Is there anything else about your art you want people to know? Some colleges and high schools are now teaching airbrush. You can’t teach it per se, but you have to get used to it. Practice! I suggest watercolors first. You can take a dab of paint and put it on a palette and it comes to life even after it dries out. It’s a great way to start without the frustration of the airbrush clogging.
American Farm Bureau is today's agricultural website of interest. The group, founded in 1919, is an independent, non-governmental, voluntary organization governed by and representing farm and ranch families united in achieving educational improvement, economic opportunity, social advancement and national well-being. Farm Bureau is local, county, state, national and international in its scope and influence a voice of agricultural producers at all levels.
How did you get started with the cow pieces? My in laws, Margaret and Arnold, are dairy farmers. With my first cow piece I did, I always included the poem:
Margaret and Arnold are my in-laws you see
They own a dairy farm south of me
Where time is measured by what’s left to do
To provide a bounty for me and you
That seems to be about it
Today's art website of interest is ArtyFactory. This website teaches any beginner the basics of art appreciation. Art Appreciation is the knowledge and understanding of the universal and timeless qualities that characterize all great art. The more one appreciates and understands art from different eras, movements, styles and techniques, the better one can evaluate any art work. Even only if an interest in art is simply for personal enjoyment, a greater knowledge of art history and an understanding of pictorial elements, such as composition and technique, should increase appreciation of art and enhance the pleasure derived from looking at it.
What advice would you give aspiring painters? Take classes in school in disciplines you may not like or are interested in. It allows you to experience things in school instead of having to buy a bunch of equipment later. I took my 4 to 5 years of college like most normal people, but a friend and I would continue to take 1 credit classes to be able to use the facilities. We were there in the evening enjoying it. I learned you’ll never make a living at it if you don’t enjoy it. Even if you’re good at it, but consider it a job, you’ll never make a living at it.
Cow Art and More is honored to be supporting the silent auction at the impending National Holstein Convention in Sacramento, California. Convention goers may bid on a cow charm, milk can charm, and rosette charm, each as separate items. Each charm comes with its own 16 inch sterling silver rope chain. Benefits from the auction go to support the scholarships provided by the National Holstein Wives Scholarship Organization. To see more information about this year's auction, click here to see the NHWSO June newsletter.
I would like to do more bronzes. Being in the upper Midwest, there’s not much of a market for them. It’s a nice escape from the painting end.
In celebrating "June is Dairy Month, Innovate with Dairy is today's agricultural website of interest. The website contains information about dairy products for food manufacturers, retailers, and consumers. The website details new products, technologies, innovations and nutrition information. The website is maintained by Dairy Management Inc. (DMI). Founded in 1995 as a not-for-profit organization funded by dairy farmers, DMI manages the American Dairy Association,® the National Dairy Council® and the U.S. Dairy Export Council®.
Cow Art and More photography greeting card artist Carla Christina Contreras' work is currently on exhibit at Studio 83 in Nashville, Tennessee. The name for the show, La Inspiracion de la Naturaleza de Vida, comes from her family's Spanish heritage. The review of the exhibit, as found in the Nashville Examiner, can be found here.
Do you ever make goof ups or work you don’t like? It’s an ongoing thing! You’ll always struggle with composition. I used to finish a part before I moved to the next part. I’ve found that if you finish one part and move on to the next, it’s harder to change the entire image. I now work on the whole painting at the same time. I don’t finish anything until I know I like what I see. My wife is a big part in what I do. I’ll call her in to get her opinion. If she gives me the same idea that I’m thinking is a problem, then I usually know I have to change it. I’ll say that too for anyone looking at art. Somebody may not be able to paint something, but they can tell you when something is wrong.
How long does it take to get a painting done? As little as 2 weeks for the more popular sizes (10” x 24”) and the major pieces (24” x 36”) take 2 months.
Picture credit: "Little Dogies", airbrush on canvas
Go to Cow Art and More to see more about this cow art airbrush painting
Cow Art and More is honored to be helping support the American Junior Red Brangus Association's National Junior Livestock Show. The show runs June 18 through June 21 in Gonzales, Texas. Cow Art and More has donated a gift certificate to be auctioned off to help support the event.
How do you decide what to paint?
Today's agricultural website of interest is American Agri-Women. The organization was founded in 1974 by four state women’s agriculture groups. Today, American Agri-Women has 50 state and commodity affiliate organizations as well as individual members throughout the country, representing tens of thousands of women involved in agriculture. Members continue to be actively involved in making a difference in legislative and regulatory matters at the local, state, and national levels. They have also been instrumental in student and consumer education about agriculture, having initiated the Agriculture in the Classroom program at the national level are integrally involved in national and state programs still today.
Where did you learn your technique? I was in the service for 3 years on the GI bill. When I got back, I went to college for fine arts. My roommate asked me if I wanted an airbrush to try while he was going to get one for himself. Most people my age can remember “Vargas”, and airbrush artist who always did work with a nice gradation of color. I started using an airbrush in 1969. I began with a combination of airbrush and hand brush and practiced to be all airbrush. The company I purchased my airbrush from commissioned me back in the 1970’s to do a piece for them. This was only the second time they had commissioned a piece. The first time was from Vargas himself!
Picture credit: "More Milk Please", airbrush on canvas
Go to Cow Art and More to see more information about this airbrush painting
Since it's summertime and people are traveling, I thought it would be nice to include a link for people to find art museums on their travels. Today's website of interest, Artcyclopedia, has compiled a comprehensive index of every artist represented at hundreds of museums. It also has links for the world's "30 most famous artists" and maintains a current news database.
Where do you get your inspiration? Nature! At one time I wanted to be involved with natural resources, but it involved too much math. Being an artist was my second choice. I’m outside with nature all the time.
Based on customer feedback, we are excited to announce that a Cow Art and More gift registry is now available. Website visitors will see two options now on the left side of the page:
What is your technique? I use freehand airbrush. The way I do it compared with other people is that others combine it with a hand brush. I use the airbrush freehand. I don’t use any masking, taping or hand brushing. Everything is freehand. Hard brushes or stencils can give a hard edge. I’m only a ¼ inch away from the board at all times with my airbrush. Everything you see on that painting is airbrushed.
With all the changes underway in agriculture, it is important that everyone's voice is heard! Today's website of interest, the U.S. House committee on agriculture, lists all the committee members and their current issues under consideration. In addition to listing all the members, it also lists the subcommittees with their specific members. There is the ability to search for past legislation, future scheduled hearings, and an archive of press conferences. Website visitors may also sign up for the same email updates sent to members of the press.
I was 10 or 11 years old and painting on a piece of plywood. I didn’t have brushes so I used a 16 penny nail instead. The painting had a religious theme and it hung over my mom’s washing machine.
I get requests through Cow Art and More asking how someone can learn how to paint from their own home. I came across the website, "Learn How to Draw and Paint", and found it quite useful for a beginning artist. The website goes into detail about painting and drawing supplies, techniques, storage, and framing the finished work. There is also an art terms dictionary and a list of books related to the topic.
Why do you paint? I enjoy it and find I need to do it to maintain sanity.
Picture credit: "Got Beef", airbrush on canvas
Click here to go to Cow Art and More to see more information about this airbrush painting
Mixed media artist, Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson, has been featured in Orlando Arts magazine for her unique and special work using paper to create her mixed media collages. While she may be new to cow art enthusiasts, the art community of central Florida has long appreciated and admired her work.
July's featured artist is airbrush painter, Jerry Gadamus. Jerry has been painting for over thirty years and loves capturing farm animals and wildlife in their natural environments. Jerry uses his airbrush completely "freehanded"; he uses no stencils or brushes to complete his work.
To help kick of June is dairy month, today's featured website is Why Milk? The site has a plethora of information about the health benefits of milk, recipes, and answers to frequently asked questions. One of the highlights of this site are the photos of celebrities who have posed with a milk mustache for the "got milk?" advertising campaigns. Stop, pour yourself a glass of milk, and see what this website has to offer!
