Wild Ozark™

~ Nature Artist using Ozark pigments in Kingston, Arkansas ~

Category: My Earthy Painting Process

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 🙂

Open Studio Videos

This is an invitation for you to be the fly on the wall in my tiny little art studio/office. I’m posting all of my Open Studio visits at my Skool community, which is free to join.

Subject: Barred Owl
Medium: … Read the rest “Open Studio Videos”

29 January 2026
Today’s Progress on the Old Shed

Here’s an update on today’s progress on the old shed painting. I didn’t have all day to work on it, but at least a few hours.

Time completely slips away once I begin to focus on what I’m doing. It … Read the rest “Today’s Progress on the Old Shed”

21 June 2025
Stay Motivated – Oddly Easy for this Old Shed Painting

My brush hit this canvas for the first time in November 2024. And I’m STILL working on it. On one hand, I’m proud of myself for being able to stay motivated on a single project for this long. I think … Read the rest “Stay Motivated – Oddly Easy for this Old Shed Painting”

7 June 2025
Ozark Pigment for the Color of Dirt

The color of dirt in the Ozarks varies here around Wild Ozark. But the most predominate is a shade of yellow-brown. In some areas there is a darker brown, probably where there is more humus and organic matter. Some of … Read the rest “Ozark Pigment for the Color of Dirt”

4 June 2025
Sepia Dreams, But First…the Cedar Problem

I’ve been struggling with the cedar trees in my painting. And there’s been a problem with colors in my trees in the middle ground. Most of my paint are variations on sepia.

That’s just because almost all of my … Read the rest “Sepia Dreams, But First…the Cedar Problem”

29 April 2025
The Moment of Quickening

I’ve been working on this painting for a while now. The sky is the farthest background, so that’s the area of focus. All the while it’s been pretty standard, putting paint here and there, by design or by whim. But … Read the rest “The Moment of Quickening”

15 January 2025
Old Shed with Red Sunset | Painting in Progress

This old shed is one of my most photographed subjects. I take pictures of it in various weather, lots of sunsets, and throughout the seasons. Now it’s time for an Old Shed with Red Sunset painting, using my Ozark pigment … Read the rest “Old Shed with Red Sunset | Painting in Progress”

28 November 2024
Natural Art Supplies | Osage and Rocks

After a flood is an excellent time to look for my natural art supplies.

On my way home from the office yesterday, I saw the roots of an Osage tree. Of course, I had to stop, and then I couldn’t … Read the rest “Natural Art Supplies | Osage and Rocks”

14 November 2024
What Comes First? The subject, or the palette?

I think I work opposite of most artists when it comes to the way I do certain things. What comes first the subject, or the palette?

For most painters, I would imagine the subject is chosen and then whatever paints … Read the rest “What Comes First? The subject, or the palette?”

2 November 2024
Fence Lizard | Starting a New Painting

I’m working on a painting of a fence lizard using my Ozark pigments in oils. This is the page that shows my progression from start to finish.

During the hot days of summer, there are lots of fence lizards skittering … Read the rest “Fence Lizard | Starting a New Painting”

5 September 2024
Narrow Sized Imaginary Mountain Scene

While working on my fence lizard painting, I had leftover paint on the palette when finished for the day. So I decided to use it to start a new painting on the same size board, a small narrow 8″ x … Read the rest “Narrow Sized Imaginary Mountain Scene”

27 August 2024
Progress on a Painting, or Two

Yesterday at the studio, I worked on two different paintings. One I needed to begin, and the other needed progress towards finished.

Painting to Start

The first one I worked on is the one I needed to begin. It’s a … Read the rest “Progress on a Painting, or Two”

9 June 2024
Slow Art, Back to Nature Art

There are a lot of parallels between the kind of art I make and the Slow Food movment from a decade or so ago. My style is also very much ‘back to nature’.

Why is it ‘Slow Art’?

Just as … Read the rest “Slow Art, Back to Nature Art”

5 June 2024
A Pastoral Scene in Progress

There’s something magical about the way it looks on a misty Autumn morning in the Ozarks. Several years ago, I took a photo of my neighbor’s field towards the bridge for Felkins creek that’s near our house. While going through … Read the rest “A Pastoral Scene in Progress”

26 May 2024
A Skink in Ozark Pigments

Last week in my garden, all of the reptilian (and one amphibious) creatures were out and about. This handsome skink came out to pose for me, so I figured I’d paint his portrait.

A Little About My Paint-making Process

Since
… Read the rest “A Skink in Ozark Pigments”

26 April 2024
Cooper’s Hawk | a Blue-eyed Juvenile

Currently on my easel is a portrait in progress of a gorgeous blue-eyed juvenile raptor. It’s a painting of a Cooper’s hawk. As he matures, his eyes will change to yellow, orange, or red. The blue in the painting itself … Read the rest “Cooper’s Hawk | a Blue-eyed Juvenile”

25 March 2024
A Tipi Painting for Karter

My granddaughter Karter’s birthday is coming up soon, and this year she wants a painting of a tipi. I love the evolution of subjects the kids choose as they grow up and I hope they never grow tired of getting … Read the rest “A Tipi Painting for Karter”

23 March 2024
Bald Eagle | Ozark Birds of Prey series

Originally posted in 2020. I’m going through some of the older posts on my blog and refreshing them. This one really doesn’t need any changes, but it’s been a while since I’ve showcased my bald eagle painting.

One day I … Read the rest “Bald Eagle | Ozark Birds of Prey series”

11 March 2024
Broad-wing Hawk #2 | Dinner Time

I’ve begun broad-wing hawk #2, using the same sized canvas and a similar background as the first one. Since this one has just nabbed a frog, the title is ‘Dinner Time’.

My reference is a photo by the excellent … Read the rest “Broad-wing Hawk #2 | Dinner Time”

17 February 2024
Brahman Mama #905 | Cow Art

Today is Wednesday (Jan 17, 2024) and there’s still snow on the ground outside from last week’s arctic blast. The horses and cat are fed, husband and myself already had breakfast, and the hot water lines are still frozen, along … Read the rest “Brahman Mama #905 | Cow Art”

26 January 2024
Free Will | Broad-winged Hawk #1

While the background is drying on my cow painting, I’m going to start on this 12 x 12″ painting of a broad-winged hawk on canvas. It’s been cold in the studio and that causes oil paints to take even longer … Read the rest “Free Will | Broad-winged Hawk #1”

19 January 2024
Brahman Cow Art | Painting Little Red

Today is start a new painting day. It seems that I’m building a collection of Brahman cow art works. This is Little Red.

See the comments to find out how Little Red got her name.

Not so little anymore, though. … Read the rest “Brahman Cow Art | Painting Little Red”

6 January 2024
Painting Ghost, another dog portrait progression page

This is Ghost, a puppy I once loved. I painted the background in the first photo a few days ago in preparation for his portrait. The rest of the painting took place today, and it’s the first time I’ve felt … Read the rest “Painting Ghost, another dog portrait progression page”

3 October 2023
Obstacles in my Art Journey | Painting a Portrait

I find it odd that I can paint an animal fairly well, but throw a human into the mix, and if there’s a face, I balk. Human faces are one of the biggest obstacles in my art journey, and I … Read the rest “Obstacles in my Art Journey | Painting a Portrait”

25 September 2023
Painting a French Bulldog Pup | Hugo

I’m currently painting a French bulldog pup. This is my youngest son’s fur-baby. He’s not so little as this photo anymore, but Garrison wanted one of him as a puppy, and then another later as an adult.

Progression

Photo reference
… Read the rest “Painting a French Bulldog Pup | Hugo”

16 September 2023