Abstract Cow Painting: How a Bad Plein Air Day Led to My Cow Portraits
See how a failed plein air day (and a run-in with the cops) turned into my loose abstract cow portrait series. Mixed media demo plus story time.
Abstract cow painting is how I paint a lot of my best-selling work. Here’s the mixed media demo, plus the story of how a really bad day of plein air got me started.
Start with a reject
For this one, I’m using an old watercolor drawing from my drawer. It has crayon scribbles, and it was even used to mix up some acrylics. I’ve been using pieces like this for my abstract cow series. Want to try it? See how to start mixed media with crayon and watercolor rejects.
Want to Create Loose Mixed Media Art, Slacker? Learn the fundamentals, experiment with collage and layers, and develop your own expressive style.
Story time: the day I tried plein air
Years ago, I lived in a rural area of Virginia. I kept seeing plein air painters on YouTube and it looked so appealing: an easel, nature, birds, a cool red barn. So I loaded up my van and went looking for a scene.
I drove for over five hours and never painted a thing. I came home defeated and told myself I was done.
But I’m stubborn. The next morning I thought, “All I have to do is pull over and do it. It doesn’t have to be the perfect scene.”
The cows come to say hi
After hours of driving, I kept passing a cow farm. So I parked, set up, and the cows came right over. They were curious. They pushed their heads over the fence and tried to sniff, bump, and lick my easel. I had to pull it back.
I drew and painted quite a few pieces that day. It was time well spent, and it broke the ice with plein air.
From cows to a long-running series
That’s where my loose abstract cow portraits came from. Funny enough, they landed me a commission with a major cruise line. I’ve been painting for their steakhouse for about 10 years, and I’ve sold hundreds of cow portraits.
Plein air and I never really bonded, though. One day I hopped a fence to get closer to a building, and the next thing I knew I was surrounded by cops. Turns out I was on the grounds of a women’s prison. Good times. My kids love that story.
The moral
You never know what a bad day will lead to. Keep showing up, even when it doesn’t go as planned.
For more loose animal painting, see loose horse painting and 10 tips for painting loose.
Learn Structure. Paint Loose.
Construct. Deconstruct. Explore. Repeat.
Abstract cow painting FAQ
How do you paint an abstract cow?
Keep the shapes simple and bold: head, ears, and nose, with loose, chunky brushstrokes.
What is plein air painting?
Painting outdoors, on location, instead of from photos in a studio.
Can I paint over an old reject?
Yes. Old watercolors, scribbles, and mixing sheets make great textured bases.
Do cow paintings sell?
Mine have. Simple, loose animal portraits are a popular subject.
