'My Flower Child', oil portrait WIP

I started this last night. This is my daughter when she was 5. She was my carefree, free spirited barefoot little flower child! We lived on an 80 acre farm at the end of a long lane on a dead end road. My kids ran around barefoot and wind blown and had an absolute ball! I homeschooled them until my daughter was in 7th grade. This portrait is very characteristic of her early childhood. I am wanting to capture the light and carefree spirit of this time.

This is 12 x 16 in oils. The face was drawn in with turp and oil paint. I am working on the lights and darks and just trying to get a feel for what I want to do.

I was going to paint this for a fundraiser/art exhibit but I am afraid I have to keep this one! LOL! I will put another painting in the art exhibit. :)

I saw the recipient of one of my Christmas commissions today. He made my day when thanked me and said the painting would be with him for the rest of his life. :) It was a portrait of his daughter and her horse. I was so very touched and honored that he would treasure the painting that much. That reminded me again of my goal to do some portraits of my own kids. I have some I did a couple years or so ago but now that I am doing oils I want to do more of them. So I will do this one and have another in mind for my sons.

To see finished work please visit my online gallery at http://www.suesteiner.com/ or stop by my art studio in Canton at 318 Cleveland Ave. #222 above Secnd April. I am there every First Friday and other times by appt.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sue Steiner

Wildlife Art in Oils, 'Elk'

Ahhh, I am back to painting and it feels SO good! Its only been a few days but I really miss it when I don't paint.

I completed the elk painting that I was working on before Christmas. This wildlife painting in oils was given as a gift and then brought back so I could do some final touches. It was cutting things too close for it to be completed and dried I didn't want to take a chance and rush thru and risk smeared paint.

On my easle I also have a portrait of my daughter when she was about 5. I will be working on it some more today and post WIP pics tomorrow of her. I am thinking this will be entered into a art contest/exhibit/fundraiser for a domestic voilence organization in the area. I hope I can part with it. I know it is a good cause and their is a personal story that goes along with the image that I will tell when I finish the painting.

To see completed work go to http://www.suesteiner.com

Thanks for stopping by.

Sue

Art, Arctic Cold and Hay Shortages

The temperature has taken a definite turn downward the last couple days. It is always more of a concern and challenge to care for the critters outside when this happens but so far so good. Adding to the cold temps my hay supplier ended up in the hospital this past week. I have never been in this position before- of needing to scramble for hay on short notice in the middle of winter! On our large farm we grew our own hay and baled 5,000-6,000 bales a year. We sold it too of course but a hay shortage was never a problem. We are on smaller acreage and not farming so I have been loyal to my hay supplier because he has been very dependable and reliable. He was trying to get hay to me in spite of being sick which was not necessary -- I wanted him to take care of himself! Fortunately I did get some hay to tide me over but running out of hay the week of Christmas just as the temps drop drastically is NOT what I want to do ever again! I am glad to say my hay supplier is out of the hospital and doing okay but not sure when he will be up to delivering hay. I was worried about him so I am glad he is on the mend.

My plans for the next few days are of course to concentrate on family things. After the holidays I will begin working on a special portrait of my daughter when she was 5. I am doing this for two reasons. I have been wanting to incorportate more people portraits and figurative work in my art in addition to pet portraits and equine art. More horse and rider portraits I think are a natural extension of what I am doing already.

On a more personal level if all goes as planned this new painting will be entered into a contest and fund raiser for domestic violence prevention. There is a story that goes along with this portrait that I will share on another day but I will preface it to say I grew up in a home with severe domestic violence. Thankfully domestic violence has never been a part of my own marriage but the after effects of growing up with it is long lasting and a struggle in my life. The theme of the contest is on hope and healing which is what my art and my children are to me.

I am excited to get started on this but I am learning too that the 'down' cycle of the creative process when I am not painting helps to build momentum even if I am not actively putting paint to canvas. I am missing not painting right now but it is okay to do other things and let this idea brew until it is time to sit down and paint.

Stay warm!

Sue Steiner

Girl on Horseback Portrait

Girl on Horseback in oils




This Girl on HorseBack equine painting was fast....I am rushing to meet my deadline and was only given this commission at the beginnning of the week :) but I think I pulled it off. This a Christmas present for a family friend from a daughter to her parents so I don't mind the rush.



I do like combining horses with people since I do very much like to paint people so I am glad to be able to post this here too as another example of what I can do. This is tiny to pack in a horse's face AND a person's face. With more time and a larger canvas I could develop the background and refine the tack and bring more detail to the girl's face but given the situation I did a simple background and simplified some elements for this commission. I think by doing that it also makes a statement the girl and the horse- this is about those two and not the rest of the world. :) Isn'tthat every horse crazy girl's dream ? ... and for this to be a present to the parents I think is this daughter letting her parents know what their gift (horse, support of her dreams) has meant to her. I am glad to help her with this gift to her parents.



I have one more Christmas commission to finish up and thats the wildlife elk painting. Ahhhh.... I think I am going to make it! Ahhhh. Deadlines are good, right? Definitely motivators.

Tonight is Shop Hop in Canton (Suite #222) and tomorrow is a painting demo at Lehman's. Today is my kid's last day at school for Chrismtas break. Whew! Feels like a whirlwind!

Thanks for stopping by!
Sue Steiner

Girl on Horseback Oil Painting

Riding Bareback , 9 x 12 oil painting Work in Progress


Here is my latest and last Christmas commission for 2008! I just got started on it but obviously don't have much time so I can't dilly dally! I had to simplify some things and will do just a very simple background but I think it will work with this pose. I really want this to be about the girl's face and the horse's face. I love how they are looking at each other. It really shows their bond and I want that to be the main focus. I also liked the lighting on the girl's face and the shadow on her profile. This makes it an easy portrait to paint, with interesting shadows that bring the attention to the right areas. I like the how the horse's ears are positioned just right so you know his attention is on her and his nice soft eye. The horse's expression will soften when I go back and refine some details. For the sake of time I will need to simplify her clothes and jeans and the horse's tack but keep the focus on the eyes and expression. Maybe next time I will get commissions with more time to work on them! :) I do enjoy painting these special moments though-- no matter what kind of constraints there may be.



I hopefully will finished this by Monday. Busy weekend with painting demos at Lehman's in Kidron and open art studio during Canton's Shop Hop this Friday. Stop by #222 above Second April to see my art studio!

Take care!

Sue Steiner

Draft Team, Almost done!

almost done... some final touches to face and minor adjustments and then to sign it and let it dry! This one was fun. What doesn't show in on the computer screen is the variations in colors within the shadows and the richness of the colors as they meet or blend to form the shape of the muscles and features. I love working with oils because of this. I can be bold with definite brushstrokes but I can be deliberate , delicate and intricate within my areas of focus. I like to have a mix of details and suggestion, realism and abstraction and my goal is to say all I need to in as painterly way as possible so you can look at this and appreciate the realism but see brushstrokes and the texture of the paint. I love photography and I love digital art but I like my paintings to look like paintings where the light catches the paint strokes in different ways and creates that effect that only comes from putting paint brush to canvas! Ahhh, this one was fun. Can you tell I love to do this??? :) Hope you enjoy as well.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sue Steiner

Equine Art- draft horses

Draft Horses in Oils, work in progress 12 x 18








This team of belgain draft horses is moving along. I really am enjoying the muscling and shading ont these horses. I also realy enjoy the sharp contrast that I am developing between the horse on the rights neck and edge of his face. I like how that shadow will really accentuate his face. The same is true with the horse that is further along on the left. The deep shadow on his neck and shoulder highlight his muscling and the shape of his front end.



I am setting this aside now for the day so I can move on to my elk painting. I intend to bring a burnt seirra glaze over the horse on the left's shoulder to tie his face in with this part of his body but for this I want the layer of paint down now to be dry. For the most part I have worked wet onto wet but I need to just be patient yet for this next step on him.



To see finished work or to get mroe info on commissioning me to do a pet or horse portrait go to http://www.suesteiner.com/ Thanks for stopping by!

Dec.'s First Friday Winner

'November Sky'

Dec. First Friday Painting Drawing

'3 Apples'

November First Friday Drawing Painting

Each First Friday I have a drawing for a painting from the previous months 'daily painting' exercises I post on this blog. I choose the painting 'November Sky' to be the prize for this month's drawing. October's winner won my '3 Apples' painting pictured above also. People can enter either by e-mail, comments here on my blog or in person at my art studio. Consider subscribing to this blog to see work in progress pics, daily paintings and studio news or join me on facebook.


Thank you all for participating. Hope to see or hear from you for next month's drawing!





The winner for Dec. is Pat Thoman. I have contacted him and he will be recieving his painting this week.





Thank you!


Sue Steiner
Suite #222

Black Lab Portrait, Work in Progress

Here's the black lab oil painting just a bit futher along. I am adding more color so that the 'blacks' don't become flat. There are purples, blues and golds/oranges to brighten and bring some vibrant color and interest. Too bad none of that shows in this little painting with the wet paint! Sorry! LOL! I do like having fun with color. I want to continue to brighten the eyes but I need to wait for the paint to dry. I've softened some edges and brought in some sharp edges to keep the eye moving around and to creat interest. I like mixing realism with some abstract shapes and colors to bring more life to the painting and for a more 'painterly' effect. There are definite brushstrokes and big swipes of color along with little details. I will let this sit for a couple days or so and then add some glazes and details to key areas.

To see finished work go to http://www.suesteiner.com/ or

for any questions or comments regarding commissions. Today is Shop Hop in Canton so I can't paint as much as I'd like today. If you are in Canton stop by Studio #222 above Second April and Acradia Grille or go to http://www.cantonshophop.com/ I am offering a discount on commissions scheduled during the Canton Shop Hops.

Thank you for following along!

Take care.

Black Lab, Draft Horse Portraits

Draft Horse Team in oils, 12 x 18 on hardboard panel, 'work in progress'

Black Lab, 'work in progress' commissioned pet portrait

9 x 12 on cradle board, no framing necessary

The glare from the wet paint obscures the sutble color variations within the shadows so the depth and richness of the oil paint is lost on these photos but hopefully you can still enjoy watching the process unfold.

I am really enjoying the deep shadows on the belgain gelding in the top photo. When the paint dries I will post a close up so you can see the color variations. These big boys are fun to paint because they have this wonderful muscling and lighting. I love the purpley blues and warm golds. They will be set against a clear blue sky and snow covered ground. I can see already how they are gonna pop when the background goes in.

thanks for stopping by!

To see finished work go to http://www.suesteiner.com

If you enjoy these 'work in progress' pics I invite you also to subscribe to this blog. I really appreciate being able to put my work up and know there is an audience. :) So much of creative work is solitary so it is nice to have this tool to share. If you are in the Kidron or Canton area stop by my web site to see where you can see painting demonstrations or my open art studio days.

Dog Art, Wildlife Art, Equine Art

Pet Portraits in Oil

'The Boys' a team of belgain draft horses in oils, work in progress

I've just begun so stop by again to see how it progresses!

'Elk' oils 12 x 18 ' Work in Progress'

I am just finishing with the blocking in stage and will move on to refining details during future painting sessions.

I have several commissions I am working on for Christmas. I will share with you a couple 'works in progress' that I have on my easle. These are both oil painitngs. I am primarily working in oil now. I have narrowed my commissions down to oil or watercolors. I found having fewer choices makes the decisions easier for people to choose which one they want. If you'd like information on how to commission me to paint a wildlife, equine or pet portrait I can be reached by e-mail at artbysue@hotmail.com You are also welcome to go to my web site to view finished art and more information on commissions.

Wildlife Art

'Elk' 12 x 18 'Work in Progress' Oil Painting

This will be someone's Christmas present this year. I am putting my nose to the grind stone to get several commissions done, this being one of them and my deadlines are coming up fast! Plus I have to factor in drying and shipping time. I am still pretty early on in the process as I am just getting the ground work in place. I like to block in the lights and darks and get the canvas covered then I go in and begin to refine areas. In this paitning the background will stay loose because I want the focus to be on the elk so that is where I will put in the crisp details. My hope is to get the feeling of a morning walk in the woods where you happen about this amzing creature.

To see finished work go to http://www.suesteiner.com/

Thanks for stopping by!

Black Lab Portrait, Work in Progress

Work in Progress Pet Portrait

'roughed in' stage

I have 'roughed in' the lights and darks and have created my roap map in which I will go thru and refine details in this pet portrait. This is done in oils and the glare of wet paint is hard to avoid so I apologize for the poor quality photo. I will be brightening up the eyes and giving definition to the dog's face and expression. Close cropped photos like this are fun to work with because it becomes all about the eyes and expression so I plan on spending lots of time on that in future painting sessions. I have gotten what I think of as the 'bones' in now and will move on to the essense of the dog's expression. Stay tuned! On my easle I also have an elk painting, another dog painting, a large wolf painting, a cat paitning and a team of draft horses all in various stages of completion. I will post those soon.

To see completed work go to http://www.suesteiner.com

Thanks for stopping by!

'White Kitten on the Prowl' oils

I am still not quite done. Sorry I am not able to post more dramatic changes. I am working on a few commissions at the same time and also getting ready for First Friday in Canton which is tomorrow. I want to have some of my daily paintings and pet commissions at my art studio. If you are out and about in downtown Canton tomorrow stop by suite #222 above Second April Art Gallerie and Acradia Grille and see my work in person. Wet oil paint does not photograp well!

My next step in this painting will be to bring out more blue in the eyes and deepen the shadows on the kitty's body.

Pet Portraits in Oil

This one is moving from roughed in to the detailing stage but still has a bit to go.

This is my most recent dog portrait. I am still in the roughing in stage-- getting lights and darks and big shapes.

Commissioned Pet Portrait, completed (I think) On the computer screen it looks like it needs some more definition between the front legs.... I'll have to see what it looks like in real life.... I wanted her to look like she is sinking into a comfy couch. I know my pets sure appreciate comfort! I have to fight off my big house cat Moses from my lap. I can't sit down without him thinking he needs to be on my lap! We lit the fire the other day in the fireplace and he REALLY enjoyed that. I have some sibling rivalry going on between two of my dogs. They are like kids.

The other day I posted some pics of my horses out in our pasture. What you could not see in the photos is my jack russel terrier, Jack. Jack (original name, I know!) knew my attention was out in the pasture. I had my camera and was walking around the yard looking for the best angle to get the photo. I wanted to do this without the horses knowing I was there because if they heard me they would come up toward the barn. Jack could not stand that I was paying attention to something WAY out there and not him... so he ran into the pasture a ways, looked back as if to say, see ME, here I am!!! He'd look back at me, tail wagging, tongue hanging out, run a bit more, look back, run, until he got to the horses and razzed them all! Being a jack russel terrier he loves to stir things up!

Thanks for stopping by! I have a new commission I'll be starting in the next day or so of another dog. I am also going to paint a team of Belgian draft horses so stay tuned.

To see finished work go to http://www.suesteiner.com

Sue

This is the latest batch of work in progress pics.