Rural Art in Soft Pastel by Artist Lynda Baxter

It became evident to me that I should paint RURAL ART after living in rural Alberta for more than two decades! Clydesdale horse paintings, Highland cow paintings, rooster and chicken paintings and of course the rural landscape that surrounds us!

Rural Art by Lynda Baxter in Soft Pastels

 

Lynda Baxter is inspired by her surroundings! She paints Alberta's landscape and farm animals using the neighbouring livestock as her never-ending source of inspiration! She can always be found traveling the backroads, camera ready, looking for that perfect shot!

"I love to paint cattle, particularly highland cattle. Clydesdale horses, bison, roosters, chickens, and of course the rural landscape that surrounds us are also high on my list of subjects to paint.

I’m a self taught artist. I loved to draw when I was growing up, and started to paint using watercolour in my early 20's.  It was 35 years before I returned to art again. My mom had some Grumbacher pastels from the 1950's. She asked if I wanted to try them. Yes, I did! I've never looked back. That set of 48 sticks has grown to an embarrassing amount of soft pastels now. The medium is spectacular and I couldn’t be happier learning more about them with each painting I do."

Lynda Baxter is an international artist and Master Pastelist residing in Alberta, Canada. She has also achieved AFCA and SCA designations.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” – Psalm 19:1

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Gallery

What can I say! Soft pastels are my new love. The vibrant colours, the silky smooth way they go on the paper, oh, and the choices of paper you can get! Tinted, sanded with different grits, and of course, I can use my watercolours with clear gesso and make my own! I'm surrounded by RURAL everything! I wouldn't have it any other way. I see beauty everywhere I go and in everything little thing. I'm constantly striving to challenge myself and am enjoying all of the people I meet along my way who invite me into their way of life so I can take zillions of reference photos! I'm utterly grateful for them, and all the cow, rooster, chicken, pig, and sheep facts they teach me while I'm there. I'm feeling  truly blessed.

When we moved to central Alberta, I was completely intrigued by the local moose! I still am. I spent countless hours driving back roads trying to spot them. The perfect bull moose. Antlers dripping with water from the many sloughs we have, and of course back the perfect photo would be backlit!! All I ever found were cows. I feel in love with them. They replaced my moose habit in a heartbeat. When I discovered I had neighbours with Highland cows, I suddenly had a new passion, subject and I was in for a whole new learning curve!!

 

"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. ~ Psalm 19-1