Gun Dog Expo

Mouthful

Original Oil

10" X 15"

I just finished up three small pieces for the upcoming Gun Dog Expo in Portland, Oregon this weekend. It is hard to see from this scan, but I had a lot of fun "creating" the iridescence on the pheasant's neck.

A Master Hand

October Morn

Original graphite by Terry Miller

8" X 26"

I am fortunate to have many talented friends. Their work continues to inspire and humble me with its greatness.

This is a piece which takes my breath away. It is not a subject matter which would normally draw me nor a scene with which I am familiar. Yet, there is something about it which says so much. I have been watching the progress of this piece since May 31st. Enchanted with it since the second or third post, I have to admit sometimes I would check twice a day to see if the next stage had been posted.

If you haven't had a chance to watch this work take shape, go to http://www.pencilshaver.blogspot.com/ .

Terry's commentary on the various stages are instructive not only to graphite artists, but to all artists looking to use depth, light, and dramatic compostion in their art.
Terry Miller has a Master Hand.

New Painting

Still thinking of a title... any ideas?

21" X 10.5"

Original Oil

Giraffe lend themselves to a vertical format so well. When I put them in a tall painting, I like to have some horizontal elements to create a soft balanced composition. If I was going for drama the horizontal components wouldn't be as important.

Below you can see the compositional elements.

I am far from an expert on this. Mostly I design by feel with little intellectual calculation. I am sure I miss some critical opportunities for a better composition on some pieces. Then again, maybe there are some of my paintings which have design elements which don't fit the "normal" conventions for composition but the paintings really work.

Art and the Animal XVII

The Bennington Center for the Arts will open Art and the Animal XVII June 16th and the show will continue through August 5th. My oil painting Ruddy Turnstone was accepted for the juried show.

If you get a chance to hit either this show or another one at The Bennington Center for the Arts, you won't be disappointed. This is a wonderful art center! You can find information on all their events at www.thebennington.org .

Note: If you are interested in covered bridges, The Bennington Center for the Arts is THE place to go. They have a beautiful and informative exhibit on this classic New England structure.

Yum, Yum

photo by Linda Besse, May 2012

Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge is about an hour from my home. The approximately 16,000-acre refuge of Channeled Scablands contains 130 marshes, wetlands, and lakes for a combined total of 3036 acres of wetlands.

I think every time I make the trip there, I see a moose. This time within minutes of driving the circle road I spotted a calf from last year close to the road. She was munching down the fresh wildflowers which had cropped up from our April rains. My presence did not disturb her as she continued eating with moose-y abandon. Before I left that evening I also saw a large cow moose in another area of the refuge.

In addition, the late afternoon trip netted sightings of numerous pairs of duck species, a killdeer, 2 white pelicans, 2 muskrat, a pair of trumpeter swans, and 4 deer. A trip full of inspiration for future paintings.

Finished

Abundance

24" X 60"

Original Oil

There are a number of things I have done since my last blog to complete the painting.

First I added all the "whites" and highlights on the flamingos. My white was titanium white with a little cadmium yellow deep. For more pinkish whites I used titanium white, cad. yellow deep and permanent rose or cadmium red deep.

The water needed a little more reflection and some "white" reflected spots.

The final touch was a more difficult decision. The piece was looking a little on the cool side and needed a warm "vibrating" touch. Also the horizon line was too white and mushy (I know I shouldn't use these technical artist terms but sometimes they just fit.) I painted a lemony yellow line but kept it on the warm side.

The color wasn't doing what I wanted it to do. I still needed to be in the yellow tones but I warmed it up and made it more peach. Once I did that, the scene felt more alive and more festive. Like a party was going on.

The last thing I do is name the painting. I had a working title. When I sent an image of the painting to the new owners, I told them the tentative title. Fortunately, they had a much better title. Abundance was now complete.

Painting Water

Water is one element which I really enjoy painting. In this painting, believable rendering of the water is critical to the piece's success.

 In this top photo, I am working the details of the water in the middle ground. There are myriad reflections and it is easy to get lost among all the legs!!!

Next is the large expanse at the bottom. I know from experience this is a "one sitting" deal. I can't paint part of it today and finish tomorrow. I use Rembrandt oil paints and brown mixes can dry overnight while my "whites" can take a week. Blues and reds will be somewhere in the middle. For the water to work, all of it has to be wet and blended. I completed the below stage at 1 am.

Stay tuned for the final stage.