Robert Saueressig - How do you decide what to paint?

How do you decide what to paint?

Like most artists, I paint what I know, or am familiar with, although I enjoy experimenting with subject matter and and techniques outside of my comfort zone.

Picture credit: "Black Angus Grazing", acrylic on burlap

Click here to learn more about this Angus painting

Large animal veterinary topics

Those of you who are regular followers to the blog know that I post an agricultural website or article of interest every Monday. Many of you also know I'm a cattle veterinarian. I don't write about that topic on this blog, but I have and am happy to guest post on other blogs. For today's ag related post, I am sharing links to other blog posts I have written about agriculture and veterinary medicine in 2010. (P.S. If you would like me to do a guest post on your blog, drop me an email to info@cowartandmore.com)

Sometimes you have to be mental to do this job

Kathy is Ag Thankful

Veterinarian's Response to Animal Abuse

Animals, Diseases, and America's Well Being

This week in Ag - What is an agnerd?

What do cows eat and why?

Q & A with Donna Greenstein Part 10

What would you like to do more of in the future?

I plan a series of barn paintings. I have many books about barn buildings and took a tour this summer of local barns with an expert Dr. John Carter. He explained that many of the old barns are not being used anymore and are falling down. Our own barn was built in the 1800s by pioneers who knew how to build a barn to last. When we first moved here in 1975 the bank barn was falling down from disuse. We recemented the floors and back wall and restored it to its past glory. Beautiful !

Picture credit: "Two Cows", watercolor on paper

Click here to learn more about this beef cow painting

Q & A with Victoria Whorley: Part 9

Do you ever have goof-ups or work you don't like?

Goof-ups are a normal part of painting. Some can be fixed easily; some not so easily. Other paintings just aren't liked for any of several reasons; usually because I feel I didn't portray enough detail.

Photo credit: "Winter's Edge", watercolor on paper

Click here to learn more about this beef cattle painting

A conversation with Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson: Part 10

What would you like to do more of in the future?

In the future I'd like to do more portraits. I love doing people and I have gotten away from them for a while now. I have a whole series of swimmers in bathing caps that is really fun and colorful and I like it very much. I'd like to do a self portrait with birthday cards too.

Picture credit: "Two Muse", collage detail

Click here to learn more about this cow mixed media collage

A conversation with Shannon Grissom: Part 12

What else do you do besides your art?

For work? Lots!

I produce and host an instructional television series called "Give Your Walls Some Soul". (Think Bob Ross meets Emeril) It's in about 10 million cable households across the country.

I'm also in pre-production for a new television show where I find people who don't realize they are creative and teach them to go for it!

I write and sing my own music. I'm working on a CD and expect to complete it this year.

I'm working on a new novel, inspired by my own paintings.

And a few years back I wrote a picture book, Monkey Made of Sockies. The main character has now been licensed in to a line of golf club headcovers that are sold globally. We are giving a percentage of the profits to help kids with Prader-Willi Syndrome.


For play?

I love to go for walks/hikes in nature. I love to read just for pleasure.

Picture credit: "Happy Cows ver. 4"

Click here to see this image on greeting cards or a ceramic mug

New watercolor painter

Canadian Donna Greenstein is the latest artist to join the Cow Art and More family. Donna paints her watercolors in a realistic style to help viewers appreciate farming and farm life. She draws her inspiration from the animals on her 50 acre farm in Ontario that she maintains with her husband. Donna has received numerous awards for her work including a "Top Ten" recognition at the Royal Winter Agricultural Fair. Donna's watercolor paintings are available as unframed originals or giclee prints. Her work will be featured in the Cow Art and More new products section for the next month.

A conversation with Shannon Grissom: Part 9

What would you like to do more of in the future?

More cows, rodeo action scenes and some plein-air pastoral landscapes. And I LOVE commissioned work. They take me places I might not visit.

Picture credit: "Van", oil on canvas

Click here to learn more about this beef steer oil painting

A conversation with Shannon Grissom: Part 8

How long does it take you to get an average painting?

About a month, since I'm working on more than one at a time. Having that many in progress keeps up my productivity. I'm always in the mood for one of them.

Photo credit: "Vern", oil on canvas

Click here to learn more about this beef bull painting

Monday's agriculture website of interest: AG - IT'S NOT JUST A JOB, IT'S AN ADVENTURE!

Today's agriculture themed website of interest to followers is "Life on a Cattle Ranch", written by Kansas beef rancher, Debbie Lyons-Blythe. Debbie and her husband Duane Blythe are raising five teenagers and 500 head of cattle on a ranch in Kansas. Debbie posts to her blog weekly to share with people around the world what life is like in rural Kansas and how her family works every day to ensure a safe, nutritious supply of beef to consumers.

A conversation with Carla Christina Contreras: Part 10

What else do you do besides your art?

I am a working professional [tv and film] actor, an author of a children’s book titled, “Clint the Black Cat”. I am a muralist, and a canvas painter. I live to be creative every day – and pretty much am…

Photo credit: "Gossip Gals"

Click here to learn more about this cow photograph

A conversation with Carla Christina Contreras: Part 6

How do you decide what to photograph?

Colors are like candy to me! Anything that catch’s my attention – something usually very colorful – I photographed a group of gumball machines recently – the color was magnificent!

Picture credit: "Just Chillin' with the Girls"

Click here to learn more about this cattle photograph

A conversation with Carla Christina Contreras: Part 5

What is your technique?

I started shooting digitally in the mid 90’s, a simple 3x zoom camera. I purchased my first digital SLR in 2002. My digital photographers “darkroom” consists of about $20,000 in computer equipment and software. I spend hours reviewing, processing, and organizing my digital negatives; digital photography is VERY time consuming.

Picture credit: "A Southern Cow Belle"

Click here to learn more about this cow photograph

A conversation with Carla Christina Contreras: Part 4

Where do you get your inspiration?

My inspiration comes from being present… from paying attention to what’s happening moment to moment. I could be on my way to getting new tires (true story) and be moved by something I see on the way to my appointment – have to pull the car over to capture the inspiration. I have many award winners because I take this time to honor my photographic passion and insight.

Picture credit: "Do I Know You?"

Click here to learn more about this beef cattle photograph

A conversation with Carla Christina Contreras: Part 2

Where did you learn your technique?

I truly believe my background in film and television has much to do with my technique. Cinematography was introduced to me at an early age by my father (a film and television Key Grip), I would go to the set with him early in my childhood to watch and meet the actors on the set, and get to observe them doing their jobs. But it wasn’t just the actors that interested me – I loved watching the gaffer adjust light, the director working with the actors, the script girl keeping up with continuity, etc. etc. etc. Details became my thing – and again, I’m sure that influenced my style.

Picture credit: "Highland Cooo"

Click here to learn more about this cow art image

A conversation with Amanda Raithel: Part 11

What else do you do besides your art?

I work full time on a registered Angus farm called Herbster Angus Farms. My husband and I manage 200 momma cows. We also do a bit of team roping on the side when the cows are content.

A conversation with Amanda Raithel: Part 4

Where do you get your inspiration?

I'm inspired the environment around me. I am completely surrounded by cattle and horses. They are what I know and what I love, they inspire me everyday.

Picture credit: Amanda (white hat) enjoys some time practicing her calf roping skills while riding on a Quarterhorse.

Monday's agriculture website of interest: NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL LIVESTOCK EXPOSITION

Monday's agriculture themed website to share is for the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE). The event goes on every fall in November and is currently running through November 20. Louisville, Kentucky, is the home for the NAILE, which is the world's largest all-breed, purebred livestock exposition. Ten different species of livestock compete in the exposition, and the purebred beef and sheep events are the largest in the world. It is also the site of the National Jersey show. Accompanying the event, the North American Quarter Horse Show is among the top five shows in the nation and the North American Championship Rodeo features the invitational finals for the Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA).

A conversation with Amanda Raithel: Part 3

What is your technique?

I use prismacolor colored pencils and graphite to created multi-layered pieces. The element of value, which is the difference between light and dark or shading, is what makes my artwork interesting. I use many, many shades of light and dark to make my drawings come alive.

Picture credit: "The Color of Money"

Go to Cow Art and More to learn more about this original cattle pencil drawing

A conversation with Amanda Raithel: Part 2

How did you get started?

As with most artists, I had a great teacher. In secondary school, I learned I had the necessary eye and determination to make good artwork.

Picture credit: "Brothers", pencil drawing

Click here to go to Cow Art and More to learn more about this beef cattle drawing