This gallery groups animal paintings by type of animal, then year: Birds, Groups, Horse, Cow, Goat, Sheep, Pig, Rabbits, Dog, Cat, Beaver, Turtles, Frog, Clams.
Two Cranes, Rowley Field
Oil paint on canvas, 12 x 22 inches, 2012
Snowy Owl, Pink House Roof
Oil paint on canvas, 36 x 24 inches, 2014
Snowy owls come to Newburyport environs in the winter but are not always seen so readily. Occasionally, these splendid birds present themselves in ordinary places for mere humans to gaze upon. This controlled painting captures two iconic Newburyport images that came together in a moment – the owl and the aging pink house in the marsh – and shows the ethereal visiting the mundane.
Perspective, Chicken
Oil paint on canvas, 14 x 11 inches, 2015
An abundance of pattern and texture interacts within the foreground and slowly the bigger background space can be discerned.
Turkey 1, Gold
Oil paint on panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2013
Turkey 2, Blue
Oil paint on panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2013
Two Fowl, SPLF
Oil paint on panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2018
A composition that plays up the color blue, flashes of color in feathers and patches of warm sunlight.
Hawk in Garden
Oil paint on canvas, 14 x 18 inches, 2024 • AVAILABLE
One late day in October, the garden was dried out and quiet in tawny colors. A Cooper’s Hawk looked up from its resting perch as I looked down from height of the nearby parking lot.
Meeting, SPLF
Oil paint on canvas, 28 x 26 inches, 2012
Different textures of fur were important to distinguish each animal.
Three Friends – large version
Acrylic paint on paper, rolled, 67.5 x 42 inches, 2013
This was the first painting on rolled paper, and the first of seven works that were thrilling to do, each in a single session of about 2 hours. I cut off a huge sheet, taped it to the wall, and painted quickly with big brushes. Three friends: Schooner horse, Sun goat, Appleton goat.
Resting Ruminants – SPLF
Acrylic paint on canvas, 24 x 18 inches, 2014 • AVAILABLE
Three Friends – smaller version
Acrylic paint on paper, mounted and framed, 14 x 11 est inches, 2019
Sheep-dog trials, Blue Hill Fair
Acrylic paint on paper, mounted, 15.5 x 9.5 inches, 2022
Shining Horse, Schooner
Acrylic paint on paper, rolled, 42 x 44 inches, 2013 • AVAILABLE
Schooner was a friendly horse, good to the other animals and people.
Horse Pulling Away
Oil paint on panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2013
Irish Cows, St. Tola Pasture
Oil paint on panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2012
Irish cows on an early spring morning.
Full Donkey 1
Oil paint on panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2012
This painting was the first work in what became the 12×12 series. Then, the challenge was to get at a full body in a contented pose, showing the animal in donkey heaven. The real donkey’s name was Nestor. He was like a big pet, very lovable and good with humans.
Full Donkey 2
Oil paint on panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2012
Donkey Face!
Oil paint on panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2012
Some donkey on a farm outside Boston had its black and white picture in the newspaper. It made me smile. Although the ear’s proportions are “wrong,” I still smile and love that pink sky!
Shaggy Donkey
Oil paint on panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2015
A most handsome donkey named Roger was the model. Light and textures were important to show off.
Sitting Goat, Grazing Donkey
Oil paint on panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2022
The two animals at peace in their corral, with landscape beyond.
Donkey Grazing in Field
Acrylic paint on paper, 16.5 x 11.75 inches, 2019 • AVAILABLE
Two Goats – Sun and Shine
Acrylic paint on paper, 17 x 12 inches, 2019 • AVAILABLE
Connemara Mountain Goats
Acrylic paint on paper, rolled, framed, 42 x 28.5 inches, 2013
Wild Irish goats came quickly upon us in the Connemara National Park. I grabbed a couple pics and got away.
Appleton Grazing
Acrylic paint on paper, rolled, framed, 26.5 x 42 inches, 2013
This small goat could sneak out of the corral for rich grass in the adjoining field.
Goat Face, Sun
Oil paint on panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2012
Sun was the first goat in the 12×12 series, a happy animal. The color palette was a bit off-reality to suit the joy.
Goat Face Profile, Shine
Oil paint on panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2013
Shine was Sun’s constant companion.
Goat Face, Cloud
Oil paint on panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2013
Is Cloud a goat or sheep? Her curls and happy demeanor make me smile.
Sheep and Goat Resting, Prudence and Caroline
Oil paint on panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2014
Caroline (background) and Prudence (foreground) liked to be together. Prudence is actually a Bermuda sheep, not a goat. Textures, light, posture, and personality are equally important.
Two Lunchmates
Acrylic paint on paper, rolled, 42 x 51.5 inches, 2013
Two lunchmates: Prudence and Caroline having a bite to eat.
Sheep Shadow – SPLF
Oil paint on canvas, 24 x 18 inches, 2014
Two Sheep Under Duress
Oil paint on panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2013
A sheep-dog trial event coming up. The two sheep await the opening gate.
Mocha Mille Grande
Oil paint on panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2013
Brown-Faced Sheep, Virgil
Oil paint on panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2014
The deep green tones show off Virgil’s sunlit fur and deep brown face.
Two Sheep, Dark Green
Oil paint on panel, 12 x 12 inches. 2018
Sheep Flock, Sun and Shadow
Acrylic paint on paper, mounted, 24 x 19 inches, 2018 • AVAILABLE
Black-Faced Sheep
Acrylic paint on paper, mounted, 13.5 x 10 inches, 2020 • AVAILABLE
Sheep in Fence Shadow – SPLF
Acrylic paint on canvas, 24 x 18 inches, 2023 • AVAILABLE
Pig Bucket
Oil paint on panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2012
Rabbits
Oil paint on panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2013
Zoe Callard (Pet Dog)
Acrylic paint on paper, rolled, 33.5 x 42 inches, 2014 • AVAILABLE
First painting of a dog to see if I could do it. A commissioned painting followed, also in 2014.
Zoe Callard, Exceptional Pet Dog
Oil paint on canvas, 16 x 20 inches, 2014
Commissioned painting
Two Dogs
Oil paint on panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2016
Dogs were chained behind the semi-tractor cab of a cattle hauler.
Scooter Dog – Off Plum Island
Acrylic paint on canvas, 24 x 18 inches, 2022
This commissioned painting of a beloved, large dog has a combination of playfulness, affection, and a gaze of gravitas. The composition captures a mainly overcast day and many angles from Scooter’s lanky body, expressive ears, a posture of legs compressed ready to spring and play. The background shows a time and space. There is the sweep of sandbar, and then the mainland, not far from Crossbanks in Plum Island Sound near Rowley, Massachusetts. Google Maps shows the reference photo with coordinates of 42.71368 degrees north, 70.81019 degrees west, Plum Island Sound.
Cat Roof Line
Acrylic paint on paper, rolled, 33.5 x 42 inches, 2014 • AVAILABLE
The reference pic was taken from the second floor of my house. I love to see an animal in an unexpected setting. This was a quick, initial experience painting the essential image. A complete oil painting on canvas followed in 2018.
Cat Contemplates Chimney
Acrylic paint on canvas, 36 x 24 inches, 2018 • AVAILABLE
The reference pic was taken from the second floor of my house. This painting followed a 2014 work on paper. Now I felt brave enough to add architectural details, wires and cables.
Two Turtles, Management
Oil paint on panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2015
Two turtles from a flotilla in Queensland’s Ross River.
Frog
Oil paint on panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2016
A pretty realistic painting of a frog on a lily pad on a hot July day.
Beaver Lodge 1
Oil paint on panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2013
My first painting of a beaver lodge, a composition of natural patterns: sticks, sunlight, stumps and sparkle.
Beaver Lodge, Bright Light in Blue
Oil paint on panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2016
Beaver Lodge, Black Water
Oil paint on panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2016
Beaver Lodge 2
Acrylic paint on canvas, 18 x 18 inches, 2017 • AVAILABLE
A larger version of my first painting of a beaver lodge from 2013. A composition of natural patterns: sticks, sunlight, stumps and sparkle. The acrylic paint makes for sharper edges; background has more punch.
BU Turtles
Acrylic paint on paper, mounted, 13,25 x 10.25 inches, 2020 • AVAILABLE
BU’s Biology Building was home to these turtles.
Clams, C-grade
Oil paint on panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2022
Imagination runs free in making up color and patterns of this clam heap. A monochromatic reference pic was taken in David’s Fish Market.
CYNTHIA KOWAL 