Monday Guest Aritst ~ Kim Ratigan

What a perfect day to have a guest blogger - winter decided to pay us another visit and dump some nice wet snow on us here in Southern Ontario, so having someone lined up to fill in today lets me take care of a slightly altered schedule at the barn without the stress of trying to fit in a painting! It's sheer coincidence that I chose Mondays to feature another artist, even though tonight is the only real night I care about TV, because 24 is on.


Kim Ratigan is a watercolour and coloured pencil artist who lives not far from me in Burlington, Ontario. I've known Kim for a long time now, as we used to do art shows together. We're both into horses and dogs, so we've never had trouble finding things to talk about! One of Kim's watercolour paintings was an award-winner at this year's Art Show at the Dog Show. Please take a moment and visit her website and blog to see more of her work! We're going to post two of Kim's paintings today, as I couldn't decide on just one! Thanks, Kim!

"A Word in Your Ear"
19 x 13" watercolour/coloured pencil

This coloured pencil painting portrays a quiet moment between a Thoroughbred going to post and his groom...commnunicating without saying anything...

The painting is on acid free rag board, measuring 19" wide by 13" high, and is double-matted in cream and grey-green, and shrink-wrapped in heavy plastic for protection. It is available for purchase at a special price for the duration of April's "Thirty Horses, Thirty Days." "A Word in Your Ear" is priced at $250.00 US (plus shipping, and 50% of the purchase price will be donated to Linda's favourited charity, LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement, an adoption and placement program for retired racehorses in Ontario, Canada.

If you are interested in purchasing this painting, please contact Kim directly!

"Baby Bling"
5 x 7" Coloured Pencil/Watercolour

This is a small painting of an Arabian foal in all his baby "finery." Done in coloured pencil and watercolour, this piece was accepted into the Pyramid Society's Annual Art Auction, and was sold for $500.00 US.

Canine Competition

Another new painting in the works today. I was hoping to get this one going in time for this year's Art Show at the Dog Show, but I ran out of time. This is a 6 x 8 oil on Raymar canvas panel, featuring an Australian Cattle Dog emerging from the tunnel on an agility course. I love agility - the dogs always look like they're having such a blast. While I've never competed in agility, I used to do it for fun with my Border Collie OTCh Maggie. We even did a fun Rally O (a combination of obedience and agility) match one time - I pulled her out of retirement to do a special Border Collie event, and the old girl pulled of a second!

What you're seeing so far is a very loose, very quick underpainting using Burnt Umber, Ultramarine Blue and Titanium White. The underpainting isn't quite finished yet, but it's quite close. It's refreshing to be able to work fast like this, not let myself think too much, especially after some of the more detailed work I've done of late. And making a foray back to dogs is always fun too! This one will fit nicely with the upcoming Canine Art Guild "The Pursuit of Happiness" online show, scheduled for June 2009. In the meantime, check out the current show, "The Company Dogs Keep." Be sure to vote for your favourite!

Carolina In My Mind

Last night was the coldest night of the winter so far - I won't look at the thermometer when it gets really cold because I might never leave the house! I could tell from the barn though. There was even a skin of ice on the buckets of the two boys in their playhouse out back. I have heard a number pinpointing just how cold it was, but such things will not be uttered here!

While I'm up here freezing, a few of my paintings are in South Carolina this weekend for the Red Cross Benefit Sporting Art Show and Sale in Aiken. I've never been to Aiken, though I've always wanted to go. At least some of my work gets to visit. Kind of like I had some paintings in Louisville on the first Saturday in May a few years ago! The Aiken Horse has done a nice spread on the show. You can see a digital version of the magazine online - look for pages 20-21. The three pieces I will have there are my oil of a Labrador pup, Best Behaviour; another oil, Pile o' Britts that won best entry depicting a Brittany a the Art Show at the Dog Show two years ago, and a pencil drawing I call Baby Steps.


I'd also like to pass on the news that I've opened an online store in the form of and Etsy shop, where I will be offering both small original paintings, and reproductions of my work. I've started listing some items, so please have a look. I've also been invited to be part of the Whoa Horse artists group on Etsy, though it will probably be next week before my membership is processed. In the meantime, be sure to check out the artwork of these talented artists. Just search for "whoa team" in the listings. There is also a members' blog. I'm looking forward to being part of this team!

I'm hoping to finish up one of my larger paintings in the next couple of days, after getting in some good work this week. It's also supposed to warm up this weekend - enough to rain, apparently! I'm not sure how I feel about that, but after today a day above freezing sounds a little bit appealing!

What's Different?

Okay, no prizes if you get the right answer to that. I mailed off my entries for the Art Show at the Dog Show today, after a couple more days of fiddling with the paintings. The painting of Zen isn't a whole lot different from what I posted here, but I made an executive decision on Finn after some discussion with a fellow artist. Like I said, no prizes if you can pick it out!

There's a lot of talk flying around these days about making resolutions for some reason. :-D I gave up on the resolution thing a long time ago - for me it's usually a matter of just carrying on with what I've already got happening. "The holidays" don't mean holidays for most horse people, so it's not like I'm coming off two weeks' vacation looking to make a fresh start. That said, I thought I might try to feed off some of the hype and get myself back into a routine of working out and eating better. No, not because Oprah told me. And no, that doesn't mean I'm going to give up chocolate. I have been on the treadmill a couple of times this week however, and am being more diligent about my water consumption. Are you all proud of me? It did strike me earlier this week that I used to do two hour spin classes, and drink a couple of litres of water a day. I think maybe I need to do something about that!

Often after the frenzy surrounding meeting a deadline, I have no desire to paint for a couple of days, and go along with that. I actually don't feel that way this time. Maybe all that water is giving me more energy, haha. On that note, time to take advantage of that and pick up the brushes!

Hope you don't mind another horse pic though. This is Jubie, recently retired. Kind of looks like something I should paint, doesn't it?

Speak Now, Or...

It was a busy day, spending the morning holding eight horses for trims, and the afternoon mucking nine stalls, which naturally took a bit longer as everyone had been in for half the day. There was no opting out of painting tonight, however, as that deadline is getting closer. Time for the 'reveal' of the mystery WIP, haha. This is an 8 x 10 oil on Raphael linen panel. It's my canine muse, Finn, caught napping on the couch one night. Just something about the way he was sleeping next to the coffee cup made me laugh. I was thinking of calling it "Old Man and a Cup of Coffee" but Finn refuses to act old, though he's now eleven. Because he was a rescue, and I don't know his actual birthdate, I just let him celebrate the same day as the horses.

Sometimes I never quite find the perfect name for a painting, but this one hit me walking out to the barn the other night after working on it, and I had to laugh out loud because I really should have thought of it sooner. So the official title of this one will be "Counting Sheep." Really, what else could it be?


The Brittany painting is nearing completion as well, though it's not beyond tweaking. This one is 11 x 14 oil on Raphael. The dog in this painting is my Brittany, Zen, who I lost almost eleven years ago now. As I mentioned, I had the sketch for this painting in my book for ages. Zen - OTCh Casey's Don't Blame Em Trainem - was an incredible dog, and twice was Canada's top obedience Brittany. I have a more traditional oil pastel portrait of Zen, but something about this pose always appealed to me. I still need to do some work on the trees, and probably the grasses.

I think I've settled on a title for this one as well. I played with the idea of some that were symbolic, or significant, but decided I would be the only one to understand, so I'm calling this "Intuitive." Zen never hunted, but that drive was innate. He would often point when we would go for walks through the fields, and anything in the sky was worth chasing - including airplanes!

So it looks as if I will pull off two entries again this year for the Art Show at the Dog Show. We'll see how they do!

Happy Birthday, Babies...

While the rest of the world was saying 'Happy New Year' at midnight last night, I was out at the barn wishing all my crazy TBs a Happy Birthday. It's hard to believe the babies are officially yearlings now. Gracie celebrated in style with a show of her athleticism, and if I can borrow some Ben Folds lyrics again, "Who's got the looks, who's got the brains, who's got everything?"...that's our girl Gracie! As she was the one with the moves out there today, I'm letting her have the spotlight.


I'm getting even closer on the WIP I've been posting here of late - close enough that after last night's work I decided I needed to put it away for a day or so to gain some fresh perspective. Sometimes after working closely on a painting, we artists convince ourselves it is a disaster, and stepping back for a bit lets us see maybe it's not as bad as we'd feared. I'm hoping that's what happens with this painting!

Tonight I worked on my other potential Art Show at the Dog Show entry. I remember the same thing happened last year. I struggled with the first painting, but the second came easily and ended up being the stronger of the two pieces. I'm liking this one a lot better. There are good reasons for that, not the least of which this one is just more 'me.' I'm not going to share this one yet, so you'll just have to wait! In the meantime, I hope you enjoyed the Gracie Show!

December News: Snow, Rain and Pleasant Surprises

It's a rainy afternoon here in Campbellville - it started mid-day, after some nice fluffy snow all night. So much for that extra layer of the white stuff! Not very festive, to say the least. The horses are in early and thought I should feed them early as well - sorry kids, you'll have to wait! I did, however, take a few photos this morning when the big flakes were falling. Very picturesque, and hard to catch with a camera!


Yesterday I received some exciting news - one of my paintings was juried into the Ex Arte Equinus II show. This is a fairly new and innovative show developed by Lyne Raffe of Art Horse Magazine. Please be sure to view the phenomenal work, which you can see here. It is quite an honour to be included. In addition to the online gallery, the selected entries will be featured in a limited edition book to be released in January. Stay tuned for details! Oh, almost forgot - the painting that was chosen was one that you saw develop right here on this blog, starting with my posting the photo when I was contemplating working from it. The piece is "Outside Chance" and it is a 14 x 18 oil on canvas (still available, if anyone is interested!).


On the sidelines...the painting continues! I am working on a Christmas portrait that you'll have to wait to see, and then it will be back to the other works in progress that have been on hold. I also need to start my Art Show at the Dog Show entries if I'm going to have anything ready this time around! Of course I'm told they're accepting digital entries for the first time this year - great news for procrastinators everywhere!

You know it's bad when...

...you opt to do some prep for your income tax instead of painting! Yes, that's what I'm doing tonight.

I knew painting today would be a challenge. I had maybe four hours sleep last night (when you add it up) thanks to foal watch. I knew I'd be heading back outside to snow, and lots of it, once the sun was up. Naturally, it was deepest right in front of the barn, and I got to dig it out twice - last night at 11pm, and again this morning before I could get in to feed. The plough guy came just in time to clear the driveway (all half a mile, or 0.6km of it) so that I could stop fretting because the blacksmith was scheduled to come at 9am. Just a short aside: your racetrack lingo for the day! Try using the term "farrier" at the racetrack. I probably haven't used it since the day I did, my first year on the track, and was ridiculed! At the track, it's blacksmith. Just so you know!

At least it wasn't too cold today, because throwing snow around followed by standing holding horses for a few hours can be a recipe for disaster. While wet boots and gloves didn't help, I didn't get too cold. And the kids were relatively well-behaved today.

After that, it was back to throwing around more snow, clearing a path to the manure pile! Fortunately I'd at least arranged for some help to muck out today. After professing that I wouldn't take a nap and the key to not needing one was to just keep moving, I of course passed out when I got back inside. I don't know for how long, and I figure I can tell myself it was a few hours (when I know it wasn't anywhere close to that). It's all about the psychology, and I feel pretty good now! Shall I check in with you at 3am or so?

I haven't posted the latest update on the ghost groom -- I started working on colour earlier in the week. Since then I've put it away for a few days, and yesterday put the racehorses back on the easel. As I'm still working on the underpainting of that one, pushing the detail. I don't usually print my photo reference out large, but in this case it was warranted. Too much going on in this scene!


And while this news probably deserves a post of its own, I'm just going to share it now. Both of my puppy paintings were accepted into the Art Show at the Dog Show. So once again Lara (our favourite Brittany!) will visit Kansas, this time with her new friend Pinkston. I'll be packing them two of them up and sending them on their way shortly!

First Painting of 2008

Well, but for a few tweaks, I think I finished my second entry for this year's Art Show at the Dog Show. I had a lot of fun with this. It's simple, but I think it works! Felt good to start the year off right, too.

All the horses had a very happy birthday yesterday, from the new yearlings (!!) to the crabby mares! Twine is the oldest in the barn at nine, with Monster and Clever coming in next at eight. My Monster is eight! Where has the time gone?

We've been hit with a cold snap here in Southern Ontario -- my ears are still burning. Forecast for next week has temps in the mid-teens though! What's that? I'm not a big fan of the cold, but it's January, and I'd rather have snow than MUD! We'll see if they're right or not!

Happy New Year!


(ACEO coloured pencil of Javamonster as a baby)

Where Does the Time Go?

I know, I know...blog neglect! Those kids out in the barn have been keeping me on my toes this last month. We all send belated holiday greetings!

I have managed to get back in the studio to do more than check email this past week. It's coming up to Art Show at the Dog Show time again, and I have two candidates on the easel. Once again, I don't know if it will all come together in time to make the entry deadline. The best laid plans and all that...sometimes circumstances beyond my control get in the way!


Nearing completion is my newest Brittany painting. This is Lara again, who was featured in my two previous Britt paintings. Here she's all grown up, a puppy no more! I'm just working out a few final issues with this one. This is 8 x 10 oil on Fredrix linen panel.

Ambitious though it might be, I started another potential entry this week. This is also 8 x 10, oil on Raphael linen panel, and the subject is Pinkston, a Yellow Lab pup, from a photo taken by his owner, Yvonne. So far all I have is a rough underpainting. White takes notoriously long to dry, and I've had to use a lot of it, so I'm waiting to get back to this.. The clock is ticking!


On that note, back to work! There should be enough chocolate around her to keep me going for hours!

Lara Strikes Again!

Well, the results are in for awards at this year's Art Show at the Dog Show. I was fortunate enough to have two pieces accepted this year. One was an oil pastel vignette of a crazy (the best kind!) Border Collie at an agility trial, called, appropriately, Bordering On Insanity. The other was a collection of Brittany pups, all sleeping in a heap. Amongst these pups was Lara, the puppy featured in the painting that went to this same show last year, and went on to win the award for Best Entry Depicting a Brittany.


The Brittany pups I called "Pile o' Britts" and I was very happy to find out that it was awarded the prize for Best Brittany entry this year. So here's to Lara and her littermates! Time to start planning for next year!