Plein Air Along the Way Landscape Oil Painting

"Along the Way"

oil on panel

6x6"

A cool breezy morning.  Painting on location is so crucial to my indoor studio painting.  I hope to get out as much as I can before the weather turns.  I am a wimp when it is cold or cold and rainy or snowy.  I broke my hand and fingers when I was a teenager and my hand doesn't move well in long periods of cold.  Anyway, this session was a blast!

Sun Rays and Changing Fields contemporary impressionism oil painting

sold

"Sun Rays and Changing Fields"

oil primed panel

6x6"

My son and I drive by these fields on the way to school every morning.  I have been mentioning to him to watch how quickly the fields are changing color in the Fall.  Also how differently they look in the early morning on sunny days, cloudy days, rainy days or even foggy days.  Some days he will snap pictures for me with my phone.  This painting is from a picture he took this morning.  Thanks Buddy!

I tried K.I.S.S. (keep it simple sweetie, yes, "stupid" is normally used, but hey I gotta stay positive, this painting gig is not for the wimpy)   I tried again to remember to not get caught up in the details but focus on the moment.  I used one brush, a largish one and tried to stay bold and lay each brush stroke in once and leave it be.  I succeeded and failed on that, but will keep working at it.

Horses Morning Graze Original Oil Painting

Sold

"Morning Graze"

6x6"

oil primed panel

painted 2012

Cows in the Morning Dew Original Impressionism Painting

sold

"Cows in the Morning Dew"

oil on panel

6x6"

With the cooler nights we have had many misty mornings.   The landscape is bathed in violet and details are softened.

Happy Holstein Cows Contemporary Landscape Painting

sold

"Happy Holstein"

6x6 "

oil/primed panel 

The pleasant  weather seemed to make the cows happy.  I enjoyed the combination of warm and cool color. As you can see the cool Autumn air is bringing change to the landscape. 

I have decided to start working on some larger paintings.  Yep, I admit it makes me a little nervous so I will continue to paint smaller ones during part of my day.  I am excited about one I am working on now and will post pieces of it along the way.  I am afraid of ruining it so I am trying not to rush while still keeping it fresh which is much easier said than done.  My brain hurts so I am going to call it a day :)

Have a good night!

The Cows are Home Angus Cattle Original Oil Painting

(click on picture to enlarge view)

sold

"The Cows are Home"

Oil on panel

6x6 "

The way the cows were gathered on the ridge made a lovely form.  I tried to convey the shapes rather than individual cows.  The planes of their bodies reflect warm and cool colors.  I know this sounds strange but their forms made me think of beautiful, black walnut furniture perhaps on the lawn of a tag sale...  like I said weird!  However, it is true that when you tackle drawing or painting you must truly observe form and light.  Don't necessarily think cow when you paint a cow or you may get caught up in preconceived thoughts of a cow and draw from your memory or "mind's eye" rather than what is really in front of you.  

Waves of Gold Rural Landscape End of Summer Oil Painting

"Waves of Gold"

6x6"

oil/gesso panel 

The  fields glow in the bright sunshine.  The texture of the grains are a feast for the eyes while the soft clouds offer soothing contrast.

Rose Painting Original Oil Heidi Malott

Peace

6x6" 

Oil on panel

A change of pace for me.  I haven't painted a close up of a rose in a while.

Plein Air Dramatic Skies Contemporary Impressionism Daily Oil Painting

"Dramatic Skies"

6x6"

oil on gesso board

I used thin washes of color and thick strokes of paint quickly and loosely to capture the fast moving clouds in this plein air piece.  

Clouds Contemporary Impressionism Original Daily Oil Painting

"Calm"

6x6" oil

gesso panel

Tranquil skies in violet at dusk.  I love what this lighting does to the greens in the landscape.  Here you see a combination of warm and cool cool greens before the sunlight slips away.

Have a great weekend!

Poppy Field Floral Landscape Oil Painting

sold

"Field Aglow" 

6x6 "

Oil on gesso panel 

As opposed to my close up yesterday.   

Sun Salutation Poppies in Garden Painting

"Sun Salutations"

Oil on gessoboard 

6x6"

Up close and personal.  The name poppies seems quite appropriate for they really popped in the early light of the sun and the silvery greens and purples in the background.   What a lovely flower.

Rolling Greens Soybean Fields Daily Oil Painting

"Rolling Greens"

6x6"

oil/gesso panel

The soybean fields are starting to turn yellow.  This field was all "swirly" making a cool composition.  I tried to keep it simple by squinting my eyes at the field and simplifying it into big shapes.   

Eiffel Tower Original Oil Painting Impressionism

"Photo Op"

Oil

Gesso panel

6x6 "

A change of pace for me.  After painting many Midwest landscapes in the U.S. I needed to take a break and paint something different.   C'est la Vie 

Brisk Day Original Oil Painting

sold

"Brisk Day"

6x6"

oil/gesso board

I painted this a couple of weeks ago and completely forgot to post it.  Everything is still green.

The landscape has changed a lot in two weeks.  This day was cool and windy and the clouds were moving fast.  I tried to achieve that feeling in this little painting.

Have a good week!  We are supposed to have summer-like weather most of the week.

Pumpkin Patch Autumn Landscape Original Impressionism Painting

"Sunkissed Pumpkins

6x6"

Oil on gesso panel 

Original Oil Paintings Landscape Impressionism

sold

"Saturday"

6x6"

oil/gesso panel 

Painting the greens while I can.  The air is getting cooler and the colors are starting to change.

Contemporary Artwork Farm Landscape Original Oil Painting

"Corn Fields and Clouds"

6x6"

oil on gesso board

A beautiful day on the farm.  Today I focused on varying brushwork.  Also keeping in mind the hues in the foreground and background in order to give the sense of depth.  I like the how violet in the sky and how it complements the yellows and greens.

Enjoy your day!

Contemporary Impressionism Fields Transition original oil paintings

sold

"September Drive"

Oil on gesso panel 

6x6"

The fields are changing color.  They are so beautiful.  This is on the way to one  of our favorite swimming holes on Labor Day.  We still have some good warm days ahead.  The landscape will change quickly.  I hope to get in as much painting as I can during this transition into Fall.

I am happy with my attempt to capture the Corn field on the right.  I have painted corn fields for years and it can be a struggle to convey them in a simplified yet readable manner.  as my kids say "the struggle is real mom"  haha.

John Deere Harvest Hay Bales Daily Oil Painting

sold

"Back to Work"

Oil/gesso panel 

6x6"

A little more delicate in brushwork and detail than some of my paintings.   

Lake in September Daily Oil Painting

Original

No longer available 

Prints available

Lake in September 

Oil/gesso panel

6x6"

Where did summer go?  So hard to believe Labor 

Day weekend is behind us.  Looking forward to pleasant days in fall.  I focused on the brushwork in this little painting and of course simplifying, always working on that! 

Have a great week.  

Laundry Day Barn Painting Rural Impressions

"Laundry Day"

oil/masonite panel 

6x6"

Happy Labor Day!

Clover Dawn Landscape Original Oil Painting

sold

"Sweet Clover"

6x6"

Oil on panel

The lush green grass really "pops" in the lavender light of dawn.

Buttery Cinnamon Autumn Landscape Original Oil Painting

"Buttery Cinnamon"

Oil/gesso panel

6x6"

I can't help it, that is one of the things I embrace this time of year.  Autumn means there will be cooler days when I can bake.  Anything with butter and cinnamon comes to mind.  

This field at dawn with the warm earthy tones and cool violet clouds give me promise of a new day.  Sidenote:  can you tell this is where the pheasant run from yesterday's painting?

Pheasant Autumn Animal Painting Original Oil

not available for sale, however,

commissions available

"Pheasant"

oil/gesso board

6x6"

I have never painted a pheasant before.  As I studied it with each stroke I am just amazed at the beauty.  His plumage is breathtaking.  He is complimented by the autumn color. 

Autumn Painting Ready for Harvest original oil

sold

"Ready for Harvest"

Oil/gesso masonite panel

6x6"

September is upon us and the fields are starting to change color.  This is my favorite time of year and very inspiring for my latest paintings. 

Walking through the Corn Rural Impressions

"Walking through the Corn"

6x6"

Oil/gesso board 

I couldn't resist the lush blues and greens of the tall cornstalks.  I tried to keep it simple and bold.