Follow along through the steps I take to create an earthy painting. My process isn’t pretty, as I tend to make mistakes. But things usually turn out alright in the end :)
I bet you’d already guessed it. The namesake of the Buffalo National River is … the buffalo. But that’s a misnomer. What we call ‘buffalo’ are actually bison. The American ‘Buffalo’ is really an American Bison. Before Europeans arrived on this land, there were bison everywhere. Many tribes of Native Americans depended on them, literally, …
How Did the Buffalo National River Get its Name? | “Namesake” Read More »
Follow along as I paint a picture of the yellow-billed cuckoo! Featuring earth pigments from Ozark rocks, clay, and bone.
My 6th painting was a special request by my granddaughter. She loves wildlife and wanted me to paint a fox. Her actual favorite was a kit fox, but instead I painted a red fox kit. I had a good photo to use for that one, taken by photographer friend Terry Stanfill, whereas I did not …
Soul of the Ozarks | The 6th Painting | Red Fox Kit Read More »
My current painting in progress is one of the buildings on the grounds of the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History, located in Springdale, Arkansas. Dr. Carter’s Office was moved to the museum at a later date, but started life in the late 1880’s in Elkins, Arkansas (Washington county).
Here’s the process for my Bearded Dragon painting. All pigments are from Ozark rocks.
Lisa J. Tomey interviewed me way back in 2019 for an article to be published in Okra Magazine. Just when it was about time for it to run, Covid struck and that article got pushed back on the publisher’s to-do list. Well, I’d almost forgotten about it, but Lisa did an awesome job of keeping …
Stones to Grind | A Fantastic New Interview and Publication Read More »
Originally, I had planned to do a series of my favorite woodland plants in grayscale. But that was before I found the stone that gives me a sort of green pigment. So changed up the plans a little. Now I’m doing a series of our orchids in my full palette of pigments. First is this …
Showy Orchis (Galearis spectabilis) in Ozark pigments Read More »
My 5th painting was a special request by my sister. She loves pelicans and wanted me to paint one for her. This is the story of my journey into the world of being a watercolor painter. My angle on this is a bit different than most other artists, in that all of my paints are …
After the second kestrel, which was the third painting, I thought I’d try another kestrel. I had another good photo to work from and I’d come to really love the colors and form of kestrels. By this time I was back home and could make more paints. I hoped I would make better ones – …
The first painting of 2021 is also the first of its size, and the first using a single source for pigment. But it is my second Brahman cow portrait. ‘Brahman Baby’ was the first. This is my progress page, for those who like to see the progression of how a painting looks from blank canvas …
Cow Portrait | Whisper, the Brahman cow | Painting Process Read More »
Still in July 2018, and still in Qatar visiting Rob, I decided to try a 3rd painting. I’d do another kestrel and see if I could do it better this time. Because it was so hot outside during daylight hours, there wasn’t a whole lot else to do all day other than read or watch …
Honestly, while I was delighted that my handmade watercolors worked alright for my first try, I wasn’t real pleased with the painting itself. So I decided to try a second painting. The Second Painting I was still in Qatar. It was July 2018, and the daytime temperatures outside were so hot I didn’t want to …
Many of you who have followed me for a while will have already seen these paintings, and you might remember the stories that go with them. I’m sorry for the repetition you’re about to endure if that’s the case. But I’m beginning to forget some of the details of my earlier paintings and I want …
SOUL OF THE OZARKS | Part 1 | The First Painting Read More »
I’m working on painting a raccoon on black paper. It’s the first time I’ve painted on black, and the experience is very different from anything else I’ve tried to paint. As I was deciding which paper to put it on, I was holding the old Arches block of watercolor paper and about to throw the …
Painting a Raccoon in Ozark Pigments on Black Paper Read More »
Behind the Scenes of a Wildlife Art Commission, with an artist who makes her own paints from local pigments.
I’m embarking on a series of Bobwhite Quail. I’ve had some requests for quail paintings, so this is my toe-in-the-water dip into that audience. How many I’ll do depends upon the market for quail paintings. This doesn’t mean an end to the raptor series. Quite the opposite – I’ve been corresponding with an excellent photographer …
The first painting off of the easel this decade is a bald eagle, and it’s the first of the eagles in my series of raptors in Ozark pigments.
“Eye of the Storm”. She is the Wind Worker – driven by passion, enamored with chaos, oblivious to danger and energized by storms.
Today I’m working on a few 9 x 12″ prints, and the idea occurred to me that the process of making mounted prints might be something you’d like to see. There’s a bit of work involved with making these, but I love that they’re ready to hang when I’m done. The look is casual. For …
Here’s the process for Ponca in Summertime. Ponca in Summertime started out plein air. I went out there one morning in August with my Ozark pigments and a plan to paint what I saw.
Here’s the things I learned in my attempts to paint a portrait of myself that didn’t look like a monster. I use only my Ozark pigments, so it’s a limited palette. Click the title…
I’m working on a series of nature fantasy paintings in Ozark pigments with my handmade watercolors. Click the title to read more…
“Destination Unknown”, in Ozark earth pigments. Media is handmade watercolors using real earth pigments on Fabriano 300# (hot press) and measures 16″ x 20″. The Red-tailed hawk is one of the birds in my ongoing Ozark Birds of Prey project. Click the title to see the process …
The Process Story of “Ozark Rocks and Leaf” This painting started out plein air. The grandkids were visiting and wanted to go splash around at Felkins creek. While they played, I began painting these stacked rocks with a sycamore leaf. When it was time to leave, I wasn’t finished yet, so I snapped some photos …
Just finished this red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus). The original is SOLD. Prints are available. Progression Pics: Art in Progress I post all of the steps as I’m doing it at Instagram, so if you want to follow along in real time, follow me there or on FB. Sometimes it’s a good bit later when I …
