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

Finished painting from yesterday’s plein air session. Oil on canvas panel. 5x7. #oilpainting #pleinair #art #nature #pennsylvania

Friday morning plein air. #oilpainting #pleinair #art #pennsylvania #nature

Detail view of a recent portrait. Oil on paper. #oilpainting #portrait #art #eye

Process photos from the last portrait. #oilpainting #portraits #art #arttutorial #alwayslearning www.kellycottingham.com/blog/seconda...

Experimenting with a secondary color palette: permanent orange, ultramarine violet, and chromium oxide green. Reference from Museum by Sktchy. Oil on paper.

Some step-by-step process photos for my portrait class. Sometimes I think these are more useful than watching a demo. www.kellycottingham.com/blog/making-...

Delighted that this painting found a home this morning! “Hank Says Hi” Oil on cradled wood 8x10 #oilpainting #dogs #art #traditionalart #pets #petportraits

Golden. Oil sketch on paper. #oilpainting #pets #art #petportrait #dog #goldenretriever

Cooking up some new projects for my portrait class. Oil on paper. Yellow ochre, napthol red, Prussian blue, and white. Reference from Museum by Sktchy. #oilpainting #portraits #art #painting #faces

Quick portrait study using yellow ochre and alizarin crimson. Oil on paper. Reference from Museum by Sktchy. #oilpainting #portait #art

Some takeaways from my first plein air festival. A+, would do again. #pleinair #oilpainting www.kellycottingham.com/blog/rtpa-2026

Started this months ago and just finished up. I completely reworked the trees and added some marks and flourishes to the surroundings. The only thing that never really changed was the bus. #oilpainting #vw #vanlife #vwvan #vwbus #landscape #ontheroad #art #vintage #traditionalart #painting

I’m delighted that this painting got an honorable mention at River Towns Plein Air! #oilpainting #pleinair #art

Rainy view across the river. I had to work under a park pavilion because it was pouring. The light was so bad I could barely see what I was mixing. #oilpainting #pleinair #landscape #river

Detail shot from one of my favorite plein air paintings this past week. #pleinair #oilpainting #details

Another plein air…took too long on this one and feeling pretty meh about it. Hoping fresh eyes in a day or so will help. #pleinair #oilpainting

Painting in the rain yesterday. #rivertownspleinair #oilpainting #pleinair

Second plein air of the day…not quite finished. Might have to go back. #pleinair #oilpainting #rivertownspleinair #farm #art #barn #wip

Another plein air painting in progress from earlier today. #oilpainting #rivertownspleinair #pleinair #art

Lots of painting today. Another progress photo. #oilpainting #pleinair #rivertownpleinair #wip

Progress shot from today’s plein air (1 of 2 paintings). #oilpainting #pleinair #rivertownspleinair #mariettapa

Painting in between rain showers today 🥶 #rivertownsplainair2026 #oilpainting #pleinair #art