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 - Cowhands - oil pastel figurative

I've been fooling with this oil pastel on Pastelbord, 6 x 12".  Don't really know where it's headed and I may just paint a similar one in oil - yeah, the more I think about it....with much more work to do, especially on the cattle.  Thanks for stopping by!

Bullrider - figurative oil rodeo painting

This is the painted version of my earlier Bullrider Sketch - maybe not exactly the same, but close.  Can you imagine actually doing this - riding a bull, I mean.  Those huge, ferocious animals - it's frightening enough even to watch!  There are so many exciting events at rodeos and there are also ranch rodeos, which demonstrate the skills of the American cowboy - click here to learn more.  This painting was done with a fairly wide bright bristle brush on 8 x 8" panel - thanks for stopping by!

More Two Steppin' - original acrylic figurative painting

My two-steppers are back.  I suspect they never really go away, but just wait their turn to show up again at Hackberry Street Studio.  This painting, like most I've done lately, is acrylic.  Great stuff!  This one is on 8 x 8" cradled panel.  Thanks for looking!

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!

Fourth of July Rodeo - original watercolor stick figurative drawing

I was trying out my new set of Derwent Inktense sticks, along with a Caran d'Ache and a Daniel Smith watercolor stick on 12 x 9" Yupo.  More than any other medium that I use, watercolor sticks on Yupo seem to be the most unpredictable and they're such fun to fool around with.  Thanks for looking!

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!

Bullrider Sketch - original charcoal figurative rodeo sketch

You're whispering "what's wrong with her - posting something like that".  No need to whisper - it's okay.  This is a sketch that I did from life at the local rodeo this past summer.  The back end of the bull doesn't really show well, but it's there.  Just thought I'd show one of the things that I work from.  Probably only I can understand this shorthand scribble, but it will become a painting one of these days.  I always think I can 'feel' the subject better if I draw it, than if I take a photo, even though I did take a bunch of photos that night.  Thanks for looking and do check out my oil pastel blog.

She Loves Her Cowboy - original oil pastel figurative painting

This painting began as a sketch for an oil painting, but I ended up enjoying it so much, I just decided to post it - kind of abstract, but gets the point across, I think.  This painting is on 5 x 7" Pastelbord.  Thanks for stopping by my blog! 

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!

Bullrider - original oil figurative rodeo painting

I drew this bullrider when he was close to falling off, but he rectified the situation by getting his feet in a better position - up closer to the bull's head - and staying on for the eight seconds that must seem like an eternity at the least.  This oil painting is available at Artworks in Austin, Texas.  Thanks for stopping by!

A Gentle Creature - original oil painting

Here's a sweet thing I visited with the other day - a totally different subject for me - but I did enjoy it.

This painting is 5 x 5" on Gessobord.

At last, the fire seems to be out - I'm so happy and grateful to so many, many people who saved our homes!

Thanks for stopping by!  Sold

Chaotic Cowboy - original acrylic figurative painting by Connie Chadwell

Before you decide that I've 'lost it', this post is in keeping with the Daily Painters Gallery theme day for June, "All Cracked Up".

I did this acrylic painting on an acid-free foam board that I gessoed and made into a box that is 26 x 14 x 3". This endeavor resulted from a course I took at Texas Tech University's Junction campus as part of the Masters in Art Education program.

Although I enjoy cubism, I've done very little of it; while this piece may not totally qualify as a cubist work, I really had such fun with this painting.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

Teamwork - original oil western figurative painting

SOLD

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

Country Lovers - original oil figurative painting

Here's another view of that sweet western dance, the Texas Two Step. This oil painting is 12 x 9" on canvas. Thanks for stopping by! SOLD

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

Lookin' for Trouble II - original oil figure painting

This is another version of my cowboy at the bar with nothing on his mind. Just maybe a little trouble. It's 11 x 14" on stretched canvas. Thanks for stopping by. SOLD