Crisis!

"What crisis?" ~ Leo

Okay, maybe that's a bit dramatic. As I went to run a nozzle check on my printer, I discovered I was low on one of the inks, so couldn't do the necessary cleaning. Time to order ink - only to find out that all my usual suppliers are out of Light Cyan for the 4800, both sizes! Using an Epson 4800 as a reference photo printer is kind of overkill, but it keeps the printer going - the nozzles tend to get clogged when it's not used regularly. I have a colour laser, so I guess until I track down some Light Cyan I'll have to use that! Not near the quality as those off the 4800, but what can you do?

In the meantime...I'm exploring U.S. suppliers. I think their prices might even be cheap enough to cover what I'll get nailed with for shipping, taxes and duty! Now, how long will it take them to get here, I wonder?

On a more important note, Happy Easter to those who celebrate - "Death has been swallowed up in victory." 1 Cor. 15:54.

You can see the latest painting in my Thirty Horses Thirty Days, here.

Joy, The Encore!

I hadn't intended to paint today. I was up extra late last night and finished another painting after posting yesterday's assignment, so I was going to use that one, even though it didn't quite fit the 'daily painting' criteria in the strictest sense. Today is Easter Sunday, after all. But then I was sitting here thinking that I wanted to do a painting, some sort of horsey expression of the significance of this holiday. So this is kind of a spring version of the one I did for Christmas. This time my model was Jubie, who yesterday was enjoying turnout in a new paddock. I didn't paint in the mud that was all over her!

I let myself have another Raphael linen panel for this, and knowing it would be a lot easier to do if I used a larger surface, went with an 11 x 14. On top of all those indulgences, I didn't go with the limited palette, either. The photo isn't likely to pick that up, of course!

I know everyone's assuming I'm up to my eyeballs in chocolate eggs and bunnies today - I'm not! As they don't really play a meaningful role anymore in the importance of the day in this house, I'm more than happy to wait until tomorrow, when I'll do my best to take advantage of those half-price sales! I've got another guest blogger lined up for you tomorrow, so I'll see you again then...hopefully well-stocked with more chocolate!

The Curragh Beats Out Mini Eggs

I got the barn done quite quickly today, which left me with some extra time – well, when I decided I did not need to go out to the grocery store in hopes of finding a 1 kilo bag of Cadbury Mini Eggs, half-price after Easter. Painting would be much more productive…and probably healthier, at least in the short term!

My painting of the fillies in the snow is currently wet after the work I did on it yesterday. Ghost Groom needs a couple of little touch-ups before I call it done. Monster needs some methodical work, and the underpainting of the racehorses is ready for colour. I decided I wanted to start something new this afternoon, though; something to make use of one of the sample package of Raymar panels that arrived last week. I flipped through a pile of photographs and pulled out one I’ve had set aside for ages (yes, there are lots of those). It depicts a dark bay racehorse circling at the start of one of the gallops on the Curragh in Ireland, and fit the bill for what I was looking for.

Outside, despite the supposed arrival of Spring last Thursday, Winter has returned like Ben Folds Five’s Steven:

“We thought he was gone, but he’s come back again.
Last week it was funny, now the joke’s wearing thin….”

The horses came in early as a result, which worked out well. I just started with a brush, sketching out the drawing on the panel I’d toned this morning and the resulting progress was wet. Now that the horses are taken care of, it’s dry and ready for some more work. We’ll see how far I get tonight!

The forecast predicted a combination of rain and snow, but what’s going on out there is big, fluffy flakes. I’m sure the roads are slippery, and I’m glad I don’t have to drive anywhere tonight. A good reason to stay in front of the easel! Maybe I’ll have an update at the end of the evening.