Cinderella, Cinderella...

Turning a cool photo into a painting...

Last year, Woodbine Entertainment initiated a contest to select "The Official Queen's Plate Artist." I did enter, what I thought was a beautiful painting of 2014 winner Lexie Lou, and was disappointed when it didn't make the top five – after all, painting Canadian racehorses is what I do!  Anyway, such is the life of the artist – we have to know how to handle rejection, because we don't always fit with that the powers that be are looking for. I decided to enter again this year, and went with something much more generic – a horse in the walking ring, rider up, groom leading her. I had taken the reference photo last summer at the races, and as soon as I saw it, I knew I needed to paint it.  When they announced the 2016 contest – late enough that I'd been convinced they weren't going to run it – I didn't have a lot of time to contemplate what I was going to paint, and picked up the reference photo, already printed. I managed to get the painting done and entry made a week before the deadline, as I was travelling to San Francisco!

One of the photos I shot that day.

The notification date for the five finalists came and went, and I figured once again my work had been bypassed – though last year they'd sent out an email passing along that information. I went to check out the Plate website, and there was the announcement. Clicked through to see the top five...and there was my painting!  That was a pleasant surprise! Now, the painful part begins - the winner is determined by a voting process, and shameless self-promotion is NOT my strong suit. Popularity contests are not things I win. I'd rather see work chosen on merit than on who has the most friends. That said, I've been humbled by the show of loyal friends who have shown their support in my Facebook posts!

Janet and "Cinderella" – that's what the halter plate says!

Now...the title of this post doesn't mean what you think it might.  The grey filly in the painting, named Letter Fly, was bred by a friend of mine. Due to unfortunate circumstances, my friend had to sell her at the yearling sales. She ended up making her first start as a three-year old in Iowa, of all places. After showing little in those early races, my friend was able to buy her back and return her to Ontario, and she was christened "Cinderella" by the trainer's granddaughter. Here, she's gone from a cheap maiden claimer in Iowa to an allowance winner. She is sound and still racing as a five-year old, but when she no longer wants to be a racehorse, she'll be safe.

So, I hate asking for votes for myself, I really do. Cinderella, on the other hand, is very deserving of them! To vote, visit Woodbine's Queen's Plate website, and scroll down to follow the link that will take you to the  voting site.  There has been a bit of confusion in the voting process – you will need to rate the options given from first to fifth. I hope you enjoy all the artwork that has made the finals!

Go Lexie Lou!

Lexie Lou ~ oil on linen.

I've been working on a few smaller studies these days, on various surfaces, just to keep things going in the studio while other things still keep me from spending a more solid chunk of time painting.  I have ideas and blog posts running through my head all the time...they'll eventually get out.

I'm not sure I ever posted this completed painting, for whatever reason.  This is a painting I did of 2014 Queen's Plate winner, the filly Lexie Lou.  Lexie missed most of last season because of an eye injury, and returned to the races last month.  Today she is back in action...in tough, running against her stablemate, Breeders' Cup Mile winner, Tepin. I'll be cheering for the underdog, Ontario-bred! Just a little bit of trivia - Lexie Lou is a half-sister to the mother of our homebred, Rachel (Relocate the Bank).

Cold and sunny day here in Southern Ontario - sounds like a day to spend in the studio, after doing the stalls, of course!

Rachel...cheering for her Aunt Lexie today?

Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better!

Oaks winner Inglorious faced the boys today in the Queen's Plate, and showed them how it was done, becoming the 34th filly in the race's 152-year history to win the Canadian classic. Woodbine faithfully puts up videos of their races, so be sure to watch! After the regular replay is a second one from a different angle - also worth watching.



It was a great day of racing - but Inglorious was the star of the show. Can't wait to get to the easel to work from some of these photos. Hopefully I'll actually manage that!


If you don't 'get' the title to this post, check out this YouTube link - dedicated to Inglorious!

One, Please!

Spider raced again yesterday, so I made a visit to Woodbine to catch the race. He seems like he's figuring it out now, running second to a horse that was twice his size! You can watch the video below (number 10, Bat Out of Hades).



The day's feature was the Steady Growth stakes, won by favoured Sand Cove, who overtook front-running J J for Dave in the stretch (photo at the top of this post). Despite messing up my camera settings I got a few shots that were either cool or inspiration for paintings.

It was a perfect day yesterday - clear blue sky and a nice breeze, not too hot. I hope we get a day just like this for next Sunday's Queen's Plate!

The Road to the Queen's Plate, 2011 Version!

Inglorious wins the Oaks

Oaks day is one of those 'must' trips to the track for me. With the Plate Trial on the undercard, it's become a Queen's Plate preview. In Canada it's not unusual to see fillies in the Plate, and we've had such strong Oaks winners in recent years, some of the girls have been showing up to give the boys a run for the money on the big day.

Check Your Soul, easy Plate Trial victor

In fact, winterbook favourite for the Plate this year is a filly. Inglorious didn't disappoint her supporters in the Oaks yesterday, winning easily, and I suspect there's a good chance we'll see her in the Plate. The Trial winner was Check Your Soul, and he was very impressive, galloping away effortlessly from the rest of the field under an, ahem, one-hand ride. I love his sire, Perfect Soul, so it's wasn't hard for me to like this guy!

Meanwhile, back on the farm, the little ones continue to grow, and we continue to dream about their futures. You never know!

Polly wanna win the Oaks? ;-)

Plate Picks from Mini Jube

Doesn't she look like she knows what she's talking about?

Two years ago, the two foals I had did a great job of calling the Plate. Chestnut filly Gracie picked chestnut filly Ginger Brew, of course, because, well, chestnut fillies rule, don't you know? Billy went with the Ontario-sired angle, and Not Bourbon. Not Bourbon and Ginger Brew ran one-two. Not bad, kids! Following Gracie's example, Jubie's little girl has to go with Roan Inish (because, of course, *bay* fillies rule). For the Ontario-sired angle I kind of like Mobthewarrior (from the first crop of Billy's dad, Mobil), but I think I'm with the baby; I'll be cheering for Roan Inish, because I just like the story!

Mobilizer

I hear Sam-Son has got a big bash planned - hey, they only have three starters in the big race, one of which is the favoured full brother to last year's winner. At the other end of the backstretch is Roger Attfield's Mobilizer. It wouldn't be a surprise if either of those barns won.

Mobthewarrior (left) and Giant's Tomb from Sam-Son, first time past in the Plate Trial

For the first time in a long time, I'm planning to stay home on Plate Day. The reason many people will be visiting Woodbine tomorrow - some of them for the first time - is what influenced my decision to stay away. I would love to be there, the Queen herself being in attendance this time around, but it will be a zoo, which will give me little opportunity to get decent photos. For some reason Woodbine likes to give me a hard time about granting media credentials, and I figured this year would be even tougher. Very sad! Maybe next year, we'll have a horse running in the Plate again. Billy's looking pretty good as a two-year old - it could happen! Like I've said before, it's all about the dream.

Here's to a safe trip for everybody tomorrow.

Roan Inish and David Moran

Paying Tribute

I really don't know what to write with today's painting; the story behind what inspired me to finally pull out the necessary reference photo is a dark one, one that seems so glaringly out of place during a week which is supposed to be a celebration of Canadian racing: Queen's Plate week.

Like many others, yesterday I learned of the death of Wake at Noon, a Canadian champion. He was thirteen, and died on the racetrack, when he never should have been on the racetrack. He was supposed to be enjoying a well-deserved retirement (some of us think winning $1.6 million should pay for that), not find himself the victim of a freak accident after his connections apparently lied about his identity (purely speculation on my part) to even get him on the backstretch. At thirteen, he wasn't eligible to race at Woodbine - or even allowed to been on the grounds. But nothing stays secret at the track for long.

Anyway...I won't ramble on. I took the reference photo for this on Plate Day ten years ago, and I've often looked at it over the years and thought he's a horse I'll paint one day. I never though it would be under these circumstances. So here he is, a rapid-fire tribute to an awesome horse, and a sad reminder of how pathetic the human race can be.

10 x 8 oil on Artfix linen.

A Busy Barnyard - I Mean, Studio!

I had two paintings on the go today - one of which I finished. Being Wednesday, I completed the next painting of Jubie's baby (who you'll hear me calling Jubaby for reference only!). You had a little preview of my reference shot last week, and above is the resulting 6 x 8 oil on Raphael linen panel.

My other painting is also a small one - 5 x 7 - and also a baby, but a different species. I'm painting a little Galloway calf. He's not finished yet, so you'll have to wait a while to see him.

Sunday was a big day at Woodbine - both the Canadian Oaks and Plate Trial Stakes. It's just about time for me to do some Plate Preview paintings, so I went to get some pics for that. Looks like the fillies may be well represented again this year. I think we're due a filly winning the Plate!

Roan Inish out-games Moment of Majesty to take the Oaks.

I'd Rather Be Going Racing!

Grumble grumble...yes, I'm conflicted. I had fully planned to go to the races today, to watch my boy Rupert run (he really needs to overcome his recent second-itis, could today be the day?) as well as catch the Queenston Stakes, which will feature a couple of Plate hopefuls including last year's champion two-year old. But a comedy of errors last Saturday has meant I needed to reschedule an appointment with a saddle fitter for Monster, something I've been waiting on for a while, so I didn't very well feel I could tell them I had to go watch the ponies run instead! Sigh. Sometimes being responsible just isn't any fun at all!


I think I'm due a new painting featuring Rupert, and I actually have one in mind. Today I'm hoping my current commission on the easel is dry enough to start colour, but if not, maybe I'll indulge myself and start a new one. In the meantime, here's one of my goofy chestnut boy. Go Rupert! And happy Preakness Day, everyone! Safe trip for you all!

Late Plate

I think I might be calling this one done. I began this 8 x 10 oil on Classen's Linen panel (by Signature) last September. At this point I should probably just say it's two unnamed racehorses, but in fact it's the finish of the 2008 Queen's Plate, with Not Bourbon beating out the filly Ginger Brew probably by about the extra length his tongue provided!

Below is the painting in the very early stages, as I worked on it at the CTHS Yearling sales. Now, if I start the painting of the 2009 Queen's Plate soon...when do you think I will have it finished?

Shop Canadian!

Today was my third day in at Woodbine's Sales Pavilion. I have lots of room in the lobby - and my own TV monitor to watch the races. What more could I ask for? The strange thing is I haven't managed to get out to walk around the barns and see any horses! I started out today, camera in hand....but got waylaid at Fincham's Harness and Bit by Bit Custom. It was still a productive visit - Bit by Bit is able to replace the zipper in my impact vest, and I finally bought a new helmet at Fincham's...a new helmet for which Bit by Bit will be able to make a nice new helmet cover! At least when I do manage to get back riding regularly, my safety apparel will be in impeccable shape.

I started a new painting yesterday at the sale, and got a fair bit accomplished. This is just 8 x 10, oil on Signature's linen panel. I bought two of these panels to try them about about a year ago and this one is just reaffirming my intial reaction - I looooooove them. They're more expensive than Raphael, but with the concerns I had with my most recent Raphael purchase, I think I'm going to make the switch. An added bonus is Signature Canvas is a wonderful company with which to deal.


The painting is of the finish of last year's Queen's Plate - that's Not Bourbon out-bobbing Ginger Brew. I don't have the most recent update on this painting, as I didn't take a photo of today's work, but I'll show how it progressed yesterday.

Now, much to my surprise, I feel compelled to paint, and far be it from me to ignore that compulsion! Off to the easel!

Eye of the Eye of the Leopard!

Well...today was such that it was 9pm before I started to even decide what I was going to paint, so I went with small, and a tight crop from one of my images of the Plate winner yesterday. And look, it's another eye! Sorry about that. ;-)

Keeping this post short because I still have to clean brushes and get out to the barn and have another full day tomorrow. So this is 5 x 7 oil on Raphael linen panel, and my subject is 2009 Queen's Plate winner Eye of the Leopard.

The 150th Queen's Plate: The Leopard is Spot-on

Summer showed up just in time to help us celebrate the 150th running of the Queen's Plate, held at Woodbine yesterday. The weather was perfect, and there was an impressive crowd on hand. It's been a fun experience, being so closely connected to a Plate horse, even if we didn't get the fairytale ending we were hoping for. Yep, the Giant got it!


It looked like Mr. Foricos Two U was going to win, after leading down the stretch, but the big bay colt got up on the outside to win by a neck. Mr. Foricos Two U held off the filly Milwaukee Appeal for second, and the other filly, Tasty Temptation, was just a jump behind in forth.


Sam-Son Farms is really a giant in Canadian Racing, but it's hard to begrudge them another Plate victory - they are always so gracious and they've been through some really tough times in the last while. So congratulations to the winning Queen's Plate team! They are even based in Milton, Ontario, which technically is where my farm is. Eurico da Silva rode his first Plate winner with this colt, and it wasn't too hard to see how excited he was about that.

For Ziggy, well, now that he's run in the Plate, he can now go break his maiden. ;-) It's still quite an accomplishment to get a horse to the Plate.

I know I said I would be posting yesterday, but that just didn't happen. So today there will be two posts...and rest assured, the second one will have a painting! See you later!

The Giant

If I was going to pick the Plate winner this year on looks alone, it would be Eye of the Leopard. He's big and handsome, everything you would expect from a royally-bred Sam-Son runner. He's the one you'd think had 'destiny' stamped all over him. His downfall is he's lightly-raced, and probably just beginning to come into himself. He kind of makes me think of the kid who's gone to a private all-boys school and has just entered the next level of education where he's bumping shoulders with the 'common people.' It could mean he gets his butt kicked tomorrow, or he could prove he is everything he's supposed to be, given that privileged status.

Eye of the Leopard was expected to be favoured for the Plate after his Trial win, but the appearance of Milwaukee Appeal dislodged him to second choice. After painting Ziggy yesterday, I could have written a David and Goliath comparison today. It's not that Ziggy isn't well-bred and good-looking, but he does come in as the 'little guy' longshot next to the big-time outfit and breeding of Eye of the Leopard!

This painting is 8 x 10 oil on panel, and it kind of painted itself, much like Ziggy's painting yesterday. That's the last of the Plate hopefuls I'm going to paint, at least before the race, so we're just about ready for the big day! Post time is 5:30pm and CBC is broadcasting this year, starting at 4:30pm. I will have a post tomorrow, but I'm not guaranteeing a painting! That will depend on whether or not I'm able to get a second one done today, because tomorrow, I'll be kind of busy!

When Things Go Right, Don't Question It

I really don't quite believe yet that it's just past 3:00pm and I'm posting today's painting. I expected today would be a bit like yesterday, though when I knew I'd be taking Jubie to King City this morning I lined up help to do some of the stalls. I was actually back by just after 11:00am, which left me in good shape to start painting. I made a few adjustments in the barn, paid some bills, printed out my chosen reference, then got to work.

I've been looking forward to this one since I started doing the Queen's Plate horses. This is one all the 'home team' hopes and dreams are resting on, Stardust Ziggy. I took more pics of Ziggy on Monday, but while he's a very cute colt, I seem to have trouble getting good photos of him! I ended up using this one that I'd posted after his last race. I just loved the lighting, and there's something special about this part of racing, the minutes right after the race when you start the walk back to the barn, slapping your horse on the neck and saying "Good boy!", win or lose. While Ziggy didn't win this particular race, he ran well enough to earn his ticket to the big one. And none of us would have a problem seeing him break his maiden on Sunday. ;-)

This is 8 x 10 oil on shellaced masonite. I know I've struggled with this surface before, so I was taking a bit of a risk using it, but I like the result. By leaving the background as is, it added to the drama of the lighting.

Wow. 3:20pm. I feel like I have the whole day still ahead of me!

The One that Almost Wasn't

Tonight, as I sat eating some particularly uninspiring 'cooked from frozen' tortellini, I had to remind myself that any day that starts out with someone else cooking breakfast can't really be all that bad, overall.

Before you let your imaginations get away with you, I'll explain! This morning after feeding and turning out horses (or some of them, thanks to intermittent rain), I hopped in the truck and battled infamous Toronto morning traffic to head into the Queen's Plate breakfast at Woodbine. The food at Woodbine (that would more accurately be, the non-concession stand food!) is always incredible, and this was definitely no exception. The occasion at hand was the post position draw for the big race. When I was there I was reminded that the last time I was at a draw, it was in a little place called Dubai, for the World Cup!

There ended up being thirteen entries for the Plate - the horse I painted on Sunday, Costalivin, was not entered. Today I painted the morning line favourite, and the other filly in the field, Milwaukee Appeal, winner of the Canadian Oaks. This is 5 x 7 oil on panel.

And now...the rest of the story. It was noon by the time I left Woodbine, and I followed through on my plan to take care of a less-than-favourite task, finding something to wear on Sunday. Wonder of wonders, first store I went into, first dress I tried on...I bought! I should get a prize for that, I'm sure. From there I took care of a couple of other errands, then headed home. There was a message from the vet asking to switch tomorrow morning's appointment for Jubie to this afternoon, so I confirmed that was okay before going to the barn and starting to play catch-up!

Turns out it was probably good to check Jubie today - I'd planned to take her up and leave her for a few days so that they had some time to work with her before breeding her, and after talking to the breeding manager, I agreed to take her out in the morning. That put the pressure on the timing of the rest of my day. There was a point I seriously didn't think I was going to manage to finish a painting today. I did stalls, brought in and fed...and finally got back in the house around 7:30pm. Made something to eat (that disapointing meal I mentioned earlier) and I guess it was after 9pm that I actually started painting. Got a bit of a drawing down before dashing off to go fill up the truck and hitch up the trailer, then came back to finish the painting. All told, painting, truck and trailer took two hours. Not bad. I thought I might be in bed by midnight, except for needing to do this blog thing and clean my brushes...oh well!

On that note...time to go. Brushes...back to the barn...then maybe I'll make it to bed!

A Year for the Fillies?

There may be two fillies in this year's Plate - Oaks winner Milwaukee Appeal, and the runner-up, Tasty Temptation. Last time I saw Tasty Temptation she was just a few days old, romping around her mother at nearby Persley Den Farm. Her mother is a very beautiful grey mare named Parisia, and dad is none other than Medaglia d'Or, sire of Preakness heroine Rachel Alexandra.

The painting is 8 x 10 oil on panel.

Seven Days and Counting...

Queen's Plate week was officially launched today with the media barbeque at Woodbine. Eight horses and their connections came over to the walking ring for the event, of a possible field of 14. Included among them was the horse in today's painting, Keino West, and our Unstable prospect, Ziggy. I'll show you some of the others as the week goes on.

Keino West

The painting is 8 x 10 oil on panel, done from a photo I took the day of the Plate Trial where Keino West finished fifth. Keino West is a gelded son of Kissin Kris.

Ziggy

Racehorse 101

I didn't make it to the races this past Sunday to see the Canadian Oaks - sorry, the Woodbine Oaks, as it's now known - but from this big filly race, a couple of new Queen's Plate contenders have emerged. Unlike the Derby, it's not unusual for a filly to run in the Plate. Even back in the days when the Oaks was a mere week before the Plate, fillies would run in both, and on more than one occasion, they beat the boys. But hey, girls don't take a back seat to the guys at Woodbine, ever!

Today's painting on my little 30 day journey is a two-year-old. It's a year with a lot of question marks - not all two-year olds make it to the races, but it's good when they at least get to spend some time at the track, and learn what it's about. Some of you might recognize today's "model" from photos I posted a few weeks ago. This is our little Peaker - not so little anymore! Miss Peaks spent the winter in Florida, lucky girl, and came back to Woodbine with the rest of the horses in the spring. She's coming home tomorrow, though, for a rest. It might be interesting to see who is more spoiled, her or Gracie! Remember, chestnut fillies rule! At least in this barn.

This painting is 5 x 7 oil on panel and I intentionally stopped before I really wanted to, because I was starting to get more blending than I wanted. I see lots wrong with it, but I also see a lot I like. One day it will all come together! Hopefully one day before I die!!

And So It Begins (Again)!

Since yesterday's post, I've laid out a gameplan for this month's paintings. I've already said I'm going to be painting the Plate hopefuls, and what I've decided to do is a bit of a pictoral play-by-play of getting a horse to the Queen's Plate, from where it all starts, in my mind, to the big race itself.

We start somewhere that's quite familiar to me these days: on the farm. The key to any successful breeding program is the broodmares. There's an old racetrack saying: "Breed the best to the best" and all the hype in the world doesn't usually help a stallion if he doesn't get good mares. Today's painting is of a Thoroughbred broodmare. I joke every year, with each foal..."This one's the Plate winner!" Model for the day is Set Destiny, or Dez, owned by a friend of mine. Dez and one of her foals have been featured in a few of my oil pastel paintings, "Fresh Outlook" being the most famous of those.

Today's painting is 8 x 10 oil on panel. As my paints are still in transit from Saskatchewan, I had to improvise for my palette! This is a bit of mishmash of ideas, too. I laid out my palettle like we learned at the Val Hinz workshop, but had to substitute a few colours, and completely go without others. I also used a little tidbit Michelle Grant shared with me in our airport visit, using Transparent Iron Oxide to tone my panel...then I used it extensively in the painting, I liked it so much. This photo falls seriously short of capturing the original - I'm in love with Transparent Iron Oxide now, and disappointed that you can't really see the effect of it in the image above! Ah well...

Day one is complete....can you guess what I'm going to paint tomorrow?

This painting is available for sale in my online Etsy store for $250.00 plus shipping (and applicable taxes for Canadians).