I never  grow tired of seeing my work hang in a place of honor in someone's home.  This is not something I take for granted, and generally once someone acquires a painting they are happy to send me photos of it hanging, thank goodness for cell phones! I like to show some of them from time to time to give other's ideas, and so they can see cows in context.  (These should all be linked under the blog topic of cows in context.)

This painting titled "Milk Calves Holstein and Mixed" was purchased unframed in 2013.  (I have been painting cows as my theme since 2004)  I shipped it out as I often do, and the buyer found a great frame.  These are the pictures of it framed and hanging.

The one on the right for sure is Holstein, I'm not too sure about the one on the left, I would love thoughts on that! Either way

the frame is fantastic and the Milk Calves are happy!

And here you can see the Milk Calves hang above a fireplace, with lights on either side, making a statement with cows in the middle.

I have seen a few over fireplaces, but this one has those recessed areas where the painting and the lighting fit perfectly.

You can hang paintings as the focal point for the room, giving it a ton of personality.

I like this one a lot! Thank you for the pictures of the Milk Calves Alan M.,  they look fantastic hanging here!

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These calves lived at our local dairy, where I frequently can be found taking photos.  I love those big eyes that calves have, their expressions and lashes make this piece!!

I was contacted by Shawn about a Jersey calf painting that was already sold.  I frequently do small studies so clients can see what they might like for a larger more detailed painting, and this was one of those.

6x6 "Jersey Calf in Summer"

I had done the larger painting as a commission for clients in Arizona.  The new owners came to my studio to pick up their painting, which you can see pleased them.  :)  I actually remembered to take a picture of them together with the piece.

In addition to showing the difference between a study and a larger more detailed painting, this gives you a view into how I do custom work.  The recent contact loved the Jerseys and his wife grew up on a Jersey farm in Upstate New York, so they wanted something similar.  The next step was to go through my Jersey Calf reference photos to find a likely subject.  I will do as many studies as it takes to find the perfect cow or calf composition, as long as I am using photos that I took, and the client doesn't have to pay for them as they just become inventory.

As luck would have it, the first one I did was a winner, they loved it!

Curious Jersey Calf    6x6 study in oil

Onward to the larger piece.  It is of interest to know that this painting is for a former 'Dairy Princess' whose job on the farm was to feed the dairy calves up until she left for college.  This is a person who really knows Jerseys, so I am very pleased that I was able to create something that will bring back joyful fond memories every time she views her painting. 

Curious Jersey Calf  30x30 oil on canvas by Denise Rich

Upon arrival I received this message from them:

We received the painting late last evening. It is stunningly beautiful. Former Dairy Princess  is over the moon ecstatic. Thank you so much. It is now the focal point of our home.

Thank you for letting me create this painting for you!

If you look through my artwork and find something you love that is sold, you can commission a similar painting, and choose the size.  This is one that I recently finished, and in fact they also chose the background color, red.  I do love a red background with black and white animals.

This painting is 36x36, and you can see other similar calf paintings I have done if you look through my website.  This painting, done in my studio in El Cajon (San Diego County) California, was shipped to the new owners in Oklahoma, who love it!  They said :

If you are one of the followers of my work, thank you, and of course you know the answer to the following question: "Do you paint anything else besides cows?"  ...... a question that I hear frequently from visitors to the studio that are not familiar with my work.   For those who are newly exposed,  the next question usually is "Where do people hang these?"  an interesting question, and one that can be addressed simply with photos from some of my collectors:

In the office, with a view from various other rooms:

"Red, White and Moo"    Original Cow with Calf Oil Painting by Denise Rich   48"x 60"

"Happy Cow Head"   Original Happy Cow Oil Painting by Denise Rich   18"x 18"

In the living room!  (Three of these are cows by Denise Rich, shown in collection with cow paintings by other artists.

Far left, "Freckles"  24"x24"   lower piece to the right of Freckles is "Holstein Calf on Blue"  24"x 24"  

Directly above awesome green couch is "Morning Glory"  Holstein painting 24"x 48" by Denise Rich

This collector moved, here are "Morning Glory" and "Holstein Calf on Blue" in her previous home:

One thing I really love about these last two photos is showing how this collector has cow paintings by more than one artist, so you can collect the work of Denise Rich along with Linda St. Clair, Teresa Elliot, Bonnie Mohr etcetera.

Did you see the cow painting on Property Brothers HGTV show?  You are not alone.  Neither are the Property Brothers the only ones who appreciate how great having original bovine art can be a refreshing focal point of a room, I have many wonderful collectors who are in on this fact.  It's not every day you see a serious cow portrait, so it's a surprisingly engaging idea.   

"Daisy"  Original Holstein Calf Oil Painting by Denise Rich   48"x 60"

I have my own original cow paintings and portraits in the homes of many collectors across the United States and as far away as Ireland, Australia and the UK.   When I'm really the happiest is when I receive photos showing the work in it's new home.  

"Daisy"  room view

It can be quite a challenge to photograph artwork, many times here in the studio I have to work to avoid off color caused by lighting that is too warm or too cool, or glare, but a photo in a home still gives you a feel for how a painting can be used in your own home.

"Moo Baby"    Original Hereford Calf Oil Painting by Denise Rich       36"x48"   

In some cases, such as the two paintings shown in this post,  I work directly with the client to insure a painting that fits into the color scheme of the room.  These paintings were both commissioned pieces, using my own photographs as reference, but finding images among them that 'spoke' to my clients.  Sometimes you just find the perfect painting for your space has already been created, and sometimes you work together to create the perfect painting that is exactly what you want.

For more information about commissioning a painting I can be reached in the studio by phone at 619-933-5935 or anytime by email [email protected].  

Several months ago I did a custom painting for a client in Norway of his Highland cows.  The internet is wonderful

for this, as my client Olav was able to send me his photo through email, and I was able to send him updates as well.

Usually I ship the paintings stretched, but to save the very high costs of shipping to Norway I removed it and shipped

it rolled in a tube, if I recall correctly the shipping ended up costing around $60.  Olav had it stretched and framed on his end, and I'm

so thrilled to see it in a photo he sent me recently hanging in his cabin.  Thank you Olav!  It looks great!