Garnet the January Cow

Garnet The January Cow

9x12 Oil on Canvas

by

Cheri Wollenberg

Garnet is the name I decided for this Black Baldie cow.  I wanted to give her a personal name instead of cow #3, or #4 so I named her for my birthstone which is this month, January.  She is actually from a "cow" group picture I have.   I liked her because she was clean nosed and she seemed to be looking back at me as intently as I was her (smile).  She is described more thoroughly in my Etsy shop.  Just click here.

Walking the Lambs

Walking the Lambs

6x8 Oil on Canvas

by

Cheri Wollenberg

My two previous blog posts have featured lambs that our grandchildren are training for a Sheep Show this spring.  As I am posting this little painting the children are working hard walking their animals to improve their muscles and stature. After they walk and excercise them they will practice setting them up.  Setting them up involves bracing them so that their muscles will be displayed for the judge to feel.  This is not as easy as one would think.  Bracing animals that weigh more than you do is not the easiest thing to do.  Today they went to a sheep show to observe how other people do it....many of them older children and much larger and stronger than our little kids who are only 7 and 9 years old.  I admire their diligence and determination to be good showman.  I also simply love them. This painting is available as a custom painting by me on Etsy.

A Sheep Called Kevin, Pancake or Syrup

Kevin

Original Oil on Canvas

by

Cheri Wollenberg

I had a small problem in titling today's painting.   Our grandchildren have three sheep that they will be showing this spring in stockshows.  My problem?  All the sheep look alike!  Their names are:  Pancake, Syrup and Kevin.  I finally decided on Kevin for the title of this painting because both Pancake or Syrup seemed to  require the other's presence (laugh).  All three of these sheep with their heads raised are almost taller than our grandchildren; but, with perseverance and determination the children will manage to train them to be show animals.  It is a family effort and the parents are as dedicated as the children.  I'll keep you posted (smiles).  Kevin has a place in my Etsy store. 

A Lamb Named Charlotte

Charlotte

Original Oil Painting on Canvas

by

Cheri Wollenberg

Charlotte is a long haired sheep.  She is a bottle baby that was given to our grandchildren.  Those of you who have raised a bottle calf, lamb or any animal for that matter knows how attached you become to the infant animal that is dependent on your care.  Our grandchildren are in the process of practicing showmanship with their lambs and pigs for the spring stockshows.  Their little enterprise has grown from three show lambs to include three pigs, one bottle lamb (Charlotte) and two little goats.  Each afternoon they go down to the stalls to work or exercise them.  Before they get down to their serious business of working with the lambs, they let Charlotte out and they run and play with her.  It is such a sight to hear them giggle and run and see that little crazy lamb run after them like a little puppy!!!!  My next several paintings will be of some of their animals.  I have been inspired both creatively and with love far beyond any descriptive words (smiles).  You can find Charlotte in my Etsy store.

Black White Faced Cow Painting Felix

Felix

12x12 Oil on Canvas

by

Cheri Wollenberg

Felix is a masculine bovine.  The inspiration for this cow painting came when a customer and I were visiting and came up with a cross between two previous paintings.  Thus, Felix was born (laugh)!  I like him though.  He has strong markings, a slight smile and very gentle eyes.  When I paint a cow I usually like showing the gentle look in their faces.  Cows can be wild.....they can be stubborn....they can actually be dangerous if they think their babies are threatened, but those gentle, large eyes usually get to me.  Felix is listed at this link:  http://www.etsy.com/listing/88460872/cow-oil-painting-felix-12x12-canvas

Delilah Cow Painting

Delilah

16x20 Original Oil on Canvas

by

Cheri Wollenberg

I painted my third snowman and I'm not to crazy about the results!  I guess too much "reckless abandon" is not good.  My artist "gut" feeling was to quit and do some other things.  So, I have been working on this painting of a black baldie cow better described as a black cow with a white face.  I finished her up today and placed her in my Etsy shop.  You can see more about her by clicking here.

Christmas Snowman Painting II

Christmas Snowman Painting II

10x10 Oil on Canvas

by

Cheri Wollenberg

This little snowman painting is the second one in a series of snowmen I'm painting for Christmas this year.
He is whimsical and playful.  My inspiration came from a seller on Etsy who makes adorable felted animals.  You can see her creations by following this link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/BearCreekDesign?ref=ss_profile. If you are interested in purchasing prints of my snowmen follow this link: http://www.etsy.com/listing/87566997/snowman-fine-art-print-of-original-oil. 

Snowman I - Christmas 2011 Painting

Snowman I

10x10 Original Oil Painting

by

Cheri Wollenberg

Every year I try to do a special daily painting for Christmas.  This painting was for fun, it is not realistic but whimsical at best.  I loved doing him.  I felt like a child again and very playful.  I plan to do several more of these little guys if the mood and brush so dictates.   I was inspired to do this fellow when I saw the most adorable felted snowmen on Etsy by Teresa.  Her handmade creations can be seen by clicking this link:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/BearCreekDesign?ref=ss_profile.  I am selling prints of my snowmen here.

Turquoise Green Cup and Yellow Poppy

Turquoise Green Cup and Yellow Poppy

6x8 Original Oil on Canvas

by

Cheri Wollenberg

Since we have moved I have come across many coffee cups.  I like them, use them and I have a preference as to how they feel in my hand.  This is a hard thing to describe, but it can't be too heavy, it must be attractive, cannot have a saucer and has to keep the coffee hot!   The one in my painting here happens to be one of my favorite ones.  It looks especially nice with a flower...in this case a poppy...placed beside it for a daily painting.  It is listed in my Etsy store and for sale.  Just click the title to find out more about it.

Green and Red Peppers in Blue and White Bowl Painting

Green and Red Peppers in Blue and White Bowl

10x10 Original Oil Painting

by

Cheri Wollenberg

Moving is not easy!  We have been moving to a different state during the last several weeks.  Oh My!!!

This is one of the paintings that I have managed to complete since moving my studio.  I'm getting use to my surroundings, and I needed the therapy that painting provides me.  When I paint my troubles and stress seem to disappear.  This particular still life painting was a little more tedious for me to do than some.  Green and red bell peppers make such a wonderful complementary statement.  Kitchens that have a lot of reds in them has to have green to create pleasing color balance.  In this painting the blue and white bowl seemed to be the perfect container for this little still life.  I loved the way the colors complemented one another and bounced around visually. If you are interested in this painting you can find it by clicking Peppers! 

Golden Pears and Blue Mug

6x8 Original Oil Painting

by

Cheri Wollenberg

This is the second of several pear paintings that I've worked on in the last several days.  I'm still having a little trouble finding the right area in my new home to get just the right light for documented imaging.  The cup is one that I made in a pottery class several years ago.  I kept thinking that I needed to place it with something and the gold pears were the perfect companions for it.  To buy this painting you can go to my Etsy shop here.

Golden Pear Trio Original Oil Painting

Gold Pear Trio

Original Oil Painting

by

Cheri Wollenberg

This still life oil painting features juicy, golden pears against dark brown and rust colors.  I will probably take a better image later.  It is still wet and I am trying to find a good "picture taking spot" in the farm home we just moved to.....hence the wet surface caught more light than intended.  I have suffered "creativity withdrawal" since we've been here.  We have worked non-stop getting my studio ready to move more things from our previous home.  Today, I could bear it no longer.  I took out some photos that I had taken of fruit and decided to do a few pear paintings.  It felt so good to get the brushes out, squeeze the paint onto the palette, and transfer the rich colors to the canvas support with my brushes (lovely experience!).  I've already started the other one.  It will be tomorrow's post.  If you are interested in this painting as your own, you can click Golden Pears.

Cherries and a Sip of Tea - A Painting

Cherries and a Sip of Tea

12x12 Oil on Canvas

Original Painting

by

Cheri Wollenberg

Red, juicy cherries larger than life are scattered in front of a small, turquoise colored tea cup and saucer in this painting.  The cherries are approximately 3 1/2 inches wide.  Placing splashes of pale oranges and greens that were less intense to complement the subjects seemed to calm the composition somewhat.  This one is also for a show coming up. 

White Enamelware Pot with Snow Ball Bouquet - A Painting

White Enamelware Pot with Snow Ball Bouquet

by

Cheri Wollenberg

I have to confess.........I love the old Enamelware items.  They make such nice subjects in still life arrangements.  I can't resist them in the flea markets that I visit frequently.  I have every color imaginable right now.  My husband and I love turning something old and discarded into something useful.  This oil painting is available on my Etsy site.

Rose Study

Rose Study

6x6 Oil on Artist Board

A Daily Painting

by

Cheri Wollenberg

This small oil painting is of a study of pink and red roses.  This particular study is not any set up or particular picture I have, but of a combination of resources.  I love to paint roses.  Sometimes I am satisfied with the results and sometimes I'm not!  I like these pretty well.  I tried to paint them with ease and confidence allowing the paint to trickle and smudge together.  This little painting may be purchased in my Etsy store by clicking here.