Brande Arno Art

5 x 5 inches, Oil on Gessoboard - $ 75. Click to Buy I'm building a website and have been a little behind with my paintings. It has given me time to re-think what I'm doing as an artist.  I'm leaning towards painting larger studio pieces and plein air one day a week.  Nature and I are a good match because plein air painting really soothes me, even though the challenges are much different than studio painting. I'm also thinking of keeping a pen and wash journal sketchbook and draw random things around the house, to include Cooper & Cookie...my special doggies.  So, there should be more variety in my postings. 

4 x 4 inches, Oil on Gessoboard Sold - Thank you Occasionally, the bird feeder is visited by a Rose Breasted Grosbeak.  They are stunning birds and are just the right size...not too big, not too small.  I'm pleased to have been able to create this painting today.

ACEO, 2.5 x 3.5 inches $ 12.- Buy on Etsy NY city was supposed to be deluged with an intense nor'easter.  Didn't happen.  I'm not sure if they got the projected 60 mile wind gusts either.  This snowman is dealing with a wind of some sort.  Could be hot air...just saying.

Samantha the Hamster, 4 x 4 inches, Oil on Gessoboard click to bid I wanted to paint a small animal today.  My first attempt was a mouse.  Well, that was a scraper and while I was scraping, I was nagging myself for letting more than two days go by without painting. I really had to fight the urge to call it a day and give up. I decided that perhaps the photo reference for the mouse was not clear enough and decided to work with a hamster photo which was clearer.   Samantha and I are happy I did not quit. 

"Working the Snow" 5 x 5 inches, Oil on Board -Sold I'm glad that my phone has a camera! I happened to be coming home from an appointment when I spied  two pigs rooting with their noses in spite of the cold snow.  Of course I slammed on the breaks...scary event for the car behind me...pulled over and snapped some photos. Today's painting features one of the two, complete with snow on her nose.

"A spotted Foul", 8 x 8 inches, Oil on Panel- Sold I got inspired to paint a goose today.  Years ago, I took some pictures while plein air painting of some bad-boy geese.  They were being bad because they stole small bags of feed packaged to sell so children could feed to the ducks.  They walked right up and helped themselves.  Although there was witnesses, no one was able to stop the crime.  I remember those geese were using their honkers to clear the crowd. I've read that Geese make good guard dogs.  I guess I agree.  But this little fella is a very well mannered goose.  That's because he's a painting.

"Oh Really"  8 x 8 x 1 inches, Oil on Panel Not for Sale This morning, my daughter posted an adorable photograph of two owls on her facebook page.  When I saw it, I knew I had to paint it.  Because I don't know who snapped the picture to ask if I could use the image, this piece is not for sale.  That's ok, because I don't want to part with it.   It might be entered for display with The Pittsford Art Group's Spring show.

"Waiting" 4 x 4 inches, Oil on Panel, $40. Buy on Etsy Waiting for the Superbowl, waiting for Spring, waiting for a clipping?  I'm waiting for two out of the three.  I think I'm looking forward to Superbowl as much as Spring.  Let me clear the air, I'm NOT a football fan, but Superbowl not only features two great teams playing with top skill, but great commercials and a half-time show to boot.  I make crockpot chili and appetizers.  We eat all day.  Love it.

"Ginger" 4 x 4 inches, Oil on Board Pigmy Goat Click to Bid Everyone knows I love to paint animals and that I love to paint in oil.  Today, I wanted to focus on brushwork and hopefully use it to form Ginger.  I'm pleased with the results.  For a while, she was looking more like a doggie...had to keep at it to get the the goat in her to come out.

Sold, Thank You! The Greeters, 4 x 4 inches, Oil on Panel Wow! yesterday proved to be quite the day for The Rare Snowman.  So many people contacted me about giving him a forever home.  Of course only one person could, so I proudly present another piece.  This is from a photo, but with Brande Arno adjustments.

"Fred" 4 x 4 inches, Oil on Panel - Sold!   "Fred" is the owl of second chances.  It's a bit of a story, but he wouldn't have been created if there wasn't a strong need for him.  So "Fred" is drying and will be on his way to his adopted family later this week

"Herbert" 4 x 4 inches, Oil on Panel Sold, thank you! He's adorable and he knows it.  He's the result of me trying to paint a different subject today when what I wanted to paint was another Hummingbird.  So the first attempts at painting were scraped and shortly after Herbert came to be.

"Queen Bee Understudies" 4 x 4 inches, Oil on Panel Click to Bid To all my Big-Bottomed Bee fans and collectors, it's been a long time since I've painted them.  Here is a sweet little painting that almost painted itself.  I love how soft these little girls are painted.  Something a little different for me.

"Baby's Nap" 6 x 6 inches, Oil on Panel - $ 70. Click to Purchase  It's amazing to me how much little lambs look like a plush toy.  You just want to scoop them up and give them a teddy-bear hug.  There only competition for cuteness is a fat-bellied puppy or kitten.  

"Flutterbye" 4 x 4 inches, Oil on Panel S old - Thank you. This is a young goat who is mesmerized by a white moth.  Part of the painting has a photo reference, the rest I used my artist licence...like the moth...see the moth wasn't really there.  But the goat does have spots!  I am glad to have gotten this little guy finished.

Wool Works Lily Patch, 5 x 5 inches, Oil on cradled Gessoboard Sold - thank you! This painting is my impression of a beautiful Daylily patch that was set against the lighter tones of the oil & stoned paved road and the lush forest.  Wool Works is a charming little gift shop that features wooly items like socks and sweaters.  Also there are cookbooks, including Amish cookbooks.  I purchased a book on preserving food.   Someone at Wool Works  has a green thumb and I took pictures of their mature and beautiful flower beds.  The master gardener has planned the beds so that flowers that end their season of bloom, are followed by  flowers that bloom later.  You just want to roll out the picnic mat.

Benson 4 x 4 inches, Oil on Board SOLD!  Thank you. This cute little Hummingbird has been given the name Benson and he's painted doing what all Hummingbirds live for...drinking nectar from pretty flowers.  Instead of taking care of my pretty spring flowers, I decided to paint Benson.  I guess tomorrow I'll need to get out to my garden.  Every green thumb knows gardens don't take care of themselves.

4 x 4 inches Oil on Board with Palette Knife Click to Bid Anna and I are happy we got her finished.  She was hard work!  What I like about this piece is the soft rose glow of the light and her delicate little feet!

4 x 4 inches, Oil on Board SOLD - Thank you! Boy did I struggle with painting today!  I painted and scraped, painted and scraped.  After about 3 hours of this kind of punishment, I was ready to give up and I felt tears coming.  This is nothing new to me or any other artist.  I almost gave up, but I said one more time and then...well let me introduce you to Elmer.

4 x 4 inches Oil on Board Click to Bid This is another male Hummingbird painting.  I really think these Hummer's tell me what there name is before I even finish.  This bird has a regal demeanor and royal attire so of course he's a Caesar!