Work in progress painting, watercolor on Yupo paper. First scan.

I'm beginning a painting, watercolor on Yupo paper. A very wary deer! I hope she's going to be adorable, but I never know at this stage of the game.

I'll be making adjustments from here on out....this is the beginning drawing, just putting something down on paper so I have the start of a plan to work with.

She's probably thinking, "Can I trust you or not?"

I'm using a photo for this painting by Crystal Stacey -Feather Edged Photography, from the photos for artists group on Facebook.

I have thousands of photos of my own, but it's so nice to work from someone else's photos also. Thank you to Crystal for making this available for artist's use.

Bison, original watercolor painting, wildlife art.

In "real life" this bison was out on the prairie, with the Rocky Mountains behind him.  He was following a cow, and feeling his "Cheerioats"!  I loved the way his fur on his face went this way and that way...it was certainly fun to paint. Their fur (wool?  fiber? fleece?) is so soft, it's like touching a cloud. It's kind of unexpected to know such large, tough, animals can be so soft.

I hope your day is interesting and full of new things!

Donna Ridgway

Original painting of a mule deer, watercolor, wildlife art.

Robert and I were driving near the Dearborn River when I took photos of some mule deer. That was a few years ago, and I just painted this deer from those photos, this month.  Sometimes it takes me a while to get to all my plans. I did like how this deer turned out, it made me happy!

Donna Ridgway

An elk painting. Work in Progress, WIP

I've laid in the basic elk, and a little bit of an idea, but need to figure out where to go from here. This painting is 8X10 inch, on canvas. I started it with watercolor, to place basic colors and draw the elk onto the support. I've now moved on to acrylics and covered most of the painting over with some under layers.

More to follow later!
Donna Ridgway

Doe in the forest. Acrylic nature painting.

I drew this deer in blue watercolor, on a gessoed mat board. Once I have the shapes and lines o f the deer's form in place, I used acyrlic paint to put color on her.

She's very alert, she's heard a noise in the forest behind her and in one second, she'll be in full flight and we'd never get this glimpse of her beautiful face and wonderful eyes.

She's 4X5" and comes in a gold antique looking frame. She's for sale on ebay today after 5:30 pm MST USA. Starting bid, $15.50, includes frame.

It is very funny to me, to be posting this blog. There are at least 10 people per day on the blog, and several people are subscribed to it. So at a conservative estimate, I'm in contact with 3650 people each year, from the posts on this blog alone.

Yet, I never hear a word from anyone! What do you think when you come here? Do you think I should pack it up? Is my work so bad you don't want to see it any longer? Is there something here you like? Perhaps you could take a moment in time and leave me a comment. Say anything that isn't spam...

Once again, I do thank you for stopping by, I know you're out there! :)

update on the zebra aceo card series

These zebras are starting to take shape. I still have adjustments to make. Colors to add. I'm missing some shadows where they need to be.

My mind is going crazy thinking about this, a series of the patterns on giraffes and other animals that have these stripes or blotches, alligators, large canvases that span a wall done in acyrlics...it's mind boggling!

I went to bed last night at midnight, but I couldn't sleep for thinking about these poor zebra looking so terrible so I was up at 5 am to work on them some more. They're coming along. I can't wait to add more to them.

Robert has started therapy again so we have to go to town three days a week, does that ever take time out of painting. I bring my laptop and work on my web pages while he's in the hospital. Sometimes I sit and draw the fish in the fish tanks or the people who walk by.

After therapy, he has headaches that won't quit so he's pretty quiet. Not very much fun. But we also realize there are so many people who got hurt like he did and are in worse shape so we have to count our blessings. The main thing is, we're together and we have each other.
Donna

Antelope oil painting, wildlife art.

I keep hearing people say, you are to start the new year the way you intend to finish it so I have my little painting finished up by 8 am today. This herd of antelope was near Billings, Mt. You might wonder if the rocks are this weird any place on earth, but they are like this near Billings. Strange colors, strange shapes and it makes a fun landscape to paint.

One of my goals this year, is to improve on landscape skills and to do more and different animals than just horses. So come back to this blog in December and compare this landscape to one I do in December. You'll be able to tell if I reached my goal or not.

Don't worry, I'll still do plenty of horses! In fact I think I hear one calling me now, begging for me to put him on a canvas.....

My wishes for you, are the best for this New Year.

Donna


Purchase info on this painting:
Name: Antelope near Billings
Size: 8x10 on canvas board.
Medium: Oil Painting
Price: $100
Contact me: montanahorsegallery@earthlink.net