Happy Halloween

Hello and Boo!

Before I relax in an evening of Pumpkin carving and cookie baking, I thought I might actually get a little bit of work done in the studio! So, ever wondered what colors make up a Holstein? When I'm painting a Holstein I mix the colors seen above. And you thought they were just black and white!! I'm not sure if I'll use all those colors but I think most of them have potential to work their way into my Bessy to help her come to life. I will, of course, keep you updated!!

Until next time...

Farm Sky

Hello!

As the purple shadows dry for the 8x10 series, I have been scheming for the other paintings we are following. Above is the under painting and final sky for my farm commission. It will be named Minnesota Farm because that is where the farm is located. I kept the sky fairly quiet with a little less contrast than usual for me. I know the house and the barns are the main characters and they should have the most drama. I want the sky to play a nice role in the painting but I need it to stay in the background this time. It is really growing on me though...

I have some sky colors left over and if you follow my blogs you know what that means! I can't waste it - so get ready for a new series of skies. I actually have an under painting started that we saw a LONG time ago. It is the one that never dried. Well, sit it in the corner long enough and it will finally dry! I think I'll get it back out and try a final sky on it with my left over colors. Then we'll go from there. You never quite know what will happen next in the Taylor studio!

Until next time...

Paint!

Hello!

I am excited to say, I've been painting!! Here are the shadows for my 8x10 collection. I shuffled through some new pictures I had printed and got some fresh scenes. I am experimenting with a pond in one of them and a couple different tree lines in others. I have painted two with round bails. They are quite popular around here - I personally like to paint them - they have great texture. Next up, a sky for the farm scene. Also, Bessy has been begging for some more paint!!

Until next time...

Landscape Portrait

Good morning!

How nice to be blogging again! Today, I believe, is a great day in the studio with limited interruptions. Actually, I have to stop saying that - because something always comes up that makes me a lier!! Anyway, if that is the case, shadows finally go on my skies and Bessy finally comes to life!

The last few days I have been working on a couple commissions that have come my way. I finished another large basket for a wedding gift. I also started a landscape portrait commission. Landscape portraits are paintings of specific land or buildings that are very special to the person buying the painting. Above you see I am in the drawing stage for this portrait. This is presently a very old farm that has experienced some changes over the years. My patron would like it as she remembers it growing up. She took some pictures of the land presently and researched some pictures of how it used to be and here is the composition she needs to approve before I start painting. It is three drawings put together on the computer. I will probably start on her sky since I know that won't change and then add the buildings later. I think we'll follow this piece too. I think it will be different and special. Okay, now I'm off for a run and I should be back later today with some paint to show you!!

Until next time...

Final Skies

Hello! It is funny how a week that looked totally open and full of painting opportunities ended up so very full of other things!! I did get a chance to finished the skies I started earlier in the week though. You see them above. I actually found another started sky that needed details so I added it to the group. Next up, shadows! Today I get to visit my mom and sew some so that will be really nice. I haven't sewed in quite a while! Tomorrow is scheduled as a studio day though so I hope to even work on Bessy some! That would be fabulous!

Until next time...

New Skies

Hello!

I am in the middle of a big data entry project and as I continue to type, I need little brain breaks. So, instead of constantly getting interrupted on "Bessy" (my husband come home and named my Holstein Bessy!), I started some small skies that I welcome interruptions on! These are all 8x10's which is a popular size for both me and my patrons. I am imagining trees and round bails on a few of these and there are a couple mystery paintings. We'll just wait and see how I'm inspired for them! These are the ugly under paintings for the skies. Final skies coming right up!

Until next time...

Another peak

Hi!

This is the last look for the evening. I may work a little more on her but I have to get rested and ready for the half marathon my sister and I will be walking tomorrow morning. It starts early so I'd better not stay up all night painting!!

Until next time...

Painting Progress

Hello!

A quick note to share the under painting so far on my sweet holstein. She is going to be beautiful. And now for a background...

Until next time...

New Painting

Good Morning!

Here a little of what I worked on last night. While I was taking fall pictures and old family barn pictures in Pennsylvania last week, I took one other set of pictures. We were heading back to the main road from my great grandfathers farm when I spotted a working dairy farm. I have painted cows in the past. My "Friendly Gathering" gets a lot of attention at shows. However, those are Herefords, or "white faces." My husband's uncle raises them and I've spent some time hanging out with them and photographing them. However, due undoubtedly to the commercials that feature them and their unique markings the "black and white" cows seem to be more popular. These are Holsteins and are what my dad's family used to raise. I would never paint one though because I had never met one face to face. I had no connection to a Holstein. Well, we ran across this Holstein farm last weekend and I stopped to take pictures. It was wonderful because they were very curious as to why I had stopped and they started coming to the fence. I got to talk to them a bit and got some wonderful pictures. The best part about painting cows is that they have great personalities and it shows in their faces. This particular cow really caught my attention and I just had to paint her. When finished I will enter her to be considered for a special show in February. So far, you see a photo of her and the sketch I made on the canvas with the under painting of the sky. Today I should at least finish the under painting. Hopefully, I get the chance to work on her too!

Until next time...

Happy Friday!

Hello all!

I think I have gotten enough pictures taken this week to keep me busy throughout the winter painting months! This year I didn't know what to expect from my collection as the green pieces were brand new for me. I didn't paint as much as I could have during the winter because, of course, you only want to paint what people want to hang on their walls!! So - I ended up doing a whole lot of painting between shows. This year I have a better idea of how my collection is perceived and I can do a lot more painting during the winter to have in inventory for the next show season. That is the plan anyway! I have two shows left this year and the holiday season to get ready for, but otherwise, I can get started on some new concepts for a fresh look next year. Above is one of the pond pictures I took while shooting beautiful fall landscapes this week. I think this one has potential to be a really nice painting. Today I am cleaning and reorganizing the studio. If all goes well I can start a new painting this afternoon! Yippee! I will, as always, keep you posted!

Until next time...

Picture time!

Good Day!


It has been a beautiful couple of days in Ohio lately. There is rumor that this will change soon, so I have been taking advantage of the warmer, sunnier weather! Sunday I headed to southeastern Ohio for some views from Hocking Hills. That was very nice, but the best images of fall colors was from the hike we took hiking Conkles Hollow.

Yesterday, I went to visit my grandmother in Northwest Pennsylvania. There I found some wonderful color as well as more farm scenes and a beautiful pond. You see a picture of the artist taking photos at Conkles Hollow and a barn that once belonged to my great, great Grandfather. It was once a working dairy farm in the 50's and 60's. The only trace of the farm now is the milking barn. If not for it's history, I may have passed it up - but do not be surprised if it turns up in a painting in the future.


Today, I am headed to one more local destination. There is a pond there that has been teasing me reflecting the fall colors along the highway.


Until next time...

Show Time

Hello!

I am back from my show today. Here is a photo my husband took of my booth. It was a double booth and an absolutely gorgeous day! With the double booth I was able to spread out and use both sides of all of my walls. I was able to show my southwest scenery on the back walls. I do not get a double booth very often it is fun when I can.

The next couple of days I am going on some fall tree scouting trips. Tomorrow I am going to check out the southeastern portion of Ohio and Monday, I am going to head north. It should be great. I'll share a picture or two as we go along.

Until next time...

Autumn Colors

Good Morning!

Yesterday was a fantastic day of painting! It is always great to add the many colors of the final layer of paint. I finished eight small to medium sized paintings yesterday. It was a long day but well worth the time. Above is a piece that I added the most fall colors to. It is actually 6"x 8." It is amazing how much detail and charm you can fit in such a small area. Today is a packing and catching up day. I have another show tomorrow. For some reason, it always takes me about a day to get everything ready for a show. Anyway, enjoy the painting and I'll check in soon!

Until next time...

round bail

Hello.

Here is the latest painting today. These are some of my favorite colors - fall reds, rusts, and golds. This painting is 16" x 20." I call it "Unexpected Beauty." Enjoy!

Until next time.

Ready to go

Good Morning!

The last couple days have been great in the studio. I have been preparing paintings for fall colors! As you can see in the photo, I have quite a few started with their blue skies and their purple shadows ready. Now I get to mix some pretty amazing colors and paint them onto the canvas. Today I am free to paint all day (I think) so hopefully I get to post more pictures later!

I want to say hello to any new blog readers and welcome. I received quite a few referrals in the last couple days - thanks for reading!

Until next time...

Finished

Hello!

I'm back from Ohio Mart and it's back in the studio for me! Actually, while I was in Akron I was able to finish the last follow a painting we have been looking at. I have titled it "Clouds Rambling Through." It is 36" wide and 24" tall. I infused some early fall colors in this piece and it has inspired me to paint some more fall like scenes. Today I finished a couple pumpkin patches and I am working on some more skies for some colorful fall trees. It'll be fun!

Until next time...

Ohio Mart

Hello! Here are a couple pictures from my booth at Ohio Mart. Chris got a fun mug shot of me in the booth. As you can see, I am quite bundled up! It has been rather chili around here this weekend. Tomorrow is the last day here - it has been a LONG weekend!! I am becoming homesick and want to get back to the studio. I have been painting in the evenings in the hotel room. I was able to finish another painting we have been following. It is still drying. I will try to get a picture of it soon.

Until next time...

On the Road Again

Hi! It's show time again! I got five new paintings finished for the show this weekend. However, in the usual scurry to get everything in the van, I didn't get any photos taken of them. Perhaps I can get a couple pictures of the booth tomorrow and you can see some of the new pieces. This show is called Ohio Mart and it is at Stan Hywet Hall in Akron. It is a four day show starting tomorrow. Today I got the walls and lights set up. Tomorrow morning I will finish hanging paintings and we'll be ready to go.

Until next time...