Head on down the highway

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Elsie Bliss

"Elsie Bliss" 20x20" oil on gallery wrapped canvas

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Meet Elsie a local bovine residing at Old Oak Farm in Bellville, TX, right near the home of the Blue Bell Ice Creamery. I spent an afternoon here trekking around on rolling pastures dotted with live oaks, carefully dodging cow paddies, while corralling willing cows to photograph. Elsie, with her sweet face, was my favorite. She was quite content to let me get close enough to snap photos of her. I don't know the first thing about cows but by the look in her eyes, she seems to be patiently bearing the weight of another soon-to-be life and telling me, "If you think this is huge just wait...I still have the summer to get through."

Thank you for viewing my painting
- nancy

Thursday, May 19, 2011

SOLD-Sitt'n Purrfect


"Sitt'n Purrfect" 12x12" Oil on canvas

Here's my submission to this week's "The Whole Cat and Kaboodle Challenge". I have never tried to paint a cat before but was purring with the way this one came out. I love the way the warm afternoon sun bursts through the window onto the restful scene.

We also love cats at our house and this totally content cat looks exactly like a feline we used to own who vanished into thin air. We're afraid he may have ended up as take out for some hawk's thanksgiving dinner. Poor kitty!

This piece is painted on a larger 12x12" canvas so the sales price is higher.

Thank you for viewing my painting
- nancy

Monday, May 16, 2011

"Old Oak Farm"


"Old Oak Farm" 5x7" Oil on canvas panel

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We had a blast this past weekend, camping at this lovely 100-plus-year-old farm in Bellville, TX where our youngest daughter, Allie will be married in Sept. to Jason Stevens. I took a ton of photos of the farmland, the old abandoned farmhouse and some very curious cows, calves and bulls. I can't wait to start painting from some of them.

Unfortunately, I was rushing so furiously to pack that I forgot my easel. However, Allie and I still managed to paint out in the pasture, avoiding cow paddies and sitting on chairs holding our canvases in one hand and paint brushes in the other. A bit challenging, I came away covered in yellow paint but had a glorious afternoon sitting in the shade with the wind in my face under the spreading arms of the big oak tree where they will soon say their "I do's."

The icing on the cake was winning in a game of Bocce Ball, and sleeping in the crisp night air inside our open pop-up. And then, to be awakened in the middle of the night by the haunting howls of a band of coyotes, or perhaps a pack of wolves from the nearby woods baying at the waxing orb of a moon.

Thank you for viewing my painting
- nancy

Friday, May 13, 2011

"Pairing Up"

"Pairing Up" 6x6" Oil on canvas panel

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Blogger seems to be having a problem and has deleted my last two postings so I am reposting both of them now.

When I set up this still life and adjusted the lighting, the apple's shadow created a brilliant warm reflection in the middle of the dark shadow on the side of the pear. I just love it when that happens...so much fun to paint.

One good thing about painting fruit is that it doesn't wilt as fast as flowers, so you can take your time and don't have to paint like a whirling dervish in the middle of a Texas bonfire in mid-August.

Did you notice that sulking pear inside the bowl? She's sitting back in the cool dark pouting because she didn't get chosen to stand up front by the red center of attention. Thank you for viewing my painting

- nancy

SOLD -"Strut Your Stuff"

"Strut Your Stuff" 12x12" oil on canvas

This beautiful, bright-sunny floral arrangement was recently sent to my husband (first time he ever received flowers). I totally fell in love with the colors and started painting it immediately but then kept getting pulled away for one reason or another. Each time I went back to work on it, the flowers got a little droopier. By the end of the week, all of the flowers were faded and several had fallen off their stems. Thus, I was left to finish painting it from memory—which was not a bad thing—as it forced me to work quick and not overwork it. I do love the loose abstract quality.

This painting is sold but will be on exhibit at The Linda Watson Gallery in Conroe during the month of May.

Thank you for viewing my painting
- nancy

Thursday, May 5, 2011

"How Now Brown Cow"

"How Now" 6x6" Oil on canvas panel

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She's baaack! Nope I didn't die and am sorry for the long absence. I was beginning to think the gods were against me. I hadn't had a chance to even pick up a paint brush for nearly two weeks. This was the longest period of time in which I haven't painted in nearly a year. My goal is to paint every night after work, and then all-day Saturday and Sundays "but clouds got in my way" as one commitment after another invaded my pasture! It sure feels good to be back in the saddle again.

BTW I have to brag about husband Dave Parsons who recently learned he has been selected as the 2011 Poet Laureate for the State of Texas! ...Lots to MOOOOOOOO about at our house. Check his work out at Dave Parsons Poetry

Thank you for viewing my painting.

-nancy