Painting Sheep XI: Stages 1-6, Completed

I thought I was done with the "sheep theme"portion of my painting studies of Northern England.

But I was wrong.

Again.

Just when I am convinced there is not a single new sheep painting left in me, I get re-inspired.

The memories of this ewe came clearly back to me. It was a beautiful day. We were traveling by car, on our way back from a nearby village. The sun's light was shimmering on the backs of the sheep as we passed them by. I couldn't resist this scene and my daughter, Emily, clearly understood. I moaned that I didn't bring my camera. But Emily had hers. "Here," she said, "Take my camera and you can walk the rest of the way home."

As I was randomly photographing the sheep in the pasture, this ewe caught my attention. She seemed curious and trotted up to me, baaaa-ing as she came. Her boldness was unexpected. I laughed nervously. Suddenly, I was glad there was a stone fence separating us; it gave us each boundaries.

Sheep Painting Study XI
10x8", Oil on canvas
Rita Salazar Dickerson

It seems like it was just yesterday that I was there. The air was crisp and the sky was blue. As I turned to leave, this ewe became the leader as she and the rest of the sheep escorted me to the end of their pasture. They stood at their gate and watched me walk away. It was a beautiful walk home.

Painting Sheep VI: Stages 1-4

These first steps in the painting are important. The shapes, color and composition are all decided during these stages. If I like what is happening now, I am usually happy with the end result.

Stage 1: I painted in the drawing with a thinned mixture of Transparent Earth Red and Ultramarine Deep.

Stage 2: Blocking in the background with a mixture of Cadmium Yellow Deep and Cobalt Blue.

Stage 3: I blocked in the foreground shadows with a mixture of Ultramarine Deep and Cadmium Yellow Deep.

Stage 4: With varying amounts of Titanium White and the dark brown I created with Transparent Earth Red and Ultramarine Deep I painted in the shapes of the sheep.

Painting Sheep IV: Completed

It was fun to put on some good music and start playing with the palette knife today, applying paint and then pushing it around. First, I worked on the background keeping it loose and out of focus.
I've noticed that each little painting is taking less time than the last which is encouraging.

Sheep Painting Study IV
10x8", oil on canvas

After I spent time adding texture to the grass I decided to take out my paintbrush and work in brush strokes as well as the palette knife with the little lamb.  I am still entertained by the fact that there were so many different types of sheep in North Yorkshire. This ewe had such an sweet face. 

Painting Sheep III: Completed

I blocked in the last sheep and her two little lambs.

With the palette knife and a number 2 filbert brush I began adding texture to the sheep as well as the grass. At this point I was not sure I wanted much detail in the background. I was playing around with the idea of a suggestion of sky.

Sheep Painting Study III
oil on panel, 10x8"

But in the end, it had to be the stone wall which completed this piece for me. 

North Yorkshire - it was a calm and beautiful day; the little lambs reminding me of why I love spring.

Painting Sheep III: Stages Four and Five

At this fourth stage of the painting I once again blocked in the shapes of colors with a brush before I started my palette work.

As I look at this fifth stage of the painting on my computer screen I already see changes that need to be made. The little lamb was such a challenge with my palette knife, mainly because of its size - a little over an inch in width.

Painting Sheep III: The First Three Stages

This is the third study in my Painting Sheep series. I started by tinting the panel and then loosely painting in the shapes of the sheep with a small brush.

Then I painted in the main shapes of the first sheep in the foreground.

And then it was time for some fun with my palette knife.  I've had to keep reminding myself that I cannot correct my mistakes until I make them. This thought keeps me from hesitating.

I enjoy loading my palette knife with paint and seeing what effects I can have with color and values. I am so entertained with these sheep and how they all seem to have different looks and personalities.

Painting Sheep II: Completed

First, I blocked in the general background and foreground shapes and colors.

Once again I found myself fascinated by the lighting as I painted this sheep. Even though it was overcast, the light combined with the humidity created interesting colors which accentuated the beauty and expanse of the countryside. It was a patchwork quilt of colors all mildly different and complimentary to each other. I love the stone fence borders!

Sheep Painting Study II
oil on panel, 10x8"

After brushing in the main colors, I took out my palette knife and had fun adding texture; something to entertain the eye. I'm looking forward to painting a larger version of this.

Painting Sheep I: Completed

Sheep Painting Study I
 oil on panel, 10x8"

This is the way I remember these three sheep, grazing in a North Yorkshire field with the afternoon light shimmering on  their backs.

Once I had brushed the first layer of paint on I went back into the wet paint with a palette knife and had fun applying the final layer with thick strokes of color. I want the viewer to feel like he or she could almost reach out and touch their woolly coats and hear them nibbling on the rich green grass.

Painting Sheep I: 1st Session

One of the lovely aspects about the countryside of Northern England is the hillsides that are dotted with sheep. It is a wonderland of rolling green pastures, stone fences, and grazing, happy sheep. I couldn't get enough of it. I literally sometimes yelled, "Stop the car! I must photograph those sheep!" And there was such a variety of them; I had never thought about all the different types of sheep that exist - all distinctly with their own look. All waiting for me to paint them.

Sheep Painting Study I
oil on panel, 10x8"
Session 1

This is the beginning of my first color study of some sheep that seemed so comfortable with me there, my camera in hand, snapping photos of them as the gorgeous light rested on their backs. When the sun shines in North Yorkshire, everything glows.

Path To Pateley Bridge IV: Sheep



Path To Pateley Bridge IV: Sheep
11 x 9", pen and ink
Rita Salazar Dickerson, 2012

Across the River Nidd, there were sheep grazing in a green pasture as I walked along the path to Pateley Bridge.