a start

I have started this drawing of a carriage horse I saw in Quebec Canada. It took me awhile to get the proportions and the lines in place.
Then I have started putting in values with some color. This is a light sketching of pastel pencil on gray canson paper. I will need to put in my darker darks next. I am going to try a new fixative I got at the last IAPS convention to layer the darks.
to be continued

Fairy butterflies with Pepper

These tiny butterflies are so cute. I wasn't thrilled with the pepper, but learned from doing it.

peppers and cabbage butterfly

I did this one in an hour. It felt good and I liked the immediateness of it.

Questionmark and Pepper

I had a second butterfly in this one and it looked awful. I was ready to chuck the painting when a friend suggested taking out the second butterfly.

I have learned to use a rubber tipped tool to take off wet oil and employed it here. Simplifying the subject matter helped.

Grey Fox of the Desert

I saw this fox in Tucson AZ when we were there for the Gem Show this year.

We found a dead one by a stream out in the Natl. Park while hiking. He was small and looked like a young one. Then when we went to the Desert Museum Zoo I got some pictures of a much fatter one and did this portrait from those reference photos.

They just LOOK mischievous.

Chateau Frontenac, Quebec

This is where Bob and I stayed for a week in Quebec City. We had a great time goofing off, walking, and eating.

It was great to get out of the heat and not think about any obligations.
But we are home and it is time to think about painting again