Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Ducks Waddling Home

Ducks Waddling Home
9x12 Oil on Stretched Canvas
by
Cheri Wollenberg
(SOLD)

This painting was quite fun for me to do.  When we go to our farm in Oklahoma I am so inspired to do animals.  There are horses, steers (cows) and so many different types of fowl going south this time of the year not to mention the dogs and barn cats, possums, armadillos and the cats of "white and black" that are not so welcome!  The ponds are a retreating place for geese and ducks on their journey south. 
I had one of those artists' moments while we there this last time.....one that all of you artists friends can relate to....  One morning as I was drinking coffee on our back porch, a huge group of egrets were surrounding the cows in the pasture at the bottom of a hill behind our house.  Something startled them and they began flying and they all flew toward our house into the trees in our back yard.  As they were flying in to land on the branches their legs straight behind their bodies, necks forged ahead, and their large wings spanning out like airplanes, they were so interesting and exciting and............you guessed it.........I was without my camera!  It was one of those moments that all us think to ourselves that we need our cameras to  record such a wonderful moment, to capture a shape or position, to catch an exhilarating feeling of awe!  They were gone almost as fast as they flew into my presence and all I have is one vision that sticks in my mind, but one that will inspire me to do some research on those magnificent birds that companion the cattle this time of the year. 
Maybe I will paint them someday....but in the meantime I will paint the duck pictures I have (laugh).  I think I may be chattering!  I haven't posted in a while and for any readers that have actually made it to the end of my story.....now you know why my father's family called me "chatterbox".

This painting is available to buy by following this link:


Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Gourd III

6x6 Oil on Canvas
by
Cheri Wollenberg
Oh my.... I do get a little stuck on subject matter, but I'm having such a good time painting these beautiful gourds.  This painting may be purchased by clicking here:  Gourd III

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Red Vase and Gourds

6x8 Oil on Canvas
by
Cheri Wollenberg
Decorative gourds have a long shelf life so I can count on using them as subjects for several weeks.  The possibilities for creative and different compositions are endless.  I enjoyed placing this red vase with these two particular gourds.  The "warts" on gourds are a lot of fun to paint too.  I scooped up a lot of paint for each one of them....sort of like frosting a cake with thick icing.....enjoyed myself immensely! 
This painting can be purchased by clicking Red Vase and Gourds

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Autumn Gourds II

6x8 Oil on Canvas
by
Cheri Wollenberg

This little composition of beautiful gourds of orange, green whites, and teaberries was very exciting to paint.   I wanted the colors to be brilliant and energetic against a dramatic dark background.  I became curious before this post about gourds so I decided to do a little research.  There are so many colors and varieties.  It is quite an art to raise these beautiful decorative "vegetables".  Yes, they are considered vegetables.  The meat from them can be eaten early; however, as they grow they are not edible because the meat becomes very bitter.  I always wondered about this!   I found this blog that I thought some of you might be interested in visiting sometime.  Besides I liked the name of the site:  http://www.thegourdfather.com/.
To purchase this painting click here:  Autumn Gourds II
Have a fabulous weekend!

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Autumn Gourd I

6x6 Oil on Canvas
by
Cheri Wollenberg
This is one of my first gourd paintings of the year. They come in so many different shapes, sizes and colors. They have fantastic texture, and create such a mood of harvest. They are a delight to paint. This painting can be purchased here:  Autumn Gourd I


Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Autumn Reminders

Autumn Reminders
12x16 Oil on Canvas
by
Cheri Wollenberg

It is that time of year isn't it? As an artist my eyes see the leaves beginning to turn, the gourds in various colors and designs are showing up at the super markets, and pumpkins are appearing at the farmers' markets on the weekends here at Fayetteville, Arkansas.   It is a beautiful time of the year. The colors are fabulous and dazzle my eyes. I just have to set up some arrangements and get to painting! If I wait too long it will be winter and there will be other things to inspire me. I can't wait to capture some of the beauty of these items. This is one of my first posts. It was the last one I finished last year. I will start in the next few days on smaller daily paintings and gradually work to a larger arrangement. This painting may be purchased at: //www.chatterboxart.etsy.com.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Blue Flowers in White Basket

Blue Flowers in White Basket
8x10 Oil on Stretched Canvas
by
Cheri Wollenberg
This little painting is sold, but is still one of my favorite ones. 

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Sunflower Bouquet in Turquoise Vase

Sunflower Bouquet in Turquoise Vase
8x10 Oil on Canvas
by
Cheri Wollenberg
This will probably be the last sunflower painting for a while.  I think I'm ready to move on.  I need to put a glaze over the reflection in the table.  It is a bit too harsh and bright.  I had trouble getting the colors true in the image with my camera.  The vase actually has a little more green in it.  I thought my light was too cold so I moved it to some warmer artificial lighting, but it still came out too blue.  I'm thinking I'm going to have to get my camera instructions out again and see if I have done something with the settings. 
This painting can be bought on etsy by following this link:

Friday, September 10, 2010

Sunflowers II

Sunflower I
6x8 Original Oil on Canvas
by
Cheri Wollenberg
Sunflowers defined are tall plants with yellow-petaled blossoms.  They are much more to artists!  They capture our eyes with their extremely warm and brilliant yellow petals that range from green yellows to rusty golden yellows.  They are in no way timid...they are wild and boldly attractive to us.  They tease us with different anatomy and design.  Their petals are sometimes wide and overlapped as opposed to slender and sparse.  Some of them have very dark, almost black, seedy centers while others have brown, green, or gold centers.  They all seem to have those grabby rough leaves which somehow reflect the sky as we examine them from a distance.  In Oklahoma the sunflowers grow up from red dirt which makes them more attractive than ever.  The reds complement the greens so beautifully.  We artists, like Van Gogh cannot help from trying to capture and express their image.   Oh my, what a privilege we have as painters to try to emulate with brush on canvas this excellent natural plant,
a gift from God the Creator.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Sunflowers II

Sunflowers II
12x24 Original Oil on Stretched Canvas
by
Cheri Wollenberg
I have been stuck on sunflowers lately. I painted some from life and then I had so many reference pictures that I kept on painting them.   If you are interested in purchasing this painting, follow this link:

Poppy The Pig, Original Oil Painting by Cheri Wollenberg

Poppy Original 8x8 Oil Painting On Canvas by Cheri Wollenberg   Poppy is pig who might be hungry and waiting on his master to bring corn or ...