Cowparade NC cow - Black and White Bovine

Just the legs and rear to go!!!

How Do You Paint A Cow?

Step one.  Layout the basic design.  I chalked mine on with sidewalk chalk which is a much cheaper version of charcoal which I sometimes use for murals.  Since the cow is pristine white, I didn't want the black charcoal to smear all over when I touched it.  The chalk hardly smears at all and wipes clean easier.  Here are a couple of pics with just the chalk.

Step Two.  Start painting.  This is the scary step!  Painting these lines requires a steady hand which I don't really have.  I have to stabilize my arm and remember to breath out while I make each line.  This may look easy to paint, but it is tedious.  But still FUN!  I love this cow.


The first few vines....

It is Saturday night and I have covered about 1/4 of the cow.  I hope to get most of it done tomorrow and go over all of the vines again for a 2nd coat.  Something I'm not used to is having to keep my hands clean the entire time I'm painting.  If I don't, the white will have black fingerprints all over it.

I've just done the easy parts so far.  To paint the belly you have to get under the cow like a mechanic.  I should get one of those skateboard like things they lay on to roll under the cars. 

more tomorrow!!

I want to keep this cow.

We went to Durham today, just beside the Bulls stadium to pick up the cow.  You can see some of the cows lined up in the warehouse.  Sorry the picture is a little blurry.  I was really nervous up until this point, but when I saw it I got soooo excited! 

Andrew and I put it in the back of the truck.  It weighs about 120lbs, so it is not as heavy as it looks.  First stop was Jerry's Artarama to get massive amounts of paint. 

Then we brought it home and moved it into the house.

Here's where I should say, "Oh, excuse the mess in my studio.  It's not usually this messy."  But, that would be  lie.  It is usually this messy.  About every 3 or 4 months I have to clean it up, but, I swear, the minute I start on a new project, it's a wreck all over again.

I had to remove the bubble wrap, which I need to save, so I cut it under the chin down the belly and legs so that I could pull it off like footed pajamas.  Hopefully it will slide back on easily when we take it back August the 10th.  If we take it back.  'Cause I LOVE it, and really want to keep it!!! 

Ta-Da!  Here it is without the bubble wrap....

Beautiful!  You can't tell it, but the two pictures below are after about an hour of work.  The cow comes primed, but I have to paint it white and then once it dries, paint on the black design.  One coat is done, the second coat I'll do tomorrow morning.  The clock is ticking!

I turned in three designs.  The one that was selected is called "Black and White Bovine."  It has a simple, but elegant black vine that swirls along the lines of the cow.  I want to finish up by August 7th so that the varnish will be completely dry for the August 10th trip back to Durham.  No Pressure ;)

I'm Gonna Have a Cow!

Just got news today that I will be painting a cow for the NC Cowparade to benefit the Children's Hospital.  Good news, but I am a little disappointed.  My cow design didn't actually get a corporate sponsor (yet).  The hospital liked my design and wanted it done, which is an honor.  I still may pick up a corporate sponsor these last few weeks.  We go pick her up on Sunday and she has to be done by the 10th!  I am putting a link to the website.  I'm going to document the whole process, so tune in for further info/pictures.  I know you'll be waiting on the edge of your seats. 

www.cowparadenc.com

Portrait

Here is another portrait that I started a few months back and just haven't completed it yet.  I plan on smoothing out the face finishing the eye on the right and putting detail on the arms and hands.  Fun to paint!



OK.  It's been a year since I started this painting and I have not finished it, so I think I'll start working on it again, although the model has grown a lot since then.

 

Blue Hydrangea  18x24  oil on canvas