Majestic Longhorns

© AnnHoffpauir

These Longhorns are one of my favorite paintings and it sold quickly.  These particular longhorn cattle were in the Austin, Texas area.  We were on a long weekend trip and these longhorns were in a pasture close to the road.  It was a bright sunny day and I think I captured how I felt like the cattle looked in the open pasture in the bright sun, majestic.  Western art is one of my favorite subjects to paint.  If you own longhorns or know someone that does and would like a painting of one send me a comment or email me.  Visit my website at

http://www.ArtworkbyAnn.com 

© AnnHoffpauir

The title of this painting may sound a little strange. Usually there is a reason for such things. So, here is the story about the title of this painting. The wife of the couple that owns this bull bought it as a surprise for him. He always said how much he liked Longhorn cattle. Wished he had some Longhorns of his own someday. Well, she surprised him alright, on his birthday one year. And you ask, "where did the name come from"? Her husband happens to be the headcoach of the football team at their high school. Since then they have raised several Longhorns and many of them were given names relating to the sport of football. Check out my website for more western, equine and Longhorn paintings. Visit my website, http://www.ArtworkbyAnn.com

Ann Hoffpauir-painting in progress

Here is my last painting session on this piece. I did more of the detail work on the longhorns, touching up on the body, faces and horns and leaving the undertone to show through on the underside of the belly, legs and faces. The undertone is thinly applied in the beginning process. By leaving some of the undertone showing I think it brings a glow to the painting. The light areas are applied with thicker paint. The "white" on the longhorns is actually a very pale orange and a pale blue. These colors make the animals appear very white in these areas. Longhorns are majestic looking animals to me. These particular longhorns appear very docile and the sun has warmed them enough that they look sleepy. Kinda like people. At least for me. It's like on a cool crisp day and your outside in a lawn chair enjoying the day and the sun warms you...I get so sleepy. I think that's whats happening to these longhorns. The one on the right looks a little perturbed though, something roused him from his potential nap. Now the hard part, naming this painting.

Ann Hoffpauir-painting in progress

Today I thought I would post the process of a painting. I haven't got a name for this painting yet. That will come later. I find it harder to name a painting than to paint it. There are a couple of gal painters that I follow, Debbie Grayson Lincoln and Vernita Bridges Hoyt. The names for their paintings always seem to fit perfectly...hmmm, maybe they can help name this one when it's finished. On this piece I toned my canvas with an acrylic wash first, then blocked in the cattle, grass and shadow shapes. There are the beginnings of the light areas and some midtones. Already you can see the orangy undertone coming through on the animals and landscape. I will post again as I progress with this painting. Time for a coffee break and to check this out with a fresh eye...

New Pasture-Longhorns by Ann Hoffpauir

http://www.ArtworkbyAnn.comThese longhorn cattle remind me of the cowboy way of life in Texas. Moving cattle to a new pasture. This painting is entered in the American Plains Artists show. Hopefully it gets accepted into their juried show.