Keeping It Simple

Life has been less than simple of late, leaving limited time for painting. In a vain attempt to accomplish something at the easel, I did this little oil sketch today. This is 5 x 7 oil on masonite panel, and the horse is Society's Chairman, from a photo I took in the paddock on International Day at Woodbine last October. I had intended it to be a more complete colour piece, but I decided I like it just the way it is. Now if my life would just follow suit.... :-)

Up Close and Personal on Plate Day

If this painting I finished last night looks familiar, it's because it's from one of the paddock shots I took before the Queen's Plate. I think this is a love it or hate it kind of painting - it's a little unconventional, but I have to admit I'm drawn to that sort of thing. I do the more typical scenes, but sometimes it's kind of fun to push it a bit.

This painting is 14 x 18 oil on canvas, and I'm going to call it "Outside Chance."

So, after a series of smaller paintings, two larger ones are done. Guess what? Have to fill that void...I started a couple of new ones today. Have to keep things moving around here!

No, Don't Say It!

As I walked out to the barn to feed this morning I thought it won't be long before I'm wanting my vest on. While it's nice to have these cool nights, it's a reminder than (gulp) summer is going to be ending sooner rather than later....sniff!

The most exciting thing to happen in the last week really has nothing to do with me, except that it relates to a painting I've posted a few times. Jambalaya, who I painted winning the '06 Singspiel Stakes, won the Grade I Arlington Million this past Saturday! What a star!! Fortunately ABC televised some races from Arlington so I was able to watch it. You can see the replay on The Blood-Horse.


A few new paintings are in the works. Besides the two commissions I have on the go, I'm working on two paddock scenes and now a new mare and foal piece for a project I recently became aware of. The one little paddock piece is nearly done - it's a 6 x 6 oil on canvas. The second I've just started to block in the colour – in this case, green, green, and more green! Green is a tough colour to get right, so there's lots of work ahead in this one.


I'm kind of excited about the mare and foal piece. So far I've just turned my little thumbnail into the drawing on the canvas itself, and started blocking in some rough tones. Next I'll start the underpainting. This one needs to be done by the middle of September, so I'd better get going on it! It's a composite from three different photographs, so it was fun to put together. Hopefully it will turn out the way I want!