Andrea Doughtie, Rural Painter

Winter Images

Andrea — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 12:29:29 +0000

Pen and Ink

Andrea — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 01:38:15 +0000

More Cows

Andrea — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 12:04:51 +0000

Here’s another little painting on paper. I love the way cows punctuate a landscape.

‘Til the Cows Come Home oil on paper 7 x 9 $150 matted and framed under plexiglas

A Moonlit Night

Andrea — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:11:22 +0000

Weekend before last we were invited to an annual “Moonlight Snowshoe” party, along with everybody else in town. It’s always a question whether the weather will be clear enough and warm enough for moonlight and comfort. But first, before we got to the party we took a long drive up to Randolph, VT where I had a painting in a juried show that was opening that night. (The theme of the show was “White” and I entered the still life “Arcs and Angles.”) Anyway, we had had a lot of snow and as we were driving up to see the gallery we passed beautiful views of the moon and the fields below. I was particularly struck by one large long cloud that streaked up the sky and partially obscured the moon. In the next few days I did a painting of it from memory and was pleased with the result. I stuck in just the tiniest light from a house in the trees but it’s probably not visible in the photo. I love looking up at hills that look remote and dark, seeing a cozy beam peeking out.

By the time we got to the party we were too late to get out to snowshoe with everybody but since it was by then about 12 degrees and the moon was mostly hidden we didn’t feel too bad. (O.K., we were greatly relieved, actually.) But we did go sit by a big bonfire while our host shot off fireworks. It was a great party — wonderful food and terrific local fiddlers.

A Night for Snowshoes oil on masonite 12 x 30 $500 unframed

Farmhouse

Andrea — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 14:37:46 +0000

One of our neighbors is a dairy farmer–close enough that we can hear him calling his cows early in the morning. He and his son manage the herd mostly by themselves and they work so hard–milking twice a day, bringing in the cows, planting and haying in the summer as well as haying for other people. The farm has been in the family forever and this farmhouse was built by one of his ancestors. Right now the painting is hanging in the bank at Coburn’s general store in So. Strafford.

Farmhouse 7 x 9 oil on paper $150 matted and framed with plexiglas

Dark Water

Andrea — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 14:36:26 +0000

This painting is loosely modeled on #4 in the previous “It Took Dominion” series so it’s mostly made up. I love plein air but painting out of my head is particularly satisfying–when it works. Creating a landscape makes me feel a bit arrogant but I guess that’s what one does even if it’s reporting something that’s actually there. Painting is always to some extent abstracting.

Dark Water oil on canvas board 18 x 24 $600 unframed

Trees

Andrea — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 02:27:38 +0000

I finished this one recently and am pleased with it. Trees fascinate me as a subject and all the time I was painting I was remembering the time my dad paid me a dime to memorize Joyce Kilmer’s poem, “Trees.” (”I think that I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree….”)–pretty sappy but it has stayed in my head. I’m pleased with the clouds made by my new palette knife. The whole scene reminds me of glorious bright summer mornings, full of possibilities.

Morning Glory 30 x 18 oil on masonite $600 unframed

Eavesdropping

Andrea — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 02:11:40 +0000

And here you see the advantages of a standing seam roof. Last winter we accumulated four feet of snow and ice on our old roof before we had it shoveled off –apparently just in time. The white stuff still built up on the new roof but as soon as we got warmer temperatures it started sliding down, like a curtain hanging. We’re relieved it works because the roof itself is pretty flat. It’s amazing how much we’ve had to learn about living in a cold climate and what expense that knowledge has led to!

Emma’s First Oil Painting

Andrea — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 21:16:35 +0000

My nine year old granddaughter visited over Thanksgiving. I had decided that she was old enough to try oils, especially since we just had a powerful ventilation system installed in my studio. I had ordered some little latex gloves for her as well so we were all set. I was amazed to see her at work. She made a few structural lines, asked me to add cerulean to the blues on my palette and just dived in. I acted as her assistant, cleaning the brushes between applications and in a few minutes she had covered the whole board. I just couldn’t get over the confidence and lack of hesitation. Years ago I saw a film of Picasso painting and it was the same kind of unhesitating spontaneous creation. After she had all the colors on, she gave it a close look, quickly and deliberately drew the two lines through it, then announced “Now it’s finished!” She assured me that with abstract painting you can’t make a mistake. It’s nice she believes that and I wish I could.

The Mountain oil on masonite 5 x 7 NFS!

Morning Light

Andrea — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 13:12:49 +0000

Here’s a painting I did some time ago; I kind of forgot that I’d finished it. When we’re in Utica visiting our daughter, Ed and I like to walk around the local golf course for exercise. One morning when we started out there were many jet trails in the sky and as the sun rose the colors were amazing. I like the darkness in the foreground contrasted with the brightness of the sky and the way the sky fades into the hills.

Morning Light oil on masonite 18 x 30 $600 framed