Cowgirl
20" x 20" Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas
Contemporary Cow from the Ft. Worth Stock Show
I just finished this painting yesterday in the studio. John and I had gone over to the Ft. Worth Stock Show a few weeks ago, and I was taking a few pics when we were walking through the barns with long-time friend Scott Schwerer, from Blandinsville, Illinois. He is a cattle guy....and we learned alot, saw alot and had fun that day. I don't know what this cow's name really is, but John Wyne appropriately named her Cowgirl. That works for me.
Here are a few photos of Day #1: when I drew the cow out on the canvas and started doing my rough sketching. I started with a 20" x 20" canvas, and painted a base color of a Titan Buff so that I was not working on a stark white canvas. Some artists draw with charcoal or pencil, but I skip that part and go straight for my brush and oils. I don't have enough patience to go through a detailed drawing...all I want to do is paint my subject matter.
Here I was putting in my darks, using dark violets and transparent reds and browns. I also decided to put in the background color of an icey blue/grey, which is opaque and will make my subject matter pop on the canvas. It will just be background, so I used a two inch flat brush and laid it in, not spending much time on it.
On Day #2: I was adding more layers of paint and putting in the darks again. The eyes are not set in, just scrubbed in. I have thick brush strokes of paint to indicate the beautiful fluffy coat. The cattle at the Ft. Worth Stock show were well groomed and very handsome and I wanted the coat to look clean and fluffy. I did not want any muddy colors on tthe canvas....
Yesterday, Day #3: I was spending more time on the snout and eyes of this cow...and putting some mid-tones in since I usually loose them along the way. As you can see, I had a reference photo and used it for the basics, but used my artistic license to make Cowgirl my own. I darkened the nostrils up and put some whiskers and eye lashes on Cowgirl, and signed the painting! Cowgirl is looking for a new home once she dries...contact Kay with any comments or questions on this painting.
Thanks for looking at this blog.....Kay
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