Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 25

Say hello to the lovely Lemon!

'Lemon'
5"X5"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel
 

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 24

'Lottie'
5"X5"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel
 

Maybe not the diva of the hen house, but Lottie's 'life experience' probably makes her pretty close to the wisest hen in the coop.

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 23

'Paloma'
5"X5"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel 

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 22

Ahhh, yes....the lovely Carmen - the diva of this flock! At least on Day 22....

'Carmen'
5"X5"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel 

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 21

This 'guy' has been waiting & waiting & waiting to get into the lineup. As you can see he is a bit put off, but deep down he really is just a big softy!

'Herb'
5"X5"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel 

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 20

A 'fashion runaway' or some of the most beautiful plumage you have ever seen. The world of exotic chickens offers endless variety that you couldn't possible make up in your wildest dreams! Delia is fashioned after a French breed of chicken known as the Mottled Houdan. Her extravagant feathering at times obscures her eyes but she doesn't mind as she feels it adds a touch of mystery to her personality.

'Delia'
5"x5"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel 

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 19

I haven't said a lot about the chickens - they have presented their challenges but I am really enjoying painting them! I have been trying to vary their 'poses' and hope that it has provided some variety. Someone asked me if I was running out of ideas and the answer to that is  .....NO!! There are so many different chickens out there and so many different colour combinations to be explored - besides I think this group of 'Fairest Fowl' are enjoying their not so typical plumage. Most of all I hope you are enjoying these '30 days of Chickens'!

'Amber'
5"X5"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel 

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 18

Hmmm.....not quite what I had envisioned....but these 'chicks' seem to have a mind of their own!

'Sal'
5"X5"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel 

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 17

'Cinnamon'
5"X5"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel 

Back on track with the daily painting. The chickens are great for practicing a variety of things - colour theory, underpainting, mark making, composition, design, 'practicing' drawing (never do enough of that!) .....but... they really are just fun to paint!

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 16

'Bunty'
5"X5"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel 

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 15

'Brown Betty'
5"X5"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel 

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 14

'Ming'
8"X8"
Acrylic mixed media on canvas
 

Lot of leftover paint from Day 13 and just couldn't let it go to waste! Limited palette but there it is - less is more. Ming was not planned just a very rough sketch on the canvas and let whimsey do the rest. Touches of 'vermillion' and soot black - materials an ancient Chinese artist might have used and perhaps a feather brush! Maybe a place of honour at an artist's table offering inspiration and encouragement.....Only Ming knows....

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 13

'Pepper'
5"X5"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel 

The next 3 weekends are going to be a bit of a crunch....3 day workshop starting tomorrow (abstracting the landscape - certainly a departure from chickens), plein aire festival next weekend and then the last weekend of September is our local art festival....lots of music, food and an art show and sale. I really have been spending too much time on the chickens and not enough on the larger pieces for the show.....I just can't help myself.....'must paint a chicken' seems to be a bit of a mantra in my studio these days.

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 12

Hmmm.....I think someone found the purple rinse.....again!

'Vi'
6"x6"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel 

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 11

.....A little barnyard gem...

'Pearl'
8"X8"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel 

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 10

I've been asked if I would like to have chickens.....short answer...Yes.....but after sober second thought - no. Several families in our area do raise chickens and are very successful at it. I buy my organic eggs, produced from 'real' free range chickens, that graze on greens, insects and flowers. I can pick my eggs up and get my 'chicken fix' and go home and not have to worry about feeding, cleaning and protecting against predators. But....I might be tempted if a 'Rufus' showed up on my doorstep!

'Rufus'
5"X5'
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel 

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 9

'Blanka' seems a fitting name for this little hen....

'Blanka'
5"X5"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 8

Have been to a couple of agricultural fairs over the years (great fun) and discovered the world of exotic chickens - they are amazing.....some a little odd, but for the most part beautiful and very unique looking birds. The inspiration for Dilly came from the Silkie breed of chickens.

'Dilly'
6"X6"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel 

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 7

I think this little chick is 'cloud gazing'.....

'Pip'
8"X8"
Acrylic mixed media on canvas 

Still haven't decided if I will leave the background as is and there really isn't a rush to decide. I ran out of the small birch panels and used what I had on hand. Had really planned to do all the paintings for this challenge on the small, square birch panels but things do happen for a reason.

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 6

Not your momma's 'little red hen'....

'Dixie'
5"X5"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 5

I think her name pretty well sums it up!

'Gabby'

5"X5"

Acrylic mixed media on birch panel

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days Day 4

I almost feel like I should be writing bios for these chickens......

'Albert'
5"X5"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel 

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 3

Still in the barnyard - check'in out the chicken coop.....

'Toots'
6"X12"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel

Landscape Experiments

Trying out some new ideas and experimenting with some different approaches to landscape painting. Purchasing the canvas packs from Michaels - makes them less precious and gives more of a 'go for it' approach to painting. Not everything works but you don't know until you try!

'The fields are harvested and fall has arrived'
8"X10"
Acrylic mixed media on canvas 

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 2

Love the exotic chickens! Their feathers, the colours - no shortage of inspiration when looking at these birds!

'Rusty'
5"X5"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 1

It's here....the September thirty paintings in 30 days. Didn't think I had the time to participate but decided would be good 'practice' and 'warm-up' before working on some larger pieces..... will see how that works out?! No real plan, other than to keep them small and perhaps a month of chickens?

'Penny'
5"X5"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel