Brande Arno Art

9 x 12 Inches, Oil on Gessoboard - Sold - Thank you! These trees live in my side yard.  In fact, every time I hang laundry on the clothesline, I look right at them and more times than not think, what a nice painting they'd make.  So finally, I got around to painting them. An artist has to be crazy to paint so much green.  I don't remember where (or from who) I first heard: "If I wasn't crazy, I'd be nuts"   But saying just that applies here.  Really, green can make any artist go crazy because it's second only to orange in the garish and unruly color category.  'Nary a time to use it straight from the tube. No, an artist must mix their greens.  And don't think mixing blue and yellow will get you a nice shade of green.  No, it's NOT that easy.  But, I took on the challenge of green and if you knew how much grey is in the green grass and how much green is in the grey trees... Well let's just say they are very closely related.  ...

"Hermit" cropped - 9 x 12 inches  Hermit and his enviroment need more work.  I haven't painted larger than 6 x 6 inches in quite a while, so I'm a little rusty.  Let's see what tomorrow brings.

"Rocky" Commission Portrait I really enjoyed painting Rocky's portrait.  I've never met this charmer, but I'd bet he's a very loving dog.  I worked on this portrait in three stages.  You can look at my Facebook process pictures HERE . I love painting portraits of doggies and kitties and I'm always looking for an excuse to do so.  

"Sophie" 9 x 12 Commissioned Oil Painting Sold I have not had the pleasure of meeting this dog yet, but from the reference pictures I want to.  She just looks so sweet and she has the kindest, prettiest eyes.  Her pet mom commissioned this painting as a Christmas gift for Sophie's pet daddy. I love painting commissions!  I wish I could every day.  

"The Samplers" 9 x 12 inches, Oil on Panel SOLD - Thank you This is day two of the Billsboro Plein Air Festival and day two of me painting cows.  I found the most beautiful herd of beef cows with their calves.  While painting them, I observed several momma cows nursing their adorable babies. Being set up to paint outdoors today I was able to watch many calves nurse.  When  baby wants to nurse, momma cow stays put.  Baby nurses from one side and then walks around momma to nurse from the other side.  This allows me time to draw the pose.   I  did a pencil sketch of this pose and referred to it while creating this piece.  There was a creek that ran through the field and the mommas and babies would meander in and out of the water.  This painting features a momma sampling tall grass and her baby gobbling...maybe teething on the low growing greens.. .