MUD, MANURE, AND PAINT

Jasper

2021-01-26T13:27:00.000-05:00

That sideways look. So suspicious. He finally took a chance and ambled over to me and was rewarded with a lovely back scratch. This boy has traveled to the UK.

Jasper 8” x 8” Oil on paper

A Generous Painter

2021-01-26T13:17:00.000-05:00

Best Therapy Ever

2020-06-15T12:54:00.000-04:00

Our companion animals, the birds at our feeders, the chipmunk who sleeps in my friend’s house all make us remember who and where we are. I happen to find peace in the company of cows and hope you’ve got a touchstone animal who brings your awareness to the present as well. Who is your calm touchstone?

"Geneva" 8 x 8 Oil on Board
SOLD

ELLA

2020-04-28T08:00:00.000-04:00

I met Ella some time ago and couldn’t get her out of mind. This painting is a smaller version in oil in preparation for larger pieces in pastel and oil.

ELLA 7 x 5 Oil on Arches Huille paper SOLD

Levi

2020-04-27T07:13:00.001-04:00

Another lesson learned from this pandemic period is gratitude for what I had taken for granted. Like the weekly visit to a locally preserved farm. No more cow baths for me and back scratches for the herd.

Levi is a sassy bull calf who is learning how to be a grownup. I met him a few weeks prior to the shutdown.

6 x 6 Oil on panel 125.

Dolly

2020-04-23T14:51:00.000-04:00

Dolly lives with her pals which include goats and donkeys. I think that's why she looks so smug and happy!


Dolly 12 x 9 Oil on board SOLD

Artist Support Pledge

2020-04-22T09:05:00.000-04:00

Just reading about this international movement on Jeanne Rosier Smith's feed while perusing Instagram.

Matthew Burrows
created an Instagram page for artists to help themselves and others during this period of cancelled shows, workshops, and gallery closings. The threshold price of each piece is 200. and after an artist reaches 1000. in sales, they promise to purchase the work of another artist.

My initial offering is a painting of a Boer goat named Winnie on my Instagram feed
Winnie had to be persuaded to take a break from landscaping to pose for the shot.

Lavender/ Spike Oil As A Painting Medium

2019-06-15T20:12:00.000-04:00

Bear in mind that these folks are dedicated chemists so they go deep on this topic. I love lavender for just about everything so using it as painting medium is a life changer. Here’s the link to the Natural Pigment’s article about the use of lavender/ spike oil as a painting medium.

Cooper and The Lie of Multitasking

2017-09-13T03:30:00.000-04:00

How many times must we hear and read this before it sinks in? I was most likely "multitasking" while reading or listening to someone preach about how humans are capable of performing one task well at the same time. Here's a link to Daniel Goleman speaking about mindfulness meditation and how we can improve our focus with this practice with just 10 minutes a day.

Can you imagine what impact this would have on your work?

"Cooper" is one of the boys hanging out with the other members of a bachelor herd nearby. Each of the bro's has intact horns which they do not use on each other or humans. Such sweet boys.

"Cooper" 12 x 9 Oil on Board

Mama Red and "One Good Mama Bone"

2017-09-10T03:30:00.000-04:00

Way back in April, I wrote about a treasure of a novel that magically appeared at my local library. It must have been the force of the Universe at work since this wonderful book was not on my radar. Here's the link to Bren McClain's web site and the book, "One Good Mama Bone". This book is definitely worth reading. Borrow or buy but read it!

I met the very real Mama Red and Bren McClain back in July which is another good story but for later. A small painting of this fabled creature below. She is something of a bovine centenarian at 26 years old and gorgeous.

"Mama Red" 5 x 7 Pastel on Uart Paper

Addie And Maurice's List

2017-09-07T03:30:00.000-04:00

As a subscriber to many blogs, my inbox has become quite crowded over the years. I've found that posts always declaring, "Here's my painting. Hope you'll buy it. Bye! Bye!" are being eliminated from my subscriptions.

So in that vein, I have made my goal to offer up a painting along with something that has real value to me ( and hopefully for you as well). My blog is not for selling paintings. There are better places for that like Daily Paint Works Carol Marine and her husband continue to improve this amazing web site for painters.

I subscribe to another blog called The Legacy Project
The link above will take you to Maurice's List for Living. I should look at Maurice's list every day!

And of course, another cow. Her name is "Addy".

"Addy" 6 x 6 Oil on Board

"The Last Pig" and "Ginger"

2017-09-06T03:30:00.000-04:00

If - and that's a big IF you're thinking about maybe or perhaps eliminating bacon, ribs, and sausage from your diet....check out the trailer for "The Last Pig"
People will always make their own decisions. This film may provide another point of view from someone who has made a choice that was right for him.

And here is a small painting of Ginger.

"Ginger" 6 x 6 Oil on Board

Randy Higbee 6 x 6 Show and Luther

2017-09-04T03:30:00.000-04:00

No, my paintings are not in the show! I may enter, but wanted to make sure that all of you daily painters are aware of this prestigious event. It's incredible exposure for those 6 x 6 gems that deserve recognition. Click this link for more information.

This is a larger piece of the same steer named Braxton Bragg. After some research on Braxton Bragg, I discovered that he was judged the WORST Civil War general ever. He also owned slaves. No surprise there. I should have probed deeper prior to using the name. I am so sorry and am ashamed to have made such a rookie mistake. He shall be known as Luther in the future.

"Luther" 12 x 9 Oil on Board

One of the Best Newsletters for Artists

2017-08-29T03:00:00.000-04:00

If you're interested in landscape painting and are not aware of John MacDonald's work, check him out. He sends a newsletter out every few months that is chock full of information about landscape and painting in general. I save every one of his dispatches for reference. They are that good!

In the meantime, another heifer from the farm in Bucks County. Eliza is her name.

5 x 7 Oil on Board "Eliza"

Linnie Mae

2017-08-09T03:00:00.000-04:00

Just finished reading "A Spool of Blue Thread" by Anne Tyler which I found in one of our Little Free Library a few blocks from my house. Critics accuse Ms Tyler's writing as sweet and sentimental. I wonder what is wrong with that? The point being that one of the characters IS sweet and seemingly without much going on before the reader finally learns that she is clever, determined, and believes in herself. The character's name is Linnie Mae and so is this young heifer.

7 x 5 Oil on board

The Hunter

2017-08-04T03:30:00.000-04:00

She sure looks as though she's hunting for something! Probably a bit of sweet grass or her friends. If anyone can come up with a better title, let me know...stumped on this one.


5.5 x 7.5 Pastel on Pastel-Mat paper

Ivy

2017-05-20T07:56:00.000-04:00


Ivy 8 x 8 Oil on Arches Huile

Thanks to Bren McClain, author of "One Good Mama Bone", I found Indraloka Farm Sanctuary near Allentown, PA. Check them out! I hope to be visiting them soon.

Nell Not The Movie

2017-04-14T02:30:00.000-04:00

Nell is NOT named after the character in the Jodie Foster movie. The name actually derives from Greek and Latin for "horn" or "sun ray". I prefer sun ray since she is!


5 x 7.5 Pastel on paper

Otto

2017-04-08T03:00:00.000-04:00

If you love cows as I do (or am obsessed as some would say), you will love "One Good Mama Bone". Gene Bauer writes, "....never has the bond between a woman and a mother cow been placed front and center. It's about time...." I'm about halfway through and couldn't wait to share it!
Check it out on Amazon

And a small piece of a boy named Otto.

6 x 6 Oil on Board

Althea

2017-04-01T03:00:00.000-04:00

6 x 6 Oil on Board

This girl was named for a plant with beautiful white flowers aka the Marsh Mallow because it grows in wet soil along marshes.

Portia

2017-03-25T02:30:00.000-04:00

5 x 7 Oil on board

Finding a herd of White Park cattle not too far from home was thrilling after many years of searching for these elusive creatures. Now that I have spent some time with them and taken a bunch of reference shots, it's time to work. There is an inherent responsibility to try and come close to a representation of their beauty but also their individual quirks. Therein lies the challenge and perhaps some tears of frustration!

Olive (At Last)

2017-03-23T03:00:00.000-04:00


6 x 6 Oil on Board

So many people tell me they LOVE cows. I simply love spending time with them, especially if it involves kissing, lying in the grass with them, and scratching their chins!

Sorry about the funky reflective marks...varnished a bunch of paintings before realizing that they hadn't been photographed. Lesson learned.

Penelope Helps Women in Montgomery County

2015-04-24T07:30:00.000-04:00

At times, even the most challenging circumstances bring joy into a person's life. I have been fortunate to meet some amazing women who volunteer their time and expertise helping others who have been abused.

On April 19th, Penelope helped to raise money for the Women's Center of Montgomery County during their annual champagne brunch fund raiser. The giclee was donated by North Penn Art and I contributed the mounting and packaging.

Penelope
Susan Williamson
20 x 16
Oil on Arches Huille

The Dove

2015-04-21T03:30:00.000-04:00

Another painting on the Multi Media Art Board. I'm liking this board more for oils than pastels since it's so light but takes a beating.

By the way, I met Denise Vitollo on Sunday at the Yellow Springs art show reception. We've been friends on Facebook for awhile. It was confusing at first because I recognized her, but couldn't remember where we met. I'll post our photo together after it's Photoshopped. In the meantime, check out her work on the link above!

The Dove
Susan Williamson
Oil on Multi Media Art Board
8 x 8

The Father of All Calves Day 1

2015-04-17T15:00:00.000-04:00

Day 1 of my challenge to make friends with this guy started yesterday with a visit to the farm. He wouldn't budge from his spot, which forced me to crop the image way down. Even with this poor resolution, you can see that he's got the world by the "you know what".

Looks like this will be one of my big challenges for the year!

Any ideas from readers will be much appreciated!

Susan Williamson
The Father of All Calves
Day 1