Well, I'm back to the cowboys. I chose this one because the light was so nice, accentuating the wrinkles in his shirt.

 
Take me home, country road... That John Denver song just kept playing in my head as I painted this quaint country scene. Like my last landscape this one is 8X22 and is also a gallery wrapped painting. I'm really diggin' this format. I painted this quite fast, taking only about 2 hours, in studio.

As you can see, I changed the name. Sometimes a painting simply changes and becomes better than imagined--this one just felt like it should be early morning. I love how the light leads you into the center of interest. Hard to see it in such a small version, but there is a little white farm house with a red roof in under the trees. This painting is a gallery wrap, meaning the sides are also painted, so it does not require a frame. The size is 8X22 and the price is $792.

   
My commission piece is at a standstill until my clients return from vacation, so I decided to start another painting while I wait. I took this photo a long time ago and it has been calling me. This is a scene just down the road from me. There's an old house and barn that the cows go in and out of. Seems like such a shame to let everything just go to the cows, but it's a loving scene that I often get to enjoy in person. There will be cattails in the foreground in front of the old fence. I need your input. Should I leave the sky like it is, or paint in a pale blue sky?

Not sure the title fits anymore. The look in her eyes tells a story. Not sure if it should be "If Looks Could Kill," or "Determination," but something along those lines. I'm open to suggestions--and I like cliches. Give me your best shot.

Still have lots to do on this one, so one or two more sessions. I wish I could make this image larger, but software prohibits it. Her expression is killer and I'm thrilled with how her face came out. I would not want to be in her line of sight.

On another note, one of the galleries handling my work is closing their doors. If any of you know of a good western gallery, I'd sure appreciate hearing about it.

Got lots done on it today. Her hat's too pink and her horse is too dark, but I'll get that in my next session. She'll also get her skin.

Which one is saddle bred? The rider or the horse? Both. I had never seen such a lean, long-legged horse before used for roping calves let alone 1,300 lb. cows. But this horse, even though skinny and frail looking, still had so much heart that she worked like a quarter horse. The rider? Easily one of the best all around cowgirls I have ever met and definitely bred for the saddle. It is in her blood.
Faye Taylor - Western Artist

The ladies are done. Not a lot of change, but some work on trees here and there. Hope you like it.

       
It actually only took me about 30 minutes to get the buffalo painted. The trees took a lot longer. Still have a little to do to the trees, but it's pretty much done.

Usually it's the bull that gets painted, but I thought these buffalo cows hiding in the trees were very interesting. It's a relatively small painting at 12X16 and will be $864.

I finally get a chance to finish this one. There's lots of movement in it and that's what I like about it.

Yeeeeehawww! Obviously I'm having fun with this one! Trying to keep it loose and full of motion--the hair tells it all. The background is going to be a lot of pinkish dust. As you can see I changed the title.
See all my blogs at http://fayetaylor.com/blog

I liked the movement and simplicity in this one. This young woman had just tossed her loop around the head of a 1,300 lb. heifer on the run. She is tough, accomplished, and feminine all at the same time.

It's done and I'm very happy with it! As you can see we have a new title submitted by another local artist friend, and for me, it was the perfect title. I think this is one I might submit to Oil Painters of America Western Region Show.

I'm off to a good start and looking forward to progressing it along. I've had quite a few good suggestions for a title and I've narrowed it down to Desert Darling or Queen of Hearts. Let me know what you think?
See all my blog posts at http://fayetaylor.com/blog.

You might recognize this gal from a previous painting, "A Woman's Touch." She is a striking figure and I just couldn't resist painting her again. I am looking for a better title, so I'm open to suggestions. She was sizing up the arena and the calves waiting to be branded. But she also looks like she is maybe waiting for someone. So even something that would work for that. If someone makes a suggestion that I use, they will get a free print.
See all my blogs at http://fayetaylor.com/blog

Although this one was slow in coming I am very pleased with the way it came out. The landscapes in this country are some of the most spectacular in Oregon. They are rugged yet glorious in form and color. This painting is 18X24 and $1,944. To see my past blogs, go to http://fayetaylor.com/blog.

I really haven't been able to put in very long painting sessions on this one. I was able to get the saddle done--tedious work--and played a little with the ground, which still needs a lot of work. It does feel a lot more cohesive now. I'm hoping I can get it finished by the end of the week, if not sooner.
   By the way, I have two shows opening soon. The first is June 6th in El Cajon, CA at the Wieghorts Museum. You can view the online catalog at http://www.waow.org/WieghorstMuseum2010/Catalogue/Catalogue/index.htm. The second show is at Wild River Art Co. in Bend, OR, who is featuring 29 pieces of my work with an opening reception on June 12th, 5-7. 

Should only require one more session on this one to get the saddle, rope, background, and some highlights in the horse's tail etc. I almost didn't do this one because I was afraid the space between horse and man would feel too empty, but I think it's going to be fine. The rope really holds it together and I think the horizontals of the landscape in the background will also help.

This horse is a handsome four-year-old gelding. He has very deep blue tones, but I'm told he will lighten every year until he's a gray. Interesting. His name is Concho and his trainer who is doing a little lunging with him is an up-and-coming young guy living in a tiny town in Eastern Oregon called Spray. Lot's of ranching out that way. He trains in the way of the old Californios just to keep it alive.

It's been a slow week for painting. I'm up against a deadline on an article I'm writing for a magazine, and I've had to steal time from my normal painting schedule. Actually, the photo reference for this piece was taken during an interview for the magazine piece on a colt trainer. I've also been attending some brandings to get more photo references, so I'm excited to get going on them. Not sure about the background on this piece--we'll see.

     
Aspen Glow 2 has all of the darks laid in. Aspen Glow 3 is the finished work. This was a very fun piece. Fall aspens are so dazzling especially with a shadowy Ponderosa behind them. This piece is 18X9 and sells for $729 if anyone is interested. I am planning to send it to Kelly's Gallery in Joseph, Oregon sometime in the near future.

Much more to say now. This is from a photo I took last fall and I'm just now getting around to painting it. Unless someone snatches it up pretty quickly it is bound for Kelly's Gallery in Joseph, Oregon. I could have finished this one in one day, but I'm having a medical procedure this week and had to do the pre-op today. Of course the rest of this week's painting sessions will be hit or miss. It's a good time to do an easy painting for a change. Especially needed after that last one. Whew!

Not a lot to say about it at this point except it will be dark blue in the background to pop the fall aspens.

I'm not sure I'm extremely happy with this one. It was by far the most difficult to paint since I'm not that practiced as a landscape painter. Sage brush is difficult for my style because I don't want to get caught up in detail. I had to come up with a believable gesture of sagebrush which I'm not sure I pulled off.. I think I'll vary the tree sizes in the background, like my fellow artist, WR Jones suggested. Thanks, Bill.

This one is blah, blah, blah, so I have to figure out what's wrong. I think I will add a large tree on the left side and make some green grass and dirt under it. It's just not thrilling me at this point and might just end up on the shelf for awhile if I can't get it the way I want it. I think its just really mono-tone.

This one is feeling very slow and almost tedious. I really don't enjoy working small like this. There is always so much detail to add like reins and ropes with tiny brushes. The forward horses' legs look a little weird right now, but I'll get them right eventually.

As always, I start with dark values and work my way to the light values. They are walking through sage brush, so most of the animals' legs will be hidden, so I'm not too concerned with them. The light is coming from the right and behind--haven't done much with it yet, but I will later on.
Heading for Pendleton tomorrow, then to Joseph on Friday to trade out some artwork in the gallery I'm in.

You never know what unexpected opportunities might arise while photographing a branding. This little calf wiggled under the gate and headed for the hills! Three cowpokes jumped on their horses and took out after him. I watched and waited and as they crested the hill, it looked like they were simply taking that little doggie for a walk the cowboy way.

Not a lot of difference, but I did all the things I'd said I would do. I'm not sure that the cows in the background really read as cows, so I will probably make them a little more distinct. They kind of look like rotten old piles of manure. Not appealing. Not sure I like the title, so any suggestions?

I got a lot done on this, but still have her jeans and fringe to do as well as more work on her hair and the dots on her wild rag. My favorite part of this is the way her hands turned out. I love doing hands more than anything else. If you recall my last branding painting with the two cowboys the one doing the branding has a wedding ring on. This gal will have one two. They are married to each other and have two wonderfully rowdy little boys.

Things a beginning to take shape with the dark values and mid-tones laid in. I actually added some light values as well in this session. Although I did some work on the shirt, I will still do more.

This gal is as rough and tumble as any cowboy out there, yet she remains very feminine. She helps manage a ranch with her husband while raising two boys. This drawing seems a little busy, but it won't be when I'm finished. Not sure I'll keep the cows in the background or make it obscure. For those who can't figure out if she's raking or what, she's branding a calf. It will all make sense later on.

This image is a little blurry but I wanted to show it larger than usual. This is a large piece 22X28 and I'm very pleased with the way it turned out. I think I would put it in my top five. With two dynamic figures in one painting, it is difficult to establish a focal point. The front figure is in more contrasting clothing and his face is set off nicely by the other guys chaps. His face is my focal point. I diminished the draw of the back figure by reducing contrast with the cows behind him.

I've done a lot on this one, but still have to add fringe on the kneeling guy's chaps, paint in a boot, background, and smoke. I really hope to get it done tomorrow because I have a full day on Saturday with a branding and an art show opening. I haven't painted as much as usual due to a health issue, but I think I'm getting better.

Per usual, I laid in the dark values first and am working toward the light values. My next session should start getting into the fun stuff of blending and and beginning to bring out more form. This painting is large, 22X28 and valued at $2,772.

A lot of ranchers use a squeeze chute to brand and doctor their calves, because it's easier and faster. But most like to practice the old way, too, at least on a few of their calves. Many of these cowboys and cowgirls get duded up for the occasion, which makes for some really great photos. I took probably 300 shots that morning, but of all the actual branding photos this one is the best. Both cowboys are dressed up and there are no gory details visible. The composition is also excellent.

Hopefully, this didn't get too busy, but I'm calling this done. There's always so many background options, sometimes it get overwhelming to decide what is best. I do lean toward this kind of obscure, value-driven background. It's kind of my signature style.

   
I really need some feedback from you. I think this might be a case of misplaced subject. It's difficult but I can re-stretch the canvas over a square frame to get the one on the right. I'm torn what to do. Prehaps I just need more of the bright blue in the left corner to keep the viewer's eye interested. The more I think about it the more I think that's what I need to do rather than cropping the canvas. But please tell me what you think.