Kelly Cottingham

Putting the finishing touches on this one. Reference photo taken while walking my dog one evening. #oilpainting #traditionalart #painting #art #skies #twilight

One of the last paintings from my residency. This was the evening view from my bedroom window. 5x7, oil on canvas. #oilpainting #art #nocturne #architecture #church #traditionalart

Experimenting with a weird palette today…India yellow, quinacridone magenta, and chromium oxide green. #oilpainting #artistresidency #art #painting

Kind of obsessed with these windmills near my residency and how different they look throughout the day in the changing light/weather. 9x12, oil on canvas. #oilpainting #art #windmills #renewableenergy #traditionalart #greenenergy

Waiting for the storms to pass so I can go paint outside. #pleinair #inthecar #waiting #oilpainting #art #clouds #storms #summer

Recent landscape. Painted from a photo I took along the Ghost Town Trail. 9x12, oil on canvas. #oilpainting #art #pennsylvania #painting #stream #creek #landscape

On the easel today…reference photo from the family archives. #wip #oilpainting #crabbing #waterman #paintingthepast #art

Process photos from a recent plein air session at Prince Gallitzin State Park. #pleinair #sailboat #lake #oilpainting #process #pennsylvania www.kellycottingham.com/blog/paintin...

Just about done now. And I got my card reader 🙌 8x10 oil on linen #oilpainting #pennsylvania #gardens #art #painting #traditionalart #landscape

Another one in progress. Pretty happy with how it’s shaping up. #wip #oilpainting #painting #art #landscape

A little 5x7 portrait of my bike on the ghost town trail. #oilpainting #bike #art #painting #bicycles #exploring #ghosttowntrail

Yesterday’s painting from a reference photo I took one my way to the trailhead. No energy for plein air after my bike ride but I like how this turned out. I forgot my sd card reader at home so I’m stuck with phone pics for now. Better photos soon. #oilpainting #windmills #landscape #art #paint

Today’s plein air. Nearly finished. #oilpainting #pleinair #painting #art #lake #sailing #pennsylvania #wip

My first time using a linen panel…there may be no going back. #wip #oilpainting #painting #art #peacock

Sold this one as I was painting it…a first for me. #oilpainting #painting #art #pleinair #pennsylvania

Plein air lakeside. 5x7. I had to paint fast to beat the rain. #oilpainting #pleinair

Block-in stage. #oilpainting #pleinair

A little warm up sketch this morning. Took about 45 min. This little guy nearly landed in my palette yesterday. Oil on paper. #oilpainting #art #insects

Day 1 of my artist residency. #oilpainting

There’s an alarming amount of dog hair in this painting. Chicken #5, 11x14, oil on cradled wood. #oilpainting #chickens #art #traditionalart #painting

Friday plein air. I love the convenience of this little guerrilla painter box but the tiny palette area is a challenge. #pleinair #oilpainting #wip #art

New portrait. Experimenting with color and mark making. Oil on canvas. Reference from Museum by Sktchy. #oilpainting #portrait #portraitpainting #art #painting #paintingpractice

A little Saturday portrait practice. Oil on paper. Reference from Museum by Sktchy. #oilpainting #painting #portrait #art #faces #portraitpainting

Another small plein air piece. Oil on canvas panel, 5x7. #oilpainting #painting #art #pleinair #home #traditionalart

I think this is done as well. View inside my mom’s studio showing her dress mannequin, paint cart, and 14 year old lab mix dozing in the chair. 5x7, oil on canvas panel. #oilpainting #art #painting #studio #dog #paintingfromlife #interiors #rescuedogs

And the finished-ish version. I added some details and variety to some of my original color choices. I also wanted to “bounce” some of the colors around and I think it’s got a more cohesive look now. Oil on canvas panel. #oilpainting #art #interior #paintingfromlife #smallworks #painting #home

WIP. I’m visiting my parents and painting their house bit by bit. “Sewing Corner” 5x7, oil on canvas panel #oilpainting #art #painting #paintingfromlife #homeinterior #crafty

Raised gardens and martin house. This one was a struggle and I think it shows…but that’s painting sometimes😂 Onto the next one! #pleinair #painting #art #oilpainting #summer #garden #birdhouse

Plein air WIP. #oilpainting #pleinair #wip #art #summer

In progress. Scoutie has been a top notch model this afternoon. Not inclined to move at all. 5x7 oil on canvas panel. #oilpainting #lifepainting #inthestudio #art #dog #dogsinart #rescuedog #wip

Sometimes I like to start these sketches with whatever leftover colors I have on my palette and then try to build towards something believable. She started out with green skin and blue hair. Fun stuff. Reference from Museum by Sktchy. #oilpainting #portrait #paintingpractice #painting #art #sketch

Another portrait study…lots of fun especially with the pup. Oil on paper. Reference from Museum by Sktchy. #oilpainting #oilstudy #portrait #pet #petportrait #dog #art #painting #traditionalart

Regular portrait studies have been super helpful to my painting progress. Challenging but the paper makes it feel low stakes and it’s a great place to experiment with marks, color, etc. Reference from Museum by Sktchy. #oilpainting #portrait #paintingstudy #paintingpractice #art #redhair

Process photos from a recent plein air session. #pleinair #oilpainting #art #painting #behindthescenes www.kellycottingham.com/blog/friday-...

I like to keep some portrait sketches in the mix. It’s such a good exercise. Reference from Museum by Sktchy. #oilpainting #sketch #portrait #practice #art

This painting got off to a weird start. Process photos are up on my website. #oilpainting #chicken #tutorial #howto #learning #behindthescenes #painting #art #traditionalart www.kellycottingham.com/blog/tiny-ch...

I can only go so many days without painting a dog. Reference from Museum by Sktchy. Oil sketch on paper. #oilpainting #petportrait #oilsketch #art #dogs #traditionalart #portrait

Friday morning plein air. #oilpainting #pleinair #art #outdoors #tunnel #pennsylvania

New still life in the works. #oilpainting #snackfood #snacks #goldfish #nostalgia #art #traditionalart #wip

Thrilled that this still life found a home yesterday! #apples #fruit #stilllife #oilpainting #art

In progress. This is the 4th still life I’ve made from one bouquet. Gotta paint fast because these flowers won’t last much longer. 8x10, oil on wood panel. #oilpainting #art #stilllife #painting #art #flower #floral #wip

Just finished up this floral study…on to the next one! Oil on canvas panel, 5x7. #oilpainting #flowers #floral #pink #purple #art #bouquet #painting #stilllife

Another flower study in progress. 5x7, oil on canvas panel #flowers #floral #oilpainting #art #stilllife #painting #traditionalart #bouquet #wip

Another flower study. 5x7, oil on canvas panel. #oilpainting #flowers #painting #floral #flowerpainting #art #oilstudy #pink

A little 5x7 floral study. This is my second time ever painting flowers…lots to learn. #oilpainting #floral #stilllife #bouquet #flowers #painting #art

Went to the flower farm this morning for a bouquet to paint and got totally sidetracked by this pile of kittens. #kittens #cats #farm #sunbeam

A small panel calls for a small chicken. 4x4, oil on cradled wood. #oilpainting #painting #art #birds #chickens #traditionalart #tinypainting

Detail shot of the last chicken painting 🐓 I added some step-by-step photos on my website if you’re curious how it was made: www.kellycottingham.com/blog/buildin... #oilpainting #tutorial #art #chicken #process #birds #painting #traditionalart

All finished with chicken #3. #oilpainting #art #chickens #traditionalart #rural #bird #animalart #animalportrait

Another chicken in progress. #wip #oilpainting #art #painting #chickens #farmanimals #traditionalart