Glamour Girl

Went to a beautiful garden and shop this past weekend. The highlight for me was the lone chicken running around the plants. She stopped for a little photo session and was the most personable bird I'd ever worked with. :)

12x12 on 1/8" museum quality panel
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Poor Peacock

This guy was painted seven years ago and has hung on our wall ever since. For the last few years I had been wanting to redo him a bit, but couldn't remember how I was using mediums back then. Finally this weekend I decided that he was either coming down or getting a facelift; he definitely at least needed an eyeball! Nice to see and feel progress like this.

The "before" photo is below.

24x48 on 1.5" gallery wrapped canvas
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Bird Plate

I'm in love with this plate and it had to be (if not the star) the supporting cast in this production. Really wanted to keep it loose, and I think I accomplished that. The sunny colors and freshness make me so happy!

12x12 on 1/8" museum quality panel
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Salt & Pepper

These two are patiently waiting for dinner.

6x6 on 1/8" museum quality panel
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Farmyard Fowl

Have been enjoying painting large, nice and loose with some bright pops of color.

24x24 on 7/8" gallery wrapped canvas
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The Turkey Trot

This guy was doing his job so well! He and many females are often in or around our yard and we love when his feathers are open. He is very sure to block our view of the ladies while looking big and fearless at the same time.

Very impressive! ❤️

12x12 on 1/8" museum quality panel

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Resting Robin

Found this snuggly little fluff ball up in the tree. I feel myself coming alive with the sun and the warmth and know the robin does too. The spring thaw is in effect.

8x8 on 1/8" museum quality panel
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Fearless Chicken

Painting chickens always has me reflecting on how far my painting has come. I remember the very first one and how terrified I was to paint the face, and how to get the feathers right... There have been many in between, but definitely no fear with this little chicken. :)

12x12 on 1/8" museum quality panel

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Peacock

There are peacocks walking around at the Milwaukee Zoo. For some reason it is always quite alarming to be eating a picnic lunch and see a peacock walk by. Even more surprising is their call--loud and obnoxious, but sure to get a huge laugh out of me every time.

6x8 on 1/8" museum quality panel
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Chicken

Can't say why I paint chickens. Perhaps I am easily amused? I do love to paint animals that I find entertaining to watch and chickens are certainly that.

6x6 on 1/8" museum quality panel

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An Angel (Twice)

Was feeling in the Christmas spirit and decided to paint a beautiful angel two ways. Think perhaps I could have done even more--she was so great to paint. An interesting perspective makes these so appealing to me; I can't decide which one I like better!

Available at www.halliekohnart.com

6x8 on 1/8" museum quality panel

6x6 on 1/8" museum quality panel

Little Bird

The colors of this little bird draw me in every time.

6x6 on 1/8" museum quality panel

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Robin

I think this photo was taken in late summer because the tree has berries on it. Not sure if this is a serviceberry or some type of crabapple? I just love how nestled in amongst the leaves the robin looks, and also happy to have seen the robins already this spring.

8x8 on 1/8" Museum Quality Panel

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Rooster

8x10 on 1/8" Museum Quality Panel
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Goldfinch on Cone Flower

It has been a while since I have painted with my palette knives. Doing a very similar painting to one that I recently painted with brush really allowed me to compare the way I paint with each. When I went at the prior painting with a brush, that is exactly what I did, just went at it. On the other hand, for this painting I made grid lines and did an under drawing with pencil. Not as fun, or as loose, but I still love the result.

8x10 on 1/8" Museum Quality Panel

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Husband

Normally when I do a painting, I make grid lines and draw it out with a good amount of detail. For this one I did a sketch in yellow with my brush and just got right to it. I kept intending to switch to palette knife along the way, but was liking it so much I just stuck with the brush. I have to say, painting so loosely felt awesome. Must. Do. More. Often.

Years ago my husband and I had a pair of goldfinches in our yard, and I always referred to them as Husband and Wife, thus the title. I did a painting very similar to this one in 2009, and knew it was time for an update. He is paired with some coneflowers, which are one of my favorite flowers. This painting just makes me happy.

12x12" oil on 1/8" museum quality panel/brush

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Hummingbird on Bee Balm

Deciding what to paint is often a challenge for me, something that I know a lot of artists struggle with. When this happens I typically go through all of my photos (over and over again) looking for inspiration. However, there are often times when I get tired of my selection or nothing is really calling to me.

Luckily, I was inspired by the little visitors we've had to our yard the past two weeks or so. I knew I wanted to paint a hummingbird, and my bee balm also started opening this week--which they love! It was a match made in (painting) heaven. 

8x10 oil on 1/8" museum quality panel/brush

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Albatross

Here is another San Francisco painting, this one was given to me courtesy of my sister. She captured such an amazing image of an albatross with the most beautiful golden sunlight on it. It looks so large and proud, enjoying the morning sunrise.

8x8 oil palette knife painting
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detail shows true color of water

knife strokes

Chickadee

This painting was a study in looseness. The idea was to do this quickly and to not go over knife strokes too much. I achieved this on the bird itself, but it was a little tougher trying to get an atmospheric background. My plan is to keep practicing this and paint a lot of chickadees this winter. 

I always premix my colors with a limited palette and was really happy with those. You would think a chickadee was just black and white--not so! 

8x8 Oil Palette Knife Painting

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Cedar Waxwing

This painting was inspired by the flock of waxwings coming through to eat berries from our tree. The tree sits right in front of our kitchen window, and I always look for those yellow tail feathers that look like they've been dipped in paint. They might be around all year, but I only see them when those berries are ripe!

8x10 Oil on Museum Quality Panel

www.halliekohnart.com