(Known as 'The Official Happy Cow Artist" since her commission for the California Milk Advisory Board to paint the famous and popular Happy Cows of the Real California Milk campaign.)

I work from photographs, either my own or a clients treasured photo 

My personal focus is Cows and Western.  Scroll down to see in reverse chronological order the works
in progress and news.

There was the two weeks off, one for the cruise, the other to get ready for the cruise.  Then there was the last week of school, graduation ceremonies and last day picnic.  Now there is an 11 year old looking for something to do.  Regardless of all of the distractions, I'm getting back to work!!

I started this with the intention of keeping the charcoal as part of the finished piece as with my buffalo charcoal with oil, but the canvas texture was not a smooth, nor did it accept the dark charcoal in any way that pleased me, so the charcoal you see here became the underpainting. 
 

I really liked the look of the charcoal, and will do another on a smoother canvas.  Up close it just wasn't what I was after. 

My first decision was the background, and it was an easy one.  Black, white and red just begs to be combined.  I don't know why I haven't done more Holsteins with red, because it's one of my favorite combinations, so these two kids are now in front of the barn...


This is 18"x24", and is near completion.  I'll be posting a final picture when it is done, taken in
better light, if the San Diego June Gloom decides to let up.  This photo was taken in low light,
I might replace it, but you can get the idea.

I'm taking suggestions for a title, and no it can't be "Got Milk?" which is unfortunately what I keep seeing in their little expectant faces....post a comment if you have a suggestion, although a sign in is offered, you do not need to sign in to leave a comment!

In addition, I have two commissions I will be starting.  One of cows on the beach, a fun concept and something different for me that I'm very excited about, and another of cows grazing, a classic scene that's always fun!

Now finished, and titled "Ben and Jerry"

I've got two favorite new Hereford paintings, just finished.  First is a classic portrait of Ranger.  I've painted Ranger before, he was my bovine model for "What You See Is What You Get", an 8"x10" painting from a few years ago.  Here he is close up, with every bit as much attitude as before, which I loved and is why I have chosen to paint him:

This painting is 16"x20" oil on canvas.  In the post below you can see some of this painting
in progress in my online broadcast.

Next is one I had previously done a 6"x6" study for, and the painting is 18"x18"
oil on canvas.


The red and white face cows are dominating the easel lately, next up are Holsteins.

This is Ranger, a very cute six month old (or so) Hereford.  I have already immortalized him in oil once before, an 8"x10" study of him standing titled "What You See Is What You Get", (that painting is sold).  I haven't decided on a name for this one, but it might just be "Ranger".  This painting is 16"x20".

6"x6" oil on panel
This is a new study, I had thought about making it a little tighter, but couldn't bring myself to do anymore to
it, as I really loved the look, especially with the background blending in.
I may do a more detailed, larger painting of this in the future.

As often happens, a client found a painting on my website that they liked, but it was sold.  The next step is to contact me and commission something with the same flavor, and as I have taken tons of reference photos over the years, there is always a probable chance that I can come up with something you will love just as much.

In this case, the sold painting was "Cutting the Mustard", a painting of Hereford cattle in a landscape.
I knew I had more photos that would carry this theme, so I scoured out the best one, and produced these two graphite studies which were the result of cropping the same photo two different ways:  



My client chose this one directly above, Three Cows in a Field as the composition for their painting.
Next step was to begin the painting, which is 24"x36".

I layed it out in charcoal first, then put a wash over it in complimentary colors to what the final colors will be
and got the cows started:


Next on to a thicker layer of paint:


And on to the finished painting:


This painting was quite fun to do, the reference photograph had all greens, but my client wanted wheat colored grasses, so I really enjoyed putting in all of the gold and amber waves of grain.  It blends so well with the Herefords while at the same time making them stand out.  Just enough green scrubby trees to lead the eye in and down to the cows.

I've been lagging on the updates!  Here are two new commissioned paintings I've done recently of Bucking Bulls, commissioned by their owners. This is Bo's Excuse, for Rena Andrews of Andrews Rodeo Co.

This painting is 12"x12", oil on canvas.
This reference photo came to me directly from his owner:


Next is another handsome bucking bull named Brutus.  This painting was commissioned by Lisa Laird
of Laird Bucking Bulls.

This painting is 6"x8", oil on canvas mounted to board.

This reference photos came to me through email directly from his owner. 

I'm off on Thursday to Paso Robles, California for the Cattlemen's Western Art Show.
This is an invitational Western art show.  Since I'm getting ready, and will be gone on Thursday, my usual live broadcast is being canceled for the week, but I will be back on air live next week.

Here are two new works:
The Holsteins are 24"x36"

And now for something different, another of my favorite farm animals,
Mr. Pig, a 12"x12" oil painting.

Here is a brand new piece, from one of the very best reference photos I've ever taken (in my opinion.)  I was actually taking pictures of the Hereford, when this Border Collie (maybe a Australian Shepherd) decided to pose as well.  I really loved how the Hereford's ear is bent back listening to the dog approach.

I herd you
24"x24" oil on canvas

If you scroll down you will find how this piece started, as a charcoal sketch on
the canvas.

I've had this sitting on the mantle partially done since ? October!  If you scroll down you will find a poorly lit photo of it collecting dust there, until very recently when I was inspired to finish it finally.  I decided to blot out the back horse, she was too dark in the reference photo to see much and it didn't really add to the piece, I like it much better now.  It's about color, the back lighting and the shadow anyway, really another mood piece.

6"x12" oil on board. 
This painting is available and will be posted on my website soon.
In the meantime if you are interested you can email or call me in the studio.

I'm very excited to announce a special project I am working on, painting some of the most popular Bucking Bulls.  I get to meet, photograph, paint/draw some of the most beautiful athletes in the world, the Bucking Bulls.

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to get up close and personal with Reindeer Dippin.

While you often see these magnificent bucking bulls in action, I enjoy them as individuals and in my work love to get close enough to see more than the muscle, but down to the soul. 

His soul was not particularly impressed with me, but he showed me his good side, OK both of them are good, and the photo reference is exactly what I was after, the artwork is starting to flow.

Here are the two original oil paintings I've finished so far from the reference photos I took of him in Santa Maria last year.





Visit my official website, DeniseRichArt.com and join my mailing list if you want to be sure to receive timely information.

About Reindeer Dippin'
San Fransisco Chronicle, April 5, 2007

Bucking Bulls Reign Over Pro Rodeo
Paul McHugh

"Riders speak with awe of potent critters such as Reindeer Dippin', a black bull with a white face last successfully ridden in 2005. Since then, Reindeer Dippin' has bucked all challengers to the dust well before the eight-second whistle. In fact, of 31 career "outs" from the steel-barred starting chute, this 1,550-pound, black and white Brahma cross has allowed only two cowboys to complete a full ride.

"If you happen to draw Reindeer, well, cock your hammer and bring your game. You've got to give him 110 percent. Because, you know that's what he'll give you," said Jaron Nunnemaker, 33, a professional bull rider and cowboy-for-hire from Willits in Mendocino County. " End of quote.

The cuteness of a calf is forever in this oil portrait, commissioned by a client after falling in love with a Jersey calf face in one of my previous works.
This painting in progress is 12"x12" on wide profile canvas, I'll be painting the edges so it will be ready to hang when it arrives.




Not quite finished yet, but almost there, mostly some detail work left.  She will have little hairs on her chin when she is finished.

My favorite subjects, this time two commissions.  The first one is of Miniature Hereford cows.  Who can resist this scene of a mom and her calf in the field?  This is the clients photo, and perfect to work from.  Shown in three stages, the first is layed in with charcoal, the second is the beginnings of blocking in, and the third is blocked in and starting to give the subjects form.  The fourth is the final finished painting.





This painting  is 20"x30" on canvas.


On to the next commission.  You may recall and if not just scroll down to read about the beautiful dairy cow named Da Iry.  She is a 4H project of a young woman named Emily.  Emily's mother has commissioned a portrait of Da Iry for her daughter to have as a keepsake, a very touching idea.  I visited them and was able to take the reference photos myself.  Emily chose the photo to be used for the painting, a shot where Da Iry has her tongue sticking out.  She wanted something that showed her beautiful face and personality.  I think it was an excellent choice!



This painting  is 12x16 on linen.

Here is a view I see often when photographing dairy cows for painting reference, the extreme close up of the super curious one in the bunch.


"I'm Ready For My Close-Up"
18"x24"
Sold

A common practice with artists is to do preliminary drawings and sketches for planning an oil painting.  Sometimes several similar views are done to enable chosing the best one to paint.

I have generally only offered oil paintings for purchase, but I am going to start listing for sale some studies, charcoal and graphite of the Happy Cow paintings, as well as others.
I think they would make great gifts for any Holstein fan, especially if they love the Happy Cows. 
This is one of my favorites of the Happy Cows:
You may recognize it as California Is The Place To Be.  This is
graphite on Arches 90 lb hot press watercolor paper, a surface I am
especially fond of drawing on.  This is about 5.5"x7".

I love the value studies, hope you will too.  I'll be posting more as I  have time,
but commissions are calling!

News around here is my Husband's knee surgery went well and he is recovering nicely!  It's kept the Rich Artist a little distracted having him around the house for the past couple of weeks, but he's back to work, (and so am I.)

These are on the back burner as I am working on two commissioned pieces seen in another post, but I wanted to put them up.  The cow with the herding dog, I believe it's a border collie, is a pet cow of a local woman who teaches cutting.  This guy came in as a youngster for practice, and walked right into her heart.  Lucky for him, and for me, as I had the opportunity to take several excellent photo reference shots of him a while back.  This is the first painting I'll be doing of him, there will be more, he's quite photogenic and giving Howard's Heifer a bit of competition as my favorite bovine model!

This piece is 24x24.  This is just a vine charcoal value lay in, although I really do like
it just as it is, this will be an oil painting, just as soon as I get around to it.  I love this
composition, the title is "I herd you".

And one small piece in the wings, 6x12 oil on board, this one is just blocked in, and will be a looser style study.  I love the shadows.

Not the best lit photo, it's on my mantle waiting to be finished.  I might do this on a very
large scale in the future, I think this study is working.

This piece, 12x16 oil on linen titled "Nibbling on Sugar and Spice", has been accepted into the prestigious Mountain Oyster Club Contemporary Western Art Show and Sale, which will be November 23.  This annual event is in it's 39th year.
I am honored to be included in this years show.

From their website:
"The Mountain Oyster Club, established in 1948, is a private club composed of members united in the interest of preserving Southwestern heritage and “Old Pueblo” tradition.  Their foundations in this way of life vary. Whether they come from pioneer stock with deep roots in Arizona, are ranchers, farmers, or horsemen, are professionals working with livestock interests or are Western artists or collectors of Western art, this society of Westerners remains dedicated to western traditions, art and the western way of life.

Each year the Club sponsors the Annual Southwestern Art Show and Sale, considered to be one of the most outstanding showcases of western art by many of the country’s finest artist.  The club boasts its own extensive collection of western art."

For more information, visit them at www.mountainoysterclub.com

The winner of the mailing list drawing for their choice of an open edition print from my website has been notified, I'm waiting for a reply.

Meanwhile, I've got two commissions I'm working on which I will post photos of over the weekend.

I've had a couple of popular Rodeo Cowboy little boy works available for a while, and have been asked a number of times "where is the little girl Cowgirl?"  Here is number one in that category,  in three  progress pictures and the completed painting fourth.


Finally finished in the fourth photo, and photographed in natural light which represents
the colors the best.
The title of this piece is "Nibbling on Sugar and Spice"
12"x16" oil on linen

I finished this the other day, finally got a chance to photograph it this morning.
I always love the little Holstein calves at the dairy.  It takes them a few minutes to warm up to me and my camera, but I have a lot of patience, and never fail to get good photo reference for my work when I visit.  This I love especially because of the lines of the fence behind her, and the rich colors.  OH, and also the shadow.  The ears always make such interesting shadows if they are at the right angle!   This painting is 12"x12" on board.  I'll be adding it to the website to purchase as soon as I get a chance. 

I've been enjoying doing several smaller works lately, potentially studies for larger paintings in the future.  This one I could perhaps see as a 36"x36" or larger someday.

I will be starting a new commission, this will be from a clients photograph of my favorite subject, cows!  A miniature Hereford Mom and Calf, super cute photo.  I will be posting progress as available.

And the winner for the September random mailing list prize,  your choice of an Open Edition Signed print is Vicky H. from Ocklawaha, Florida.  Vicky has been on the mailing list since March of 2006, Congratulations Vicky! 

Here is what Vicky had to say about winning:

"Thank You, I am excited to be chosen for an open edition print.

Denise is awesome painter, and has added a wonderful painting to our family that is treasured for the rest of our lives.

Thanks again"

Here is the painting she is referring to, from 2005, one of my favorites to this day:
from the clients photograph, her (at the time) teenage son Dale attending his cow Molly, about to give birth at around midnight.  I just love this scene, and so enjoyed painting it.

If you would like to be a part of the monthly drawing, just join my mailing list, I send an occasional new work notification, and news updates.  Your email will be guarded and will not be shared!

Three new small works.  All three bovine, all three on my favorite surface. 
The first one, "Mini Moo" of nearly all white Holsteins, I have been wanting to paint ever since the shutter clicked at the dairy.  I have a few more pictures of this pair that I will likely paint as well. 

5x7 oil on panel  "Mini Moo"

Next are Black Angus and I believe Charolaise, or perhaps a cross.
I thought this was an interesting view, and couldn't resist the title "O.R.E.O."


O-R-E-O    6x6 oil on panel

And finally, this big Black Angus bull was resting happily, the two behind him
probably his calves reminded me of kids showing Dad respect while he is taking
a nap, not that it ever happens in this house!


"Keeping a Respectful Distance"
6x8 oil on panel

All three of these are available.

Thanks to my friends at the local Buffalo ranch, I've gotten some great reference pictures recently!  Here is the first product, a head study.
This is 6"x8" oil on board. Available on my website www.deniserichart.com.

Now Completed!

You may have seen the 5"x7" study in an earlier post, I had done the study in preparation for a larger painting planned in the future, but instead of waiting until I get around to it, I have been commissioned to paint this larger for a client.  This piece is 18"x24" of complicated cow parts, but a joy to paint, and it is going to be one of my favorite works to date.   (The 5"x7" study is available.)



Final (except for signature!)
18"x24" oil on canvas
Jersey Heifers
(Photo taken in natural light for the best color representation.)
Now completed, will be shipped to it's new home next week.

I love the 'cow crowd' scenes like this one and Eye Herd, they are my very favorite compositions.  Watch for more of different breeds in the future.  I have another study of Herefords that will be coming in a large painting eventually, titled "Red and White Cattle".

Two new paintings

Here is the finished work, I didn't get any in between progress pictures!

The other one, a very tightly cropped painting of a Mustang is also finished:

Both are 24"x36" oil on canvas.
Both are available, please email me for pricing.

A commission to paint pigs is in the works.  This includes me taking photographs for reference, and I thought I would share one with you that is just too cute to believe.
Don't tell the cows, but as cute as a calf is, I really don't think there is any animal quite as cute as a piglet!
Case in point:

These two are almost two week old KuneKune piglets.   I have been commissioned by the breeder to do a painting, and it was my pleasure to visit the farm and take photos of these little guys!

Expect some work to be available from me as well.

An observation from the shoot, pigs are much shorter than cows.  Much squatting, much leg soreness the following day!

A new commission I am working on is of a beautiful Holstein Heifer named Da-iry.  She has spent two years being raised as a 4-H project by Emily, and a very insightful idea of
Emily's Mom is to have a painting done of Da-iry. 

Da-iry is a character I must say, and she presented quite an amusing challenge as a model!

When I'm taking reference photos for a commission there isn't usually a specific goal, only to get something that captures the personality of the subject, and with animals you never know what that will end up being.  Also when it comes to animals, you had better be patient!

I visited two times, and did my best to get some good reference without Da-iry's head down grazing the lawn or up eating leaves off of a tree, or sticking her tongue between the fence to try and get some food out of the goats dish.  Da-iry is on a mission, and that mission is to eat.

I was amused and delighted to no end as I watched Da-iry traverse back and forth looking for mischief!
First stop was this area, which to eat, the tree or the dry grass....

Where to next? Hey, wait, there is some leftover food in the goat's dish,
I think I can reach it with my tongue...

The only thing that could get her attention and lure her away from her mission
was a can of grain.  You will see it being held directly above her head in this picture:

and below her head in this one....

...but as soon as the grain was not available....a beeline back to the goat
dish....at warp speed (well as warp speed as a pregnant cow can have, and
it's actually quite impressive!)

Yes, Da-iry had a great time being a model!
Including but not limited to admiring her reflection, as models are inclined to do:

...and  drawing an audience from the Llamas next door:

I got more than a few pictures like this:


Anyone who thinks my job is easy.....all of this in about 100 degree heat...
It's a labor of love however, I would not trade it for anything!
Thanks to the patience of Emily, the owner, her Mother and Me, I got several keepers for future paintings, and am sure it will be difficult
for this 4-H girl's Mom to choose which one do to the commissioned work
from, but as a consolation she will be getting more than 100 absolutely priceless pictures of her daughter and Da-iry from this shoot to look back on in years to come, in addition to
the painting.

I could not have been more amused, love cows,  love my job, can't wait to immortalize Da-iry!

(I'll be posting some works in progress once the final decision is made.)

This is a 12"x16" original oil painting of a Texas Longhorn cow and her calf.
Mom is chewing of course, but I most loved the baby calf in this nuzzling
mama.

This painting is available, please contact the studio for information.

I'm very excited to announce my new project.  Cows have been my main focus, and bovine are a favorite subject for me.  I enjoy watching the Bucking Bulls on television mainly because I get such a kick out of the Bull's expressions and attitudes.  I love the look on the Bulls faces when they are getting ready to ride, they really look like they know what's happening, and are anticipating it like a dog looks forward to going for a run, and then the way so many of them do that "yeah, I'm bad!" strut once the ride is over!

Inevitably this turns to thoughts of how fun it would be to paint those famous, fun, beautiful Rodeo Bulls.

Well, thought has turned into reality, and I am very pleased to say that
I will begin painting some of the most popular Bucking Bulls!

This involves a number of steps, the first is a photo shoot to get reference material for paintings.  I will be starting this coming weekend when I meet Reindeer Dippin' in person
where he will be performing in Santa Maria, CA.  I hope he's ready for his photo shoot!
(I'll be sure to get his good side.)

It's a very exciting project and I hope to make some Bucking Bull fans happy with some original artwork.

If you have a favorite Rodeo Bucking Bull that you would like to see immortalized in oil, please leave a comment.  (You do not need to sign in to leave comments.)

I have had so much distraction come my way, it's a wonder I am able to produce anything new, but here is a brand new addition to the Rodeo series.  One of the most visible and necessary characters at the Rodeo is the Rodeo Clown, ready to protect a fallen rider at a moment's notice.  This image is being licensed by Roughstock Candles at The Candle Ranch for use on the label of their unique, highly fragranced, high quality candles.

This painting is referenced from an original photograph I took at the most recent Lakeside rodeo.
I felt this really captured a Rodeo Clown at work.  You know that as soon as that bull ditches the rider he's headed straight for the clown!
16"x20" oil on canvas mounted to board
"Danger, Clown at Work!"
This painting is available.  Contact the studio for details.