A Walk on the Farm. A New Landscape Painting

September 27, 2019 Natalie Wargin

Most likely I don’t need to remind you that my paintings depict things that have actually happened or things that I’ve observed. Occasionally I throw in a detail simply for effect and there’s one in this piece. The lights in the tree. But as for the rest of it, here’s the story.

My sister and I took her little dog, Riley, down to Davenport’s farm. We walked in the hot afternoon sun past the barn and the rattle trap truck, past the white duck who is actually part of a different story, down the dusty fields and we took a left, turning where we’d never turned before. What we saw surprised us. A secret garden. Lush cool greenery, ferns and shadowy trees, a couple of chairs beside a small stream. We would have lingered but Riley was running as usual, past the lettuces and corn, worrying the rabbits, startling a couple of wild turkeys. It was a good afternoon.

“The Walk.”
Acrylic on birch board.
20 x 16 inches.
$1800.

This painting and prints of this image are available in my shop which is now reopened. In addition to free shipping on any order over $35 I’m also offering 10% off any purchase from today, September 27 through Monday, September 30.
You can find the painting here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/739384531/the-walk-original-acrylic-painting?ref=shop_home_active_2&frs=1
You can find the prints here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/739385835/art-print-original-painting-the-walk?ref=listing_published_alert

Thank you for taking a look at what I’ve been up to!

New Painting -- My Neighbors

January 12, 2016 Natalie Wargin

I have these neighbors up the road who have a story that you can read just by looking at their property. The star of the story as I tell it is Chester, the 16 year old rescued Belgian Draft Horse. Chester is big and blonde and gentle. A handsome chap. Belgians are related to Clydesdales so that might give you an idea of Chester's size. He loves to lay in the mud or stand out in the rain or snow. I suppose if you had such an enormous body you might like to cool down when you get the opportunity. Chester has his own barn and a corral that are pretty much right on the road and he attracts attention. Hence the sign: "Please Don't Feed The Horse. Ask." I should say right now that I haven't manufactured anything that you see in the painting. I loved that brilliant sign the second I saw it. I took a picture and I'm glad I did because it's weathered and you can't really read it anymore.

The deer hanging from the tree is common during hunting season. I think the man who lives here is a pretty good hunter because every year there's a deer. One year there was a bear. And one year there was a coyote. Apparently the coyotes were eating the chickens. Although I've placed the tree in the background the actual "hanging tree" is on the road. Scared the daylights out of me the first morning I ran past and saw a dead deer hanging next to me.

The woman who lives here actually has three pigs. Pot bellied pigs that live in the house. I have met them and they are sweet and bristley. Here she is walking the largest.

The painting is an acrylic on birch board, 16" x 12", my largest to date.
This is also the first time I've added a person.
And I've given Chester a pink halo just to show how special I think he is.

The piece is available in my shop:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/263160806/original-painting-my-neighbors-with?ref=shop_home_active_1

Two Dogs on the Hudson

April 20, 2015 Natalie Wargin

I was asked to do a painting of two dogs in a Hudson Valley setting. I have always loved dog portraits, especially old master formal pieces. You know, the hunting scene with the dogs large in the foreground, horses and riders in their "pinks" in a tangle behind them. Or better, the stiff profile of a dog standing in the foreground of a country scene; river, hills and woodland always in the background. I admit I was a bit nonplussed by the request. I have never thought of myself as a portraitist but the opportunity intrigued me. I was provided with a number of photos of two handsome creatures. This is the result. Like so many of the old portraits I placed the dogs front and center. The requested Valley landscape -- Hudson River, Catskills, red barn, farm animals, foliage -- are present and also mimic the old portraits. But instead of a stiff traditional pose with the dog oblivious of the viewer, I have these two looking straight at us. Less formal. More like the dogs I know.

Prints of this painting are available in various sizes in my Etsy shop:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/230363174/art-print-original-watercolor-painting?ref=shop_home_active_1