester to death. I mean he was older, but they really just kept after him the whole time. Nothing rough, just always gently touching him and surrounding him, grinning and winking.

Not sure if there is a moral here. Maybe, guys be kind to the ladies and you’ll get all the nookie you can handle? Hmm. Probably not appropriate comment for my g-rated blog huh? All I know is we never got another ram who the ewes like half as well as Chester. And oddly enough in the many years that followed, we never liked any other ram half as well either.