Orpington Couple

Orpington Couple
Watercolor, 2011
10" x 18"
Sold at Auction - benefit for Sunnyside Music Festival
Framed by Metro Frame Works

I used several photos of Buff colored Orpington Chickens to create a fictionalized pose of this couple. My idea was to present them in a similar manner to American Gothic by Grant Wood.

I made several sketches of chicken portraits then traced them onto Arches 140lb Cold Pressed Watercolor Paper. I painted the chickens using mostly Burnt Sienna (Windsor Newton) and Yellow Ochre (Daniel Smith). The chicken wire was drawn in graphite then painted using Payne's Grey (Daniel Smith).

I had tried several chicken paintings for this benefit auction, all were horrible. I asked Metro Frame Works for one more weekend to work on a painting and they said they'd rush the framing for me... thank goodness because I started from scratch and created Orpington Couple on my first try.  I probably had some help from above.  I know the person that bought this painting and I truly appreciate their donation to the Sunnyside Music Festival which benefits local charities in North West Denver and for giving Orpington Couple a home.