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

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'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.

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

(O.R.E.O. is sold)

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. This painting is sold.

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.
The Mustang painting is titled "I Am Sadie" and is sold.  The
Horse and Colt is available.

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.)

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.

10x20 oil on board
available-contact the studio for price

Here is my latest finished work, and the story behind it.
Several months back I was trying to get more Hereford photo reference, so I ran a classified ad in the Ramona newspaper which went something like this:
"WANTED: Artist looking for bovine models to photograph for painting reference".  I  knew it was a longshot and that people could consider it a joke, but I was pleased to receive three replies from willing bovine owners.

One of them was a young gal named Kendall, who showed cows and had several on her property.  The photo reference for this painting was taken as she was chasing them out of an area they were not supposed to be in.  I knew this would be a painting the minute I took the picture, loving the way they almost remind me of dogs who know they are in trouble, thus the title "Getting Out of Dodge".

I've just finished two new paintings available in the small originals portfolio on the
website, www.deniserichart.com.
The first one is a sweet little Texas Longhorn calf, 6"x6" oil on board.  This little calf had an irresistibly cute face.  This is a study for a larger portrait I will be doing in the future.  If you are interested in the larger portrait contact me, the study is sold.


Last but certainly not least, a 5"x7" oil on board study for my series of paintings featuring
a combination of realism and abstract, with the entire composition filled by bovine.  Other paintings in this series include "Eye Herd" (Holsteins)  Red and White Cattle (study, Herefords), Wholesteins (Holsteins of course).  It's a favorite series, and one I am planning to include a representation for as many breeds as possible.  It all depends on what photo reference I am able to take in my travels.

Update: This study has been commissioned as a large painting.
The 5"x7" study is available.

I started out only painting small works, and when I began painting larger ones I ignored the small format original.  Recently I have had a number of collectors request of me to do more small originals.  I agree.


"Red and White Cattle"
6"x6" oil on masonite board
sold


"Holstein Head, Barn Red"
8"x8" oil on portrait canvas
sold


Holsteins Three
5"x7" oil on masonite board
sold


"Hereford In The Morning"
8"x10"  oil on canvas, stretched
sold



"Angus Cow Basking"
6"x8" oil on masonite board
Sold

I've been working for a while on larger paintings, and am currently in the process of finishing several new small format works, which will go into their own category on the website, www.deniserichart.com, for originals under 12"x12".   I should have the first of them listed on the website in a couple of days, there will be Holsteins, Herefords and Angus, plus more.

Here is an upcoming addition to my Western/Rodeo works.  I had to paint this, there is something about the main steer's face, looking quite bored while he waits his turn to try and
outrun the cowboys (not with the best of views meanwhile!), upstaged by another steer peeking  from behind, perhaps contemplating the significance of the upside down horseshoe?
 
Working title, "Out of Luck?"
16x20, oil on canvas

I've been busy with a lot of projects lately, filling print orders, sending original paintings to a show in San Antonio, hand embellishing, working on a couple of new works for upcoming shows....
Here is a picture of me with one of my recent orders, a hand embellished print of "Holstein Trio on Red".  The print is 24"x32". 
Packing a large piece takes some time and patience, and nerves of steel, hoping it arrives in one piece!  This one did, and here's what the new owner had to say about it:
"...it's fantastic! Just what I hoped it would be! Thanks, Denise!!!"

If you get a chance to check out the February/March edition of  Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion magazine, don't be surprised when you turn one of the pages and find Holstein cows from one of my paintings looking back at you.  There is a column (I'm not telling what page, it will take the fun out of looking for it) about me and my artwork, with a picture of the commissioned painting for Holstein World.

This is a really great magazine if you have not seen it before, I recommend it.  (Especially the Feb/March issue, just out!  ;o)

So I'm in the middle of working on a new painting of Howard's Heifer from another of the many great reference photos she posed for a while back, and I hit the end of my 150 ml tube of permalba white.  Being she's of the white face variety of cattle, of course, I need to immediately find a new tube, of which I know there exist at least two...somewhere.....I remember where they are, oh yes, I cleaned the studio a few weeks back, now where did I put that box???

I believe there is a place for everything, and everything in it's place, and it's place is right where I put it the last time!

Finally found the Permalba, in a box, under a box, in the closet.  Howard's Heifer takes on a personality on canvas once again:

12x16 oil on linen

Now that the Holiday rush is finally over, I'm buckled down (as much as I am capable anyway) and getting busy!  Three shows between now and April to prepare for, this week I'm getting ready to send a selection of original oil paintings to the

If you visit the Tillamook Cheese factory in Tillamook, Oregon, you will find this display on the wall.

Thanks to my friend Shannon for forwarding some photos taken my her parents from their visit to the Tillamook Cheese factory.  This is taken in the dining room.

I'm currently working on new paintings I will be showing at the Cattlemen's Western Art Show and Sale in April.  I will post some of them, but will keep a few under wraps until the show. 

Team Roping and Rodeo Bull and Rider are two new oil paintings. 


For purchase information on either of these paintings, click here.

Commissioned paintings are great special gifts, lifetime keepsakes that can be passed down for generations.  If you have a photo that you cherish and would like to see immortalized in oil, just contact me for a consultation.  Once you send me a photo either through email or regular mail I will evaluate it's potential and work with you on creating something that will be very special.    Here is an example of a commissioned work, a sweet sixteen year old girl and her horse, commissioned as a Birthday gift for her mother.  (I was told she loved it so much she cried.)   A well done oil painting takes time and there is a limit to availability.  If you want it for a special occasion, be sure to put in a request as early as possible.  There is a link to my email in the left column, or denise@therichartist.com.

Photo/Painting

Here is a new Holstein cow painting.  I liked the three head line up, and chose to put them in front of a rich barn red background.  With a light shining on this painting it really glows.

This painting is available, click here for details.

The Rich Artist has gone western!  Of course, this doesn't mean there won't be more cow paintings, just that there will be an addition of western and cowboy themed works which are a natural extension of the cow theme.  Now available as Canvas Giclees :
Belly Up to the Campfire, 10x20


Rodeo Cowboy Boy   8x10


Rodeo Cowboy Boy II   12x16

For prices and availability, click here.

My work will be available at the Harris Ranch Country Store, Coalinga, Ca  and in Boot Barn. 
In addition, a new Exclusive licensed merchandise store has opened, with beautiful quality Cow merchandise featuring my work.  You can see these great cow, cowboy, western and rodeo art items at www.cowson.com.