March's featured artist, painter Paula Jones

Join us for the month of March as we introduce you to New Mexico oil painter, Paula Jones. I tried so hard not to be an artist. "I spent the first part of adulthood as that stereotypical, Midwestern mother and housewife assisting her husband’s career and raising children. Once my passion for creating works of art was ignited by a close friend, my entire life, as I knew it, completely changed." Paula's love for painting Hereford cattle reverts back her childhood and being around them on her grandparent's ranch. Enjoy a series of questions and answer sessions this month on the Cow Art and More blog as a way to get to know Paula and her work. View her portfolio of work in the Cow Art and More specials section. Purchase any of Paula's paintings this month and receive free shipping.

Photo credit: Paula Jones at the easel in her New Mexico art studio.

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 10

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

I'm laughing... I sure do. Sometimes I paint over them and sometimes they go in the John Smith collection. (Our local landfill.)

Photo credit: "Marie", oil on canvas

Click here to learn more about this beef cattle 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 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"

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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 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 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

November featured artist

Registered Angus farmer and fine arts graduate Amanda Raithel is the featured artist this month on Cow Art and More. Amanda farms with her husband and daughter on their Nebraska ranch. Amanda's artwork centers around the show cattle business she and her husband have dedicated their lives to. See the complete line of Amanda's work on the Cow Art and More specials page.

Amanda's art has free shipping for the entire month.

A conversation with Robin Maria Pedrero: Part 7

How long does it take you to get an average piece of art?

Sometimes I plan or see the piece in my head for days, weeks, even months. Other pieces form by just coming before a blank page and placing marks or color until the piece evolves. It varies with subject matter and medium. An average piece of art might take one hour, two hours perhaps three hours to even seventy two hours over a period of a few weeks or months. Oils can take longer. Part of the process is also having distance and coming back to work on the piece with a fresh perspective.

Picture credit: "The Wild Ones", mixed media with pastel

Learn more about this cow mixed media art

A conversation with Robin Maria Pedrero: Part 5

Where did you learn your technique?

My technique is a culmination of years of working, creating, building habits and trying new things. I have enjoyed a few workshops through the years and have a foundation of study with master artists.

Picture credit: "Cattle Cadence", pastel on paper

Learn more about this cow art pastel drawing

A conversation with Julia Swartz: Part 10

What advice to you have for aspiring painters?

Don't worry about your style. I hear young artist say I've got to find my style. I would recommend that you just keep painting and painting and try different things and eventually your style will emerge. Never throw a painting away. As an artist you tend to be very critical of your own work. You may not like something very much when your done, but just put it in a drawer or put it away somewhere. Months or years later you may get it out and say "Oh, that's not so bad." I really treasure some of my first paintings and am glad I never threw them out.

Picture credit: "Moo Cow", oil on canvas

Click here to learn more about this cow art oil painting