I worked on fringe on the front leg and some straps the rope reins. Still have more straps, fringe on the back leg, boots and foreground grasses to do. Then...it's done! This one really feels like one of my best and I hope you all think so too.
                                                                                     Faye Taylor - Western Artist

I lightened the chaps and started adding fringe. Also, worked on the jeans some more as well as tightened up some other areas. Yes, I finally tackled my nemesis, the rope. I think I have finally achieved a technique for it...at least for a coiled rope. Still have a lot of painting to do, but hope to get her done in the next couple of days.
                                                                              Faye Taylor - Western Artist

I came a long way today in spite of a bazillion phone calls, but I still have a long ways to go. As some of my regular blog followers know, my least favorite part is coming up...the rope. If I keep at it though, I should start feeling more comfortable with it. My favorite part of this drawing so far is his left hand. I love drawing and painting hands! I also like that his face is turned away, leaving the viewer an ability to identify with him. He could be their brother or nephew or anybody. It's not that I don't like painting faces, I've done a lot of portraits, it's that I want every viewer to be able to connect.
                                                                                  Faye Taylor - Western Artist

Of course like always, start with darks first. I did some work on the saddle, but it's not done yet. I used a #6 filbert brush for everything so far and probably won't downsize it much. There will be grasses in the foreground and around the feet area, with some mid-tone in the middle background, blending to a very pale blue at the top. Notice the "S" curve of my subject--a very fluid and appealing shape.
                                                                               Faye Taylor - Western Painter

This young cowboy had been participating in ranch style bronc riding, which simply means he was using his own work saddle rather than a special style bronc saddle. I don't know if he made his ride or not, but he looks a little down on himself the way he's holding his head down. What I loved about this photo is the way his fringe dances with motion as he walks. This is a large painting 16X32 and will likely take me some time to complete.
                                                                                                  Faye Taylor - Western Artist

I can see a couple of minor things I'll change, now that I see it as a photo. Amazing what a photo can reveal. I don't know why but it does. The photo reference was taken during a branding, and believe me this boy is tough, coming from a long line of tough ranching men!
                                                                     Faye Taylor - Western Artist

    
These were done on the same day, but I wanted you to still see the drawing. I have a lot of tightening up to do that will happen when I put in the background. Also need to do some more on his face.

I'm trying to not make him look like the cowboy in my photo, because I don't have a model release. I could probably get one since I know his grandfather quite well, but it might be more trouble than it's worth.
                                                                                    Faye Taylor - Western Artist

Cool is as cool does...whatever that really means. This young man does his parents proud, as a ranch hand, a student and football player, and simply by being a man of character. Love the subject/background color combination that an artist friend suggested as she watched be paint.
                                                                                 Faye Taylor - Western Artist

    
Instead of hitting you with two posts on the same day I decided to combine the drawing and the second painting session. As you can see, this one goes in a mini collection along with Slim, and I will be adding one more painting to this collection. Maybe I should call the collection "The Studs." Is that too...uncouth? Feedback will be appreciated.

Anyway, I had some trouble with my drawing and had to make some adjustments, but finally got it the way I wanted it. It's always a challenge coming up with shirt colors, but I really like this burgundy. I'm feeling it might need a little cad red in the highlights, but we'll see. So far, so good.
                                                                                             Faye Taylor - Western Artist

Here is the final rendition. I had a lot of trouble deciding if I wanted to paint a scene in the background or more like a backdrop of values. You can see what I decided on. If look, you can see an S-curve in the background which draws attention to the S-curve of the cowboy's form. This was very deliberate on my part. This kind of echoing shape is very pleasing to the eye and causes your eye to circulate throughout the painting.

                                                                                Faye Taylor - Western Artist

Wow! I just don't know what to say about this one at this stage, except that I am so loving the way it's going. This one takes me back to my fashion illustration days...I am so into the human form and how clothing exaggerates attitude.
                                                                                Faye Taylor - Western Artist

I had just an hour to work this morning, but hope to get back at it later. This was fun and a painting session I much needed after a particularly rough day yesterday. My cowboy's jeans are a little baggy, so I'll fix that next session. My technique for the jeans is to paint in the darks, then apply the mid-tones and lights. The reason for this order is because I want to paint wet in wet and it's difficult to get the darks if you don't do them first. I paint wet in wet not only because it's faster, but I like to blend my edges sometimes and you can't do that with dry paint.

                                                                                 Faye Taylor - Western Artist

This is the same cowboy that I painted in "Burnin' Daylight" that is in the CM Russell Auction. It was the same day, too. I just loved his casual pose with the nice S-curve of his back, hips, and legs. The background in this piece will likely be blurry values.
                                                                                          Faye Taylor - Western Artist

My goal is to complete at least one painting per week, but the holidays have set me back a little. Here is the final rendition of Fall Grazing. It a common scene in Eastern Oregon and one I always enjoy.
                                                                                                                     Faye Taylor - Western Artist