Painting Sheep IX: Stages 1 - 3

When I visited the countryside of North Yorkshire, late winter was rolling into early spring and it was lambing season.

The green pastures were dotted with sheep. Anticipation was in the air. Everywhere I looked there were little lambs with their mamas or well rounded, expectant ewes.

As I blocked in the shapes and colors of this little lamb, memories of that beautiful afternoon came quickly back.  Pablo Picasso said, "Painting is just another way of keeping a diary". How true!

Painting Sheep VIII: Stages 1 - 4, Completed

I looked in my closet where I keep my canvases and found this little 5x5" that seemed perfect for this 8th painting in my Painting Sheep Series.

This particular ewe seemed deserving of her own portrait; she has such an interesting face. Plus, painting this composition on a square canvas was nice for a change.

Sheep Painting Study VIII
Oil on canvas, 5x5"
Rita Salazar Dickerson

Painting Sheep VII: Completed

I decided to paint the background and the ewe's face a bit softer than I have in my last several paintings. For the majority of it I used a paintbrush and then blended with my palette knife.

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

And then it was time for my palette knife. There is just something about a ewe's thick woolly coat. I love the challenge of interpreting it on canvas.

Painting Sheep VII: Stages 1 - 4

I woke up this morning wondering if I had any more sheep paintings in me...

Turns out I do.

This ewe and her lamb inspired me with her regal pose; so confident and peaceful.



Her little lamb resting close.

I am continually entertained by the variations in features, markings, and character of each sheep I have painted. I guess that's what keeps me going.

Now that I have blocked in their shapes with color its time for lots of paint and my palette knife. 

Painting Sheep VI: Completed

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

When I repaint this study into a full size painting I plan on cropping off the top (most of the background green above their heads) so that the sheep are pulled into the composition a bit closer.

 It will look more like this:

Right now I'm feeling like all the green in the background is unnecessary.

More to come!

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 V: Completed

Sheep Painting Study V
8x10", oil on canvas
Rita Salazar Dickerson