Barrel Racer #11 - figurative oil rodeo painting

Here's a small and very quick (5 x 5") rendition of a barrel racer from the Junction rodeo this past summer.  It's done very loosely as preparation for a larger one?  Maybe.  I don't know.  Am currently working on other drawings and paintings, but like my little dancers, rodeos always show up again.  I think it's really instructional to set a timer and get busy - one of my books suggests 45 minutes, which I like, and it makes you work really really hard to get finished, so while you leave out stuff, you still end up with something lively - and fun.  Whew!  Sorry for that long sentence.  Thanks so much for dropping by!

 

I Love Barrel Racing! - western figurative oil painting of horse and rider barrel racing

Here's a finished - and I hope - an improved version of the earlier post.   (Thank you Hilda!)  Barrel racing is a cross between grace and athleticism and - wow - the relationship between horse and rider is beautiful to behold!  There aren't ever enough participants at the rodeo, but I probably feel that way  because I could watch endlessly!  There will be more western paintings because I have sketches and photos from the rodeo and dances here (Junction, Texas) in August.  I painted this piece on 12 x 9" panel.  Thanks for looking!

On My Easel - figurative rodeo barrel racer painting in progress

Here's what I worked on this evening.  I love rodeos and barrel racing is right up there with my favorite events.  Could watch for hours!  A good bit of work to finish this one, but just posting to share my efforts and if I finish tomorrow, I will post it - any suggestions would be welcome - thanks for looking!

On My Easel - Cowboy - oil pastel figurative work in progress

Hoping to get this finished tomorrow, it's 6 x 12" on Ampersand Pastelbord, which is so great.  I love dogs and love seeing cowboys and their dogs - the best.  Much to do, but such a pleasure to work on  this subject and on Pastelbord.  Thanks for looking!

Black and White Rodeo - original charcoal figurative drawing

I am sometimes astonished by the power and emotion of charcoal drawings.  It's my all-time favorite medium.  This drawing is on Canson drawing paper.  Although the tear line runs through the top of the cowboy's hat, I was so happy with the way it was going, that I just went with it and will simply bond it to museum board.  It's about 7 x 10".  Thanks for stopping by!

Sketch for Barrel Racer - original charcoal figurative drawing

I do love barrel racing - here's another sketch from the past summer's rodeo.  It was ready last night, but my internet connection was almost nonexistent, probably because of the storm we had here with all the welcome rain.  This drawing is on 12 x 9" Strathmore Mixed Media paper.  Thanks for stopping by! SOLD

More Rodeo - original oil figurative painting

Rodeo - dusty but wonderful - I love it!  This painting is on 10 x 10" gessoed panel.  Thanks for stopping by!

Bronc Rider II - original watercolor pencil figurative drawing

Here's another drawing from the rodeo here in Junction a few weeks ago.  These guys really earn their points - and for those who think the horses aren't well treated - they are beautifully cared for and truly valued by their owners.  I also did a painting from this drawing, which I'll probably post at some point.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

On My Easel - Barrel Racer - original figurative oil painting in progress

Much more to do on this one, but I love trying to capture the power and speed of these beautiful animals as they race around the barrels.  At the moment, I'm working on several paintings - dancers, women, western, but haven't posted because I kept leaving the laptop that I can actually use for posting on my blog at the studio and didn't realize it 'til too late, so I have a few things to post in the coming days.  Am painting this on 8 x 10" archival canvas board.  Thanks for looking!

Sketch for Cowboy Painting - original charcoal figurative sketch

I've done and redone and redone this one again and again - my painting teacher used to say 'just start another one', but since it's charcoal and easily erased on this canvas with hardboard backing, I just ignored the little voice in my head and went ahead with it.  I'll spray it well - have never done this before, but I hear it works - and paint over it, making changes as I go.  Anyway, it was fun and instructive, which I guess is another way of saying that I was learning from my mistakes.  It's 16 x 20" - thanks for stopping by!

The Barrel Racer - original oil figurative painting

It's been awhile since I've posted anything because I've been felled by cedar fever, which is a common and sometimes debilitating complaint here in central Texas.  It's an allergy to cedar, which is what we call juniper in this area.  Today has been better, though, so I'm back to my blog.  This painting was done from a drawing I did at a rodeo some years back - really just one of my scribbles - but I let it alone after I finished - huge though the temptation is to fool with it.  On Utrectht archival canvas board, it's 8 x 10".  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Lookin' for Eight - original oil figurative rodeo painting

We had a rodeo here in Junction last weekend.   It was a ranch rodeo - my favorite - but I must not have gotten there early enough to see bronc riders.  So, I dug through old drawings from other rodeos and came up with the drawing from which I did this painting.  I changed his hat from black to white and in the drawing, the horse was darker, but essentially, it's the same.  This painting is 9 x 12" on gessoed panel.  Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

Bronc Rider - original figurative oil painting

Here's one of my rodeo paintings - 10 x 8" on archival canvas panel, which is a favorite surface of mine for country/western artworks.   This piece is available at Artworks in Austin, Texas.  Thanks so much for stopping by and please check out my oil pastel blog, The Oil Pastel Review.

Another Barrel Racer - original oil pastel figurative painting

Here's another rodeo drawing/painting done from one of my squiggly drawings.  It's on 5 x 7" Pastelbord.  I love rodeos where the women get a chance to show their skill at barrel racing.  Those cowgirls and their horses are really something. Thanks for stopping by!

Rodeo - original oil pastel figurative painting

This weekend in Junction, Texas, there's going to be our annual summer rodeo!  It's a ranch rodeo - my favorite - and there's much excitement in the air here in our little town on the Llano River!  We have a parade on Saturday morning, and dances after the rodeo both nights.  Everyone has a wonderful time.  It's small town America at its best, so if you're anywhere near Junction on the 12th and 13th of August, come on and join us!
The painting is oil pastel on Colourfix paper, 12 x 9". 

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Thanks so much for stopping by!

The Runaway - original oil western painting by Connie Chadwell

Here's the final (I think) version one of the paintings I posted on the 13th. It's 11 x 14" on Gessobord. Thanks for stopping by!

Teamwork - original oil western figurative painting

SOLD

Every now and then, cowboys - 11 x 14" oil on canvas on panel.

First Barrel - original oil figurative painting

This painting is 8 x 8" on gessoed panel. Thanks for looking!SOLD

Pardners - original oil painting

I love the way cowboy, horse and dogs work as a team. Reminds me of the Dan Seals recording of 'God Must Be a Cowboy'. Well, the dogs aren't mentioned in the song, but I like them to be along, anyway.

It's 8 x 10" on Gessobord. Thanks for looking!SOLD