Backyard Bob

Bob, a welcome sight in Joyce’s backyard. He hides out under the white pine and greets her in the mornings for a breakfast of corn and suet. A happy addition to the neighborhood this Northern Bobwhite Quail has endeared himself to the locals and has his own tale. One morning he showed up suffering an injured foot.  After caring individuals helped Bob get back on his feet, he now’s back to enjoying dust baths and his human covey.

Braving the Winter 8x10

My friend, Mashkodessi 8x10

Titling a painting can be a very personal matter. It was appreciated that Joyce who commissioned Bob' portrait came up with these titles. I learned the Maskkodessi is from the Ojibje language meaning quail and meadow bird.

 

I enjoy creating paintings to capture memories and moments in someones life. If you're interested I'd be happy to discuss a commission with you. Contact me at cshoreartwork@gmail.com. No obligations.

Commissions accepted from your own photos for oil painting on panels. Pricing begins at $50 for an 8x10 (unframed)-$70 for an 11x14 (unframed). For each additional animal in the portrait add another $20. Shipping is extra (if needed) and generally runs, $8-$15 dollars in the U.S. depending on the location. These are common sizes allowing you to purchase ready made frames. Keep in mind no glass or matting needed for an oil painting.

Please allow 4-8 weeks to complete. 

                     

The process includes the time to confer back and forth plus the time to dry.

Wings on the Water

Besides painting, I've been anxiously awaiting the many birds who will be returning this spring. Painting animals does pose it's challenges, you want them to be identifiable. Fortunately, unlike pet portraits, they don't have the owners perspective and emotional connection to meet. I think I'm getting the hang of brushing on those feathers. Hope you enjoy these oil paintings on panels from past photos of some of my favorite birds found in our waterways.

Green's My Color 8x10 

This Green Heron I saw on a camping trip to Highland Ridge ACOE campground. She really likes to blend in with her favorite color.

Wading to Return 8x10

The Blue Heron was wintering in Big Bend National Park. One one my favorite fellow campers.

Me and My Gal 8x10

This lovely pair of Sandhill Cranes were waiting for the water to go down at Perrot State Park. Spring thaw had filled up Trempealeau Bay.

On My Way 5x7

 Pelicans a joy to see in the air or on the water. They cause quite a stir with those big feet.

Who Me? 8x10

We know you may hardly recognize this ugly duckling. They have returned to Trempealeau Bay on their way north. The beautiful Trumpeter Swans.

Questions or perhaps to purchase one of my original unframed oil paintings on canvas panels, please contact me at cshoreartwork@gmail.com. Be sure to follow my blog for an April pop up show on my deck when the weather permits.

Braving the Winter

Like most of you we didn't go anywhere this winter due to Covid. Hunkering down, trying to stay warm and getting my creative on was about the only thing on my agenda. 

Robins, our harbingers of spring, sometimes hang out in Wisconsin for the winter. Local birding enthusiast Victoria Goetting, captured this Robin with her camera in February. Inspired by her photo and with her blessing I translated it into this painting. 

I appreciate how hard it is to capture images of our feathered friends and thoroughly enjoy the Coulee Region Audubon  Sighting page on facebook.

Chilling 8x10

Since it's been a long winter at home in my studio I find I'll be reaching my 300th painting this spring. This translates to planning a pop up gathering of my artwork. As soon as we have a break in the weather and the snow is gone, I'll be setting up outside on my deck for a safe way to view available paintings. You can get up to date information by following my blog or I also manage a facebook page called CShore (not Colleen Shore) that you can follow where I re-post all my blog information. 

For questions or purchasing my oil paintings please contact me at cshoreartwork@gmail.com. Thanks for viewing.

Looking back it's been a very productive path starting with painting in oils after retiring in Nov. of 2019 and I began blogging my progress two years ago this March. Looking forward to meeting more people through my art and attending some workshops.

 

Note The exhibition of "The Moment 2020" hosted by the city of La Crosse includes my painting "Awakening". This grouping of artists works will be on display beginning March 8 at the La Crosse Public Library on Main Street

 Next week-More Birds

Winter Wonders

Snow offers a lot of subtle color choices when painting. One of the challenges I read other artists were doing was to limit their palettes to just three colors plus white. Forcing you to explore new combinations. So I thought what the hell as things are frozen over. 

I did this series of three from the photos taken the same day at Perrot State Park of Trempealeau Bay.     The resulting effects are quite different and interesting.

Warm Thoughts on a Winter Day 8x10

Here I used Raw Umber, Cadmium Red Light, Yellow Ochre with Unbleached Titanium White. 

Frozen Tropical Reflections 8x10

Choices here included some colors I don't regularly use. Turquoise, Transparent Red Oxide, Ultramarine Blue Deep with Titanium White.

Trempealeau Bay at Rest 8x10

Returning to my regular palette. So I wonder which palette do you find most appealing.

 

Questions or perhaps to purchase one of my original unframed oil paintings on canvas panels, please contact me at cshoreartwork@gmail.com.

Frozen In Place

The place we live can get pretty cold. The past two weeks of subzero temperatures has become the norm as well as wrapping up in extra blankets and reading in bed. But if you were adventurous and felt like layering up there were some beautiful sites to see in this frozen tundra.

Horseshoe Ice Falls 8x10

One of my favorite sights are the ice waterfalls that form along the bluffs. At Perrot State Park they are easy to see at Horseshoe Falls.

Frost in Apple Valley 8x10

Another phenomenon is the hoar frost. The frozen crystals coat everything creating a magical fairyland feeling. This view is looking up Winesap Road in Onalaska, WI.

Nice Ice 5x7

What would we do with out ice. Sometimes it's especially nice in a Gin and Tonic. Pretending its summertime.

Looks like the polar vortex is over for a while. Time for a meltdown.

Next Week-more Winter Wonders

Questions or perhaps to purchase one of my original unframed oil paintings on canvas panels, please contact me at cshoreartwork@gmail.com.

Ready and Waiting

My grand nieces are all ready and now just waiting for the arrival of their baby brother. They're excited to welcome him home sometime in April. They've teamed up to share a room so he can get his rest, which I'm sure he'll need lots of since he's going to have to try and keep up with his amazing sisters.

I added a Wizard of OZ twist to a photo I had of them when we went out for a walk one day. This paintings for the baby's room to remind him he's got these two  looking out for him.

Ready and Waiting 11x14

They sent me their rendition of  Harley the cat and Milo the dog. Thanks for sharing girls, now I have some pets portraits to keep me company.

Happy Valentine's Day

If you love this blog you can get up to date information on recent paintings and my pop up art show details by "Following" this blog. Simply view my blog in the web version ( if you're on your mobile device) and at the top select the blue "Follow" button or you can receive by email by including your address on the right side option, a confirming email with be sent to your inbox. Thanks for joining me on my creative journey.

Next week-Frozen, thawed you'd like to know.

Seeing Red

Red barns are iconic along the Wisconsin landscape. They really stand out, maybe because they are red. Did you know originally rust was a cheap way for farmers to add color to sealant for protecting the barn wood.

Old New Amsterdam 8x10

Hartford Haven 8x10

Schilling Stables 8x10

Red is the oldest known color used by man, dating back 40,000 years ago, derived from red clay. It will stop you in your tracks or add a flash as you walk away. From stop signs to Louboutin shoes red just stands out, it's even the first color babies see. Reds are derived from minerals, bugs to synthetics, some professional paints use cadmium red, a good reason why you'll see many artists using gloves as they paint. Note: Always be sure to buy children appropriate art materials for those budding artists. Aren't you glad you red this.

Other paintings from the past with red as a focal point.

Retreat on the River 8x10

Shepherds Path 8x10

Launch at Breezy Point 8x10

Tree House 5x7

Questions or perhaps to purchase one of my original unframed oil paintings on panels, please contact me at cshoreartwork@gmail.com. Thanks for viewing.