I am painting my butt off!

Muddy Path on a Grey Day

8 x 10, oil on panel

What a mess this day was. Wet, mucky, stick-to-your-boots mud. And it was darkish too. What a day to paint outside! The challenge was to bring some life into all the dark. There is some but I strive for more.

Shack at the Silo

9 x 12, oil on panel

Another muddy day in England (and very windy too) but with a bit of fleeting sunshine. This shack was so overgrown and had such character it drew me in. The door actually kept on flapping open and closed in the wind.  This one was fun to paint. I don't do many structures for fear of getting too caught up in the details. One day buildings will be something I will conquer but they just aren't pulling me at the moment. Here I had found a somewhat sheltered area to set up in but my painting buddy decided to plop himself in the middle of the unplanted field of puddles and... more mud. His painting blew over into the mud several times.

Untitled

8 x 10, oil on panel

This is part of my commitment to learn how to paint the moving clouds. There is such drama and energy in this kind of cloud cover as the sunshines peaks through in varying degrees so quickly. I do not consider this to be a success (among other things I think the composition is trite and uninteresting) but I did get a bit of insight. I did 2 other small studies of the clouds and learned even more but the photos of those paintings are pending the battery recharge on my camera. 

A better photo of the post from the other day. This was not a plein air painting but I think I am starting to take some of the things that I am learning en plein air and applying them to my studio work.

Sheep Study

5 x 7

These little guys are right outside my window so I don't even have to pack up to do them from life. I am after getting their shape and values in as few of strokes as I can. I am pleased with what took place here. The bottom one is headless because the neighbor came out and tossed them some bread and they moved. I will be doing more of them as I take advantage of my opportunity of having them so close since I won't be here forever.

ps - I am still  not pleased with my photos. These are not scanned cause they are all still wet. 

From the last 24 hours

Heavy Snow

9 x 12, oil on panel

This one was actually done with a photo reference that I took nearby. It is actually a rickety old fence that is quite grown over and the snow made it quite heavy. I loved the shapes that were created with the lighting. I also love the challenge of finding and depicting the many colors in the white shadowed areas. Once again, the photo does not quite show all of the color I put in.

Two Chinese Teenagers

9 x 12, oil on panel

This painting was an hour's worth of work. The girls had never modelled before and had slept in so they were late and had to leave early. They chatted in Chinese the entire time but kept their pose throughout.  I really found it interesting to see the difference in their skin tones and head shapes.  There are drawing flaws for sure but I am mostly happy with this one. There was no time to noodle it - and that is good, but I could have used another hour with them. I also do enjoy keeping it a bit sketchy in a portrait.

En Plein Air

"The Little Bridge at Manor Park"

8 x 10, oil on panel

 Side note: I may have cracked the photography problems I have been having. Hopefully I will get better colour representation in them from now on.

I set out with my hand warmers and foot warmers to the park near home. So many subjects to choose from. I settled on this bridge. To the right the path goes up the hill to the village. To the left takes you around the lake. I really enjoyed doing this painting even with it's challenges. Simplify. Simplify. Simplify. That is the key when there is so much growth around. Just use detail where you really need it. 

Lots of people went walking by and stopped to admire. 1- I think I made a new friend. 2 - I may have found a potential client. Lesson learned: bring business cards with me whenever I go out.

The 4 Minute Cow

"The 4 Minute Cow"

5 x 7, oil on panel

One of the first days of plein air painting in England took me to my cows. They were so curious and they all came over to investigate. At the time I had a homemade portable canvas (that maybe one day I will develop into a real product) so I could move in an instant to the subject that I wanted to paint. Of course the cows kept moving around - except for the Big Mama who just stood there and starred at me. So I thought, "what the heck" and painted her. I never thought I would show this painting because of it's major unfinishedness - done only in 4  minutes. But I love this piece so  - here it is..

Side note:  I have not mastered the photographing of my paintings as well as I would like but I just came upon this idea from listening to the podcast of Artists Helping Artists with the guest of Lisa Darie Kennedy (look her up!) who has done 1 painting everyday for over 1000 days, and she mentioned that she scans her works in rather than take the pictures. Since many of my works are small these days that is what I am going to be doing lots of. So be watching for more updates on my works cause I have been working believe you me.

and the cows get in the way........

No photo today, just a story.  I went to the park to paint today. I hadn't been there for about 10 days. Of course I knew I would have to take time to greet my cows. They were lazily lounging under the trees and barely moved as I came  up to greet them. Having finished my hellos and seeing that they were staying put in their reclining state, I thought I would take advantage of the situation and paint them. No sooner did I get all my gear set up then one by one they started getting up and coming over to investigate. All 9 of them surrounded me, sniffing and licking my setup and me. Of course I could not start painting yet - couldn't even get the pallet with the paint out yet. They hung around for 5 - 7 minutes then slowly started moving on .....but then turned and came back again.

Three of them were surrounding me, their massive heads, me and my painting gear could have fit inside a 41/2 foot ring. I had to take hold of their horns so they wouldn't catch on my pochade box or my stool or on me. They were so close I couldn't get into my bag to get the camera out. One took a step away and peed. One didn't take a step away and left a fresh and steaming pile of poo a foot away from me.

So I gave up on painting there and decided to walk to the other end of the field where they were showing no interest. Half way to this other end I turned around and they were all following me. I sat on my stool and just let them do more of their usual thing until they finally got bored and wandered off. They eventually came back into the scene but not until I was able to get a painting done. I will post it soon.

Later on in the day I was working on another painting in my studio and could not figure out where all the long hairs on my pallet were coming from. Hmmmm......

Love them cows!!

Portrait Practice

9 x 12, oil on panel

"Jane's Sister"

I am in a weekly portrait study group now. I have sat for two sessions and been able to paint for two. This is my second painting since I have been with them. This elderly woman is the sister of one of the other artists. She kept on falling asleep and changing positions (all of our models are voluntary and not paid) but I managed to get a likeness and somewhat of an interesting composition out it.

Just as with my en pleine air practices lately, I am finding working from life much more rewarding and I know that it will educate me whenever I do need to work from references rather than life. One of the biggest lessons is to get the main shapes and placements down fast and solidly as the model (or nature if outside) will tend to change as you go along.

Judit Varga

Judit Varga Ceramics that are so different and intriguing. Check out her site: http://www.juditvarga.net/Squares.html#

Roos Schuring

I am taking inspiration from an amazing artists these days. Her name is Roos Schuring and she is from the Netherlands. If you like pleine air work with a passion she is it!! Simple. Dynamic. Energized. Mysterious. Truly amazing work. I hope that she doesn't mind that I shared a couple of her works here. I invite you to check out her blog and website listed below.  I bet you fall in love with her work too.

http://roosschuring.blogspot.co.uk file:
http://www.roosschuring.com

Starting to do Plein Air Painting

In the Middle of the Park

5 x 7, oil on linen panel

I have started en plein air painting (painting outdoors). I have been putting it off forever but, as I follow so many artists whose work I really like, I cannot get away from knowing that they paint en plein air. The current day masters all say to do it. So I have finally begun. I had put it off because I didn't want the pressure of time as the light changes and I didn't want the pain of getting all the equipment ready etc. and setting up in all weather conditions. After only a few days, in chill and drizzle, I may be hooked. What a crazy time of year to start painting outside.

Hiding After the Chase

5 x 7 oil on linen panel

Catch the hint of "my" cows under the trees. They had just been mini-stampeded by an unruly terrier. 

I do like the color that is ending up in these en plein air paintings. I am learning why so many love to paint this way.

Pair of Trees

5 x 7 oil on panel

Across the pasture on the farm where we are living here in England are these 2 trees that seem to stand guard over the acres. The trees like these each seem to have their own personality cause you cannot find 2 that are the same. After finishing this painting I headed to the store to buy a camping stool cause sitting on the ground killed me.

Just a few of the more current pieces

Staying Cool in the Shadows

8 x 10  oil

A friend of ours have a farm with sheep and loads of horses, and now a few llamas too. I also got some of these sheep's wool so I am a happy camper.

Almost Blending In

5 x 7 oil

My darlings. So fortunate to have them a short walking distance away. This new group of 9 are all between 1 - 1 1/2 years old.  I just visited them this morning and my favorite 3 all came up to me for a pat and a sniff. One of them even had to fend off the dominant one of the group to get to me. My little heart just soared. 

Badger's Front Door

5 x 7 oil

You know how I love the English paths. Well this badger hole was right along one of those paths. it was quite a big hole. Badgers are pretty common around here although I haven't see many - just their holes. 

Cascade at St. Mary's Abbey #2

9 x 12 oil

I did this painting before and someone in the village has it now. I did it again thinking I might have it as my own keepsake of the little village that we are living in. Instead though I am going to offer it to raise more money for a Rotary Charity called ShelterBox.  It, and many of my available paintings will be in a show at the beginning of November called the Kent Affordable Art Show.

Figure Workshop with Cathy Bird

Finally a 4 day workshop on the figure. Very intense. So much work! I was absolutely exhausted at the end of the days. These are a few of the final products. All in oil.

"Voluptuous Woman"

I love painting and drawing large women. This one is about 30 x 30

All day pose.

"The Three faces of Eve"

about 30 x 22

No her name wasn't Eve. The day had us doing 3 poses of the same person in 3 different outfits in 3 different poses. Each pose was around 30 - 45 minutes. She would do the poses and then do them again, then again = 9 sittings. Had no idea how I was going to compose this as I was doing the first pass at each pose. You may not see it all real clearly here. With all of these - when the time was up it was up. There is lots left not fully resolved thus I don't consider any of these finished. Just thought I would share.

"Barefooted Bride"

about 18 x 15

This was an all day pose so there was lots of time to develop it, but still not enough. I was pleased with the outcome on this one.

The final day had us doing eleven 15 minute poses. All depicting strong emotion. I did them in pencil.

Non shown here.

Aug, 6, 2012

"The Seductive Stairway", 9 x 12ish, oil on panel

I see this stairway every time I go to Manor Park to see the Highland cattle grazing. It is down near the small lake where the swans and the other water fowl are. I won't tell you what is at the top of the stairs -  that's your choice.

"Longwool Couple", 8 x 10, oil on panel
SOLD

These are Wesleydale Longwool sheep. I found them at the Kent County show and got to meet their owners and eventually ended up at their farm to take lots of reference photos. Their wool is absolutely beautiful and of course I got 2 fleeces to process and spin. The bonus for me was the visit with the lady  afterwards. She is a really good artist so we had lots in common.

"Lost in the Field". 10 x 8, oil on panel, done solely with 3 sticks.

This painting is the result of a painting challenge that I came upon through Facebook. It was fun. Not quite like a palette knife painting but close. I had to make friends with the sticks because they were not uniform or flat. One stick did get a little bit of a sanding though.

Gypsy Horse Journal Feature

"Nibbling" 9 x 12, oil on panel

I just found out that I DID make the feature artist in Gypsy Horse Magazine. It is called "Behind the Easel with Eileen Kling McConkey" 4 pages!. I am very excited. Check it out. I could not get the magazine cover onto my blog but this photo is the first one in the article.

http://issuu.com/hypmagazine1/docs/ghj_spring_summer_2012

Back on the Pallet Again

"Mama's Horns", 8 x 10, oil on linen
SOLD

"Grazing in the Corner of the Park"

8 x 10, oil on panel

It has been a while since I have painted. A trip home to Ohio and other involvements took centre stage for a while. I am a bit more on track right now but am distracted a bit by a beautiful batch of Wensleydale Longwool sheep's fleece begging to be processed and spun into wool. Watch for a painting or two of these amazing sheep.

Tearnden Farm

"Tearnden Farm"

12 x 9, oil on panel

This 17th century barn in amazing inside and out. It is the site for the upcoming Kent Affordable Art Show put on by the Malling Rotary Club in June. I am helping to organize this show and of course I will be showing in it too. If this painting is not sold by then, it will be up for raffle with all of the proceeds going to Eradicate Polio Worldwide.

On an artistic level, I am enjoying adding a bit more boldness to the coloring.

The Path to Ryarsh

The Path to Ryarsh

12 x 9, oil on panel

I am learning more about color and loving it. Still lots more to learn but I am having fun with it.

This picture of my painting has a new watermark on it. I came across picmonkey.com where you can dp all sorts of photo editing. So, if I remember, I will be adding this to all of my posts from now on.

A Landscape

Lone Tree

9 x 12, oil on panel

I was taking a one hour walk that turned into two because I get turned around. Along the way I saw this tree. It's shape stood out against the starkly simple landscape. I actually enjoyed painting this landscape - and I have to say that the 'landscape' does not usually pull me to paint it. In fact, I have started another one that I am enjoying as well. They just don't take the kind of extreme concentration that the figures and animals do. If I get the file resizing down right I will be entering  it into an online art competition on composition.

"Connection"

"Connection"

8 x 10, oil on linen panel

I love this painting. I loved taking the photos for it. It was on a farm with about 50 horses all around. The owner here, Suzanne, is a neighbor of mine and she runs the boarding business at her parent's farm, a 10 minute's walk from where I live. I am so fortunate to be where I am. If I could do my life over again it sure would have horse owning in it. 

To date, I have done 5 paintings of Millie. She is so stunning. On this photo shoot day I was so moved by her and about being surrounded by so many other horses that tears dribbled out of my eyes - several times. When I die and go wherever it is that one goes, there will be lots and lots of animals there and I will be able to kiss and cuddle them all for eternity..

More inspiration from our walks

"Casting Shadows", 5 x 7, oil on panel
SOLD

What is it about long shadows that is so intriguing? I guess that it is because it puts more drama into sunlight. It breaks up the visual space into so many cool abstract pieces. I am working on several 

5 x 7s gearing up for summer shows. Wouldn't it be nice if I just had to keep doing loads of them because they were sold. That would be a nice problem to have.

"Red Weeds", 5 x 7, oil on panel

Another one with those rickety fences that are so prevalent here and that have such character. I have another 5 x 7 in the works with one of them in it. You will see it soon.

More Gypsy Horses

"Nibbling", 9 x 12, oil on linen panel

(C) Eileen McConkey 2012 

Once again this one shows how much I am drawn to the dramatic light and the close-up and different poses. I think I do the close-ups because I really would love to be eating that closely with them. I want to be touching them so I guess that I want others to as well. It helps me to have a more complete experience of them.

"In Mama's Shadow", 9 x 12, oil on linen panel

(C) Eileen McConkey 2012 

This one is not a close-up but I was really struck by the way the sunlight seemed to pervade all parts of the scene - even into the shadows, thus the lack of stark contrasts. I just don't see how gypsy horses and highland cattle can see with all of that hair in their faces.

I have joined an on-line group on Facebook called Equine Artists. There are some pretty amazing artists there - some mediocre ones too I must say. I am always pushing to be above the mediocre ones. Sometimes I am better and sometimes I wonder. Such is the psychological life of an artist - at least me as an artist.

Sheep and Mountains. Trees and Shadows

A Walk in the Mountains of Peru

9 x 12, oil on panel

My daughter's friend Anna does beautiful things in the world for other people.  Along the way she traveled to Peru and allowed me to use a photo of this scene as reference for this painting. I very seldom use other peoples photos but I am happy to have used this one. Once again, there is something about butts that is fascinating to me. This is actually a painting that I sanded down and started again. I don't recall if I had posted the first version but if I did, and you want to bother finding it in the old posts, you will see that there is quite an improvement.

Late Afternoon Shadows

100cm x 100 cm,  oil on canvas

I started painting a non-objective abstract here. I haven't done an abstract in maybe a year or so and I wanted to dive back into that pool. But the call of the oils and the call of the representational subject matter was too strong so it came down to this. I must say, it did feel really good to be working big again. Too bad my storage limitations does not allow for lots of the bigger ones. I suppose I could sell more of them and then I would not have to worry about storage.

There are some wonderful things about England that I love, and the paths is one of them. Plugging in my love for the dramatic and there you have it. 

Holy Cow! It's growing.

The hits are growing every day for my video. It is fun to keep track of it. 

In the meantime I just keep painting and trying to get the word out. Getting a few "Shares" in FACEBOOK that help. I'll be looking for music to go with horses soon if anyone has any suggestions...

Holy Cow! It's Here! .... on YouTube!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xdZryp31V4&context=C3ee85f6ADOEgsToPDskKalRIjsZW3oyyBEyAbSBAU

Exclusively on my Blog (for now).       My first attempt at a video.
 Lots of work. Lots of fun. It's a good thing that I really like the song cause I sure did hear it enough times as I was editing this.  I already have ideas on how to do the next one better. Enjoy. 

Coming soon to a computer near you - Holy Cow!

Coming soon - HOLY COW! The video.

I have spent a good part of the last 5 days working on my first video. I got on a free video making program called Videopad. It has taken 5 days so far, partly because I have never done this before and partly because of some of the glitches in the program (at least the free version of it). I have a new respect for film editors that's for sure.

So hopefully some time today or tomorrow I will be posting the results. Let me know if there are problems  with opening it.

If this one is successful then be watching for more themed videos in my video portfolio. And of course, if it works please pass it on.    :-)

Struck by Sunlight

Struck by Sunlight

8 x 10, oil on linen panel

This one was more of a struggle than I thought it would be after my other painting with a sunlit fence just fell into place. I plan on doing a few more of this kind of fence hit by sunlight. They are all over the place in my area of England and have such cool character, especially when they have some age on them.

And, as usual, the painting is much better than the photo.