Painting, "When Papa Works"

This has been a fun painting.

Now that my boys are off to college and I miss them. I look forward to including them in my paintings if not to hang the memories on my walls, then to sell them and help pay for the boys college education.

I think anyone can relate to this picture either as a child fishing or as a farmer working while they wish they were fishing.

I remember my oldest son Paige was driving a mower and team in front of mine and his windrow got pretty crooked. I thought there must be something wrong with his mower. When he turned the corner I could see what the real problem was, he was reading a book! Since he was only 13 I thought it best to have him drive an old reliable team but after seeing he was bored, I figured he would be better off with the younger team I was driving. That got his attention! I only hope he keeps reading when he's in college.

I'm working on getting these all on Ebay soon! Paige is off to Jamestown in North Dakota and Justus will be at Great Falls, Montana. They both have wrestling scholarships. I only hope they don't weigh the same and have to wrestle each other. Wouldn't that be something! Justus is a freshman and 6' 4" and still growing, he must weigh 190 or so and his brother Paige is 6' 3" and 210 #'s or better. Paige is a Junior and has made it to Nationals. JC is still in a cast from knee surgery so he will probably red shirt and not compete this year. We hope his surgery went well and he will be whole for the future.

Working in the studio, the Owhi Herd

I've spent some time lately in the studio on the advise of my friend and fellow painter Everett Russel. He says that a painting is an idea. "It's all well and good to paint outside but you have to let the dust settle and see what you have learned by working in the studio."

After a couple days working on this painting of a wild herd of horses I can see what he means. Working in the studio allows me to spend the time building the painting. Planning the layout and composition, what pallet to use, and the key of the painting. What with all the choices it gets a little overwhelming but that is taken care of with the first stroke of the brush. The looseness and spontaneity of painting out of doors with the weather and light changing is difficult to work into the painting but at the same time it's nice to be in the shade and "no bugs!"

This is a work in progress. The paint is pretty thick although I am layering glazes over the dried oil and changing the composition with color rather than object placement.
The painting is holding together so I will continue to refine it. I enjoy the idea of a herd of horses, showing the herd sire, the mares, their offspring of different ages. The two little paint colts are exceptional. I've gone back to visit them and they are thriving, they've put on quite of few hundred pounds and are wild as elk!

I've joined a local gallery. It is a co-op and requires the members to take turns manning the desk and waiting on people. Even though it's 35 miles to town I look forward to visiting with folks and seeing the work of other artist. I don't know though? If the price of gasoline keeps getting any higher I'm going to have to drive the team to town. I might make it in a long day!