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Kelly Cottingham @kecotting.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Putting the finishing touches on this one. Reference photo taken while walking my dog one evening. #oilpainting #traditionalart #painting #art #skies #twilight

Oil painting of dramatic twilight clouds.

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Kelly Cottingham @kecotting.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

One of the last paintings from my residency. This was the evening view from my bedroom window. 5x7, oil on canvas. #oilpainting #art #nocturne #architecture #church #traditionalart

Oil painting of a yellow brick church at night.

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Kelly Cottingham @kecotting.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Experimenting with a weird palette today…India yellow, quinacridone magenta, and chromium oxide green. #oilpainting #artistresidency #art #painting

Oil paintings on a cork board. One is a test of palette colors, one is a stone bench in a garden, and one is a small lake view.

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Kelly Cottingham @kecotting.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Kind of obsessed with these windmills near my residency and how different they look throughout the day in the changing light/weather. 9x12, oil on canvas. #oilpainting #art #windmills #renewableenergy #traditionalart #greenenergy

Oil painting of a road and cornfields with 3 windmills in the distance.

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Kelly Cottingham @kecotting.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Recent landscape. Painted from a photo I took along the Ghost Town Trail. 9x12, oil on canvas. #oilpainting #art #pennsylvania #painting #stream #creek #landscape

Oil painting of a Pennsylvania creek in late summer.

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Kelly Cottingham @kecotting.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

On the easel today…reference photo from the family archives. #wip #oilpainting #crabbing #waterman #paintingthepast #art

Oil painting on an easel. The painting depicts a man in a jacket and cap working on a boat.

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Kelly Cottingham @kecotting.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Another one in progress. Pretty happy with how it’s shaping up. #wip #oilpainting #painting #art #landscape

Oil painting on a cork board. Painting is of a garden scene with a large house in the background.

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Kelly Cottingham @kecotting.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Yesterday’s painting from a reference photo I took one my way to the trailhead. No energy for plein air after my bike ride but I like how this turned out. I forgot my sd card reader at home so I’m stuck with phone pics for now. Better photos soon. #oilpainting #windmills #landscape #art #paint

Oil painting mounted on a cork board. The painting is of a rural road with corn in fields and windmills in the background.

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Kelly Cottingham @kecotting.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

My first time using a linen panel…there may be no going back. #wip #oilpainting #painting #art #peacock

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Kelly Cottingham @kecotting.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Plein air lakeside. 5x7. I had to paint fast to beat the rain. #oilpainting #pleinair

Oil painting in front of a lake with grasses and rocks and a dam in the background. The sky is cloudy.

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Kelly Cottingham @kecotting.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

A little warm up sketch this morning. Took about 45 min. This little guy nearly landed in my palette yesterday. Oil on paper. #oilpainting #art #insects

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Kelly Cottingham @kecotting.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

There’s an alarming amount of dog hair in this painting. Chicken #5, 11x14, oil on cradled wood. #oilpainting #chickens #art #traditionalart #painting

Oil painting of a chicken. Dark blues and greens in the background with oranges and reds around the head.

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Kelly Cottingham @kecotting.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Friday plein air. I love the convenience of this little guerrilla painter box but the tiny palette area is a challenge. #pleinair #oilpainting #wip #art

Picture in a garden with an oil painting in progress.

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Kelly Cottingham @kecotting.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

New portrait. Experimenting with color and mark making. Oil on canvas. Reference from Museum by Sktchy. #oilpainting #portrait #portraitpainting #art #painting #paintingpractice

Colorful oil painting of a young woman with short brown hair. She is looking off to the right.

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Kelly Cottingham @kecotting.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

A little Saturday portrait practice. Oil on paper. Reference from Museum by Sktchy. #oilpainting #painting #portrait #art #faces #portraitpainting

Oil painting portrait of an older woman with reddish hair and blue eyes.

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Kelly Cottingham @kecotting.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

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

Oil painting showing a view in front of two windows with a dress mannequin, paint cart, and chair with an old yellow dog sleeping. There is a large barn in the background through the windows.

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Kelly Cottingham @kecotting.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

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

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Kelly Cottingham @kecotting.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

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

Oil painting of a corner of a room with sewing materials on a desk and a desk chair facing the viewer.

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Kelly Cottingham @kecotting.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

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

Oil painting of a garden with raised beds and a martin house in the background.

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Kelly Cottingham @kecotting.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

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

An oil painting held in front of the scene being painted. The scene is a dog on a chair in front of a window with art supplies in a cart and a dress mannequin nearby.

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Kelly Cottingham @kecotting.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

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

Oil painting of a young woman wearing a chunky white necklace.

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Kelly Cottingham @kecotting.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

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

Oil painting of a young woman with her old chihuahua type dog poking its head out of her yellow jacket.

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Kelly Cottingham @kecotting.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

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

Oil painting of a young woman with red hair and freckles.

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Kelly Cottingham @kecotting.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

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

Oil portrait of a young woman with messy brown hair.

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Kelly Cottingham @kecotting.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

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

Oil painting of a black French bulldog being held in a woman’s arms.

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Kelly Cottingham @kecotting.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

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

Oil painting of a flower still life on an easel in front of the still life set up.

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Kelly Cottingham @kecotting.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

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

Purple pink flowers in a vase. 3 big flowers and greenery.

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Kelly Cottingham @kecotting.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

A little 5x7 floral study. This is my second time ever painting flowers…lots to learn. #oilpainting #floral #stilllife #bouquet #flowers #painting #art

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Kelly Cottingham @kecotting.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

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

3 black and white kittens snoozing in a pile in the sunshine on a concrete floor.

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Kelly Cottingham @kecotting.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

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

Oil painting detail photo of a chicken’s head.

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Kelly Cottingham @kecotting.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

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

Oil painting of a creek with lots of greenery and a log poking out of the shoreline.

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