Your Daily Serving of Protein

Guess what? You don't get to eat this one. This little painting was done with casein paint. I've always joked that casein should be the perfect medium for me, with my Food Science degree, because it's made from the milk protein that gives it its name. I got to study casein (the milk protein, not the paint!) a bit in one of my fourth year courses. I won't enthral you with any of that knowledge right now! This painting is 5 x 7 on gessoed masonite panel. Earlier on in my progress I thought I would go farther than what you see her, but I may just leave it as it is. I kind of like the simplicity, and well, foals are so cute they deserve to be front and centre with as little distraction as possible! (Translation: I'm afraid I'll mess it up!)

I first became aware of casein paint because fellow EAGer Kathi Peters, who works extensively in this medium. Kathi is the Casein Guru ;-) I have a long way to go, that's for sure! Her latest casein WIP was well-timed for me, as I prepped some panels this week in hopes of playing sometime soon. Have a look at her blog to see the pro at work!


In case you're missing the weather report, we've had snow for the last three days. Wednesday was the most significant accumulation, but there has just seemed to be a constant snowfall since then. Apparently it's supposed to warm up tomorrow. None of us are holding our breath! My fellow blogging and artist friend April Jaroka posted a welcome photo of the sun on her blog today. Be sure to visit her painting blog as well for some amazing seascapes...especially if you're sick of all my snow paintings!

Sleep-Painting

Well, I did it - I did two little paintings. My motor contol leaves something to be desired at this point, so it was interesting, to say the least! As is typing...that said, I'll keep it short! Two more little 5 x 7 casein studies on hot press. Above, we have Twine and Clever, and below, the new arrival!

I did the foal first, then the mares. I would have liked to work on the mares longer, but I was just starting to mess things up, so had to stop. Fingers and brain just aren't communicating well right now!

Middle of the Night Colour Sketch

After that first casein study, the night before last, I decided to put forth a little challenge to myself. Many artists these days are doing a painting a day. That's a little beyond reality for me at this point in time, but I thought, while I'm doing the foal watch thing, I could do a painting a day, for a week -- or until I get these babies on the ground, whichever comes first!

This, then, is my second installment, from another photo by Montana artist Donna Ridgeway. Donna and I seem to spend a lot of time on the same wavelength, and many of her photos appeal to me! They're the kind of photos I like to take myself. This little painting is 5 x 7, casein on cold press watercolour paper. It's just a quick colour study, nothing too serious! Probably took me a bit more than an hour.

Twine and Clever are still holding on. I don't think Twine will be able to much longer! Before midnight tonight would be nice, mare!

What Really Goes On In the Middle of the Night...

Not too much, really. Pretty quiet around here. The girls are bickering in the barn right now, that's about it. I thought tonight might be it for Twine, but she seems to think otherwise!

The painting above is another of our EAG pARTies. The photos this time around were provided by photographer extrordinaire, Juliet Harrison. You have to check out her website. In this age of digital, Juliet is producing hand-printed traditional black and white photography. This little 5 x 7 painting I've done is in casein on watercolour paper - talk about a departure, for me! I finished at around 4:30AM, that's all I know. A big change from oil, but fun just the same. Yes, that's right, this is about all I do for fun these days!


Here's the portrait I was talking about last time. This is 12 x 9 pencil on Bristol Smooth. It's the first time I've worked on this paper, and I'm liking it. Still a ways to go, but I have the drawing sorted out for the most part. Just lots and lots of shading! The subject is a Quarter Horse gelding, Seeker's Magic Pine, aka Snoopy. Snoopy is a two-time World qualifier in hunters.

All right. Time go go check in on the girls!