Moonrise over Ghost Ranch

A puma and a raven enjoy Moonrise at magical Ghost Ranch in New Mexico.   Everything about the place is magical, so why not?

 

14 x 11 Acrylic on canvas

Presently it is my intention to produce a limited number of prints on canvas.  I am working on a way to share income from all sales (40%) with selected animal rescue groups, so will retain original(s) for the moment. 

 

... and, for those of you interested in such things:  Red Oxide, Acra Red Orange, Yellow Oxide, a pinch of Hansa Yellow Lt, Ultramarine Blue, a bit of Diox Purple & Pthalo Blue.  Last but not least a little Ivory Black & Titanium White.  (I didn't reall have to use the Red Oxide or Hansa but I did. 

I Hate Georgia O'Keeffe (sometimes)

Other than skulls and roses, I frankly did not discover Georgia O'Keeffe until 1987, about a year after her death.  Someone told me my flowers and general point of view reminded them of her and showed me her "100 Flowers" book.  I was floored.  A couple of years later I was in New York and started working on some cityscapes.  At MOMA saw her NY book.  WTH?  More like hers than I could explain.  Talking point of view here.  
Then just a couple of weeks ago I was in her country and fell in love with what I called dancing trees.  Cottonwood stands in winter.  We went to a new exhibit at G O'K Museum in Santa Fe.  YEP.    OK mine won't look like hers, but DAMN!  
So here, from Ghost Ranch where she lived is my newest-to-be. .  I know she never painted an embracing cat/raven at moonrise.   
When I'm feeling woo-woo I think a bit of her spirit  found me after her death ....    
That or she was as absurdly far-sighted and maybe amblyopic as I am.  

Desert Cat

Finished him yesterday.  Now to ready to head West myself!  Shiprock, here I come!  

8x8 Acrylic on canvas

I don't know why it took me so long, but finally I've discovered the joy of acrylic ink for whiskers!

Charlie Blue - Signature Move

Our little Charlie, also known as our Spare Parts Kitty, once a very homely kitten we fostered along with his siblings, and who nobody wanted, has grown into himself over the past several years and is now absolutely adorable and I'm a fool for him.    (His sister Frida Kahlo of the startling monobrow, was adopted by a Frida devotee, and Oliver of the rusty black coat and strange eyebrow & whisker sprouts is still with us and has grown into a silky ebony beauty.)
That said, this is Charlie's signature pose that never fails to grab our attention and additional playtime, treats or smooches, which of course is why he does it.  And yes, much of the time Charlie wears that Worried Man look, though he truly isn't. 

This painting is 6x6, acrylic on canvas. 

Desert Cat continued

I had thought I would finish him today, but am too distracted by family genealogy exploration, Valentine card for granddaughter (mailing Priority),  beginning packing lists, and cat herding.  
So aside from a little bit of a slimming down on cat and some under painting, this is it for the day.  Tomorrow I hope to finish. 

Palette notes: Cobalt & brilliant blue; Ochre & Azo yellow orange; red oxide & Indo Orange-red; Dioxazine Purple;  Titanium white. 

Desert Cat -- prepping for Shiprock

The first scribble I did was this ... I am sure the desert-y look relates to our upcoming adventure West.  Those huge ears no doubt relate to the squirrel a Facebook friend has been sharing; the rest of the cat now looks to being on the way to being something of a sand cat, which of course, doesn't live in Four Corners region, but this is my art and I get to decide everything.... 



I'm guessing about 60% complete, possibly a wee bit more.  Acrylic on canvas 8x8.    If you'd like to scribble, you can Google "scribbler too".  Enjoy!

Ruffles compliments of Scribbler . . .

What great good fun!  Working on a painting "Desert Cat" I "sketched" with this little program ...   I'll post that when the painting gets a bit further on. 
In the meantime, here's Ruffles wearing her winter finery ...

Pati Bannister Original Exotic Bird

My newest ...   Red Crested Purple Breasted Pheasant*   6x6 acrylic on canvas 

* only one in existence, as far as I know

Getting Back Into the Saddle ...

At least I hope so ...   Today I worked on a 6x6 bird piece  ,, 2d session* .. and when it was time to stop for the day, had enough paint on my palette to rough in Chuck.  I knew he was going to be next, but rarely have more than one at a time going.   A former art instructor, way back in time, was fierce about waste, so as much as possible, I try not to.  Not always easy with acrylics, particularly when working small scale. 
I'm hopeful here that these will both make the grade.   

 

*sessions particularly in winter are usually only a couple of hours...fingers & shoulder object too much otherwise most days.

Letting Go -- Three Southwest Pati Bannister Original Paintings

It is time for some of time long-time favorites to find their way in the world.  Some of these pieces are things I have kept out of delight, some out of delight plus sentiment, and some for both of those plus a piece that I really learned something from.    None of these pieces have been offered for sale before.

They are being offered in my Etsy shop at modest prices, close to the net I would receive after paying a gallery commission.  They are 5 x 4 or 4 x 5 respectively and painted with palette knife. 

Several others in the series have already been sold.

I Got No Lap To Hold Me Blues

The second of the Saturday Scumble pieces. 

 "I Got No Lap to Hold Me Blues"   Those of us blessed with cats have all seen this look.  It's the one we get when they know we aren't going to invite them up,  OR when we've just set them down and they can tell what comes next does not involve food (for them).  

 



Acrylic on canvas, 6 x 4 inches.  Palette:  Cadmium Red Light and Medium, Yellow Oxide, Pthalo, Cerulean and Cobalt blue, Cobalt Violet; Ivory Black and Titanium Dioxide White. 

Did Someone Just Open the Refridgerator?

Charlie and Jake, ever hopeful, just about to start the grooming-to-slapping game, are suddenly alert to a sound which could mean yummies!

 



Acrylic on 5 x 7 stretched canvas.  Palette:  Cobalt Blue, Cerulean Blue, Cadmium Red Medium, Yellow Oxide, Yellow-Orange Azo; Ivory Black; Titanium Dioxide. 

Discussing Where to Grab Lunch on the Blue Ridge

Finished.  I had thought there would be additional layer(s) of wildflowers but I soon realized precious little, if anything, would be gained, so I simply added more wild blackberries and suggestion of pastures in the land beyond. 
Acknowledging the nature of crows and their relatives, the title has been modified, grabbing lunch seeming most likely.
The canvas is 12 x 10 inches, the palette Quin. Magenta, Cadmium Red Med,  Azo yellow, Cadmium Orange, Cerulean Blue, Pthalo Blue, Pthalo Green, Unbleached titanium and Titanium Dioxide; Ivory Black.    While some black was worked into the birds' bodies, the "black" is primarily the pthalos and magenta. 

Discussing the Best Place for Lunch on the Blue Ridge

Wild blackberries added (liberties taken) ... one more layer  to go (I think) plus some tweaking here and there.  This was never meant to be so "complicated" a piece but ...

Winter Birds Move to the Blue Ridge

It appears my newest (Winter Birds) have rebelled and headed for the hills -- the  Blue Ridge, to be exact.   Yesterday was sunny, this morning was cold and raining and I have no idea why other than that.  But I'm happier ...

Winter Birds (working title)

Sketch done last night ..  I was thinking crows/ravens but as often happens they may not end up as such.  I've sketched onto 12 x 10 canvas and have painted in shapes ... roughly here at this point

Right now I prefer the sketch.   It is more lively right now -- hopefully the canvas will catch up.     I'm thinking of working with roughly the same palette as the yellow bird but in winter mode.  We'll see. 

I Wish I Was In Thailand .....

Yesterday I finished a new painting.  I haven't titled it yet but am really happy with it.  It is only the second piece I have done in some time.  As cold as it has been here (and almost everywhere) the colors alone have been cheerful.
The bird is a very rare creature; as far as I know, he is the only one of his kind.    So without further ado ...

I felt rather tentative until the last session (yesterday).  It's been a long time and  while you don't entirely forget, rustiness enters in.  First day  starting on a canvas which I had painted with a turquoise ground (mistake: should have only done background) ....not that it couldn't be overcome, but the one thing I had known from the beginning, was that the bird would be essentially yellow, and all yellows, even the cadmiums, tend toward transparency so it is easy to lose luminosity.    On the left is end at session 2; right session 3.  Sessi9on 1 was just ground color and sketching bird plus two of the flowers ....

 

The piece is 14 x10 and done in acrylic on stretched canvas.