Some Days Nothing Comes Together

Today's painting started off really well - what I was trying to do was pretty ambitious, so I was happy when the first step came together so well. Instead of drawing the horse (meaning creating an outline, more or less) I massed in the shape on the panel. It wasn't perfect, but it was far better, far sooner, than I expected. After that, it was one big fight! I didn't really have a plan beyond establishing the horse's shape (duh!!), so I was left wondering what I would do for the background. Would I make it loose and nondescript, or try and set the horse in a traditional landscape? Ultimately I went with a loose, simple landscape.

Getting back to my June theme, following yesterday's broodmare, I have painted a Thoroughbred stallion. Now, it's no coincidence that I decided to do the horse that sired the last maiden to win the Queen's Plate. This is also my own Monster's dad, and I took the reference photo I worked from in 1998, so he's a fair bit younger here than he is today! I had to sort of wing it with his head, because he was playing with the chain as I was taking the photos!

His name is Tejabo, and he's a son of Deputy Minister. TJ didn't win the Plate himself, but he sired 2002 winner TJ's Lucky Moon. I remember that day very well. It was unbearably hot and humid, and as a result we watched the race up in Champions at Woodbine. Folks around us asked me who I liked, and as the owner of a two-year old Tejabo filly, I naturally said TJ's Lucky Moon...who was no less than 50-1. When he won, they all looked at me like I must've known something nobody else did! Of course I hadn't bet a penny!

The painting is 11 x 14 oil on Fredrix linen panel. Palette started off with yesterday's colours, and ended with the one I learned in last week's workshop!

After such a great start, I was frustrated it took me so long to do this one! The rest of my day didn't go so well, so no doubt that played a big role. On a positive note, my paints caught up with me today! I discovered I really missed my palette knife, which I'd packed with the paints, silly me. That was even harder to be without than my favourite colours!

The Morning Line

Plate morning! There’s always a special feel around the backstretch, whether you’re running in the big race or not. I remember we always made sure the shed was leveled and raked even more carefully than on normal days, and the apron and lawn outside was particularly clean. We even polished the brass on the halters. Being stabled close to the receiving barn, we witnessed the arrival of the horse guards first-hand, something that was sure to set my dear girl Petunia over the edge! Not her favourite morning, that’s for sure.


When I turned the foals out this morning, they spent the first five minutes running and playing. It was probably inspired by the cool, damp air, but I entertained that they just know it’s Plate Day! Gracie is backing Ginger Brew, because, of course, chestnut fillies rule. Billy’s dad Mobil ran second in the Plate, and Gracie pointed out that it was a chestnut that beat him (stablemate Wando, 2003). Billy kind of likes Not Bourbon today, being Ontario-sired and all, but he let on that he’ll be rooting for Uncle Jerry and Deputiformer. Nothing wrong with picking a longshot! Just ask Monster…her dad Tejabo sired a whopper in TJ’s Lucky Moon back in 2002.


Woodbine Entertainment and LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement are having a neat fundraiser after this year’s Plate. The saddle cloths of all the starters will be auctioned on eBay this week to raise money for LongRun. I’ll post a link to the auctions as soon as I have it so you can check it out.


Okay, so I’m hoping I’ve distracted you from asking about the Mike Fox painting. All right, I admit it, it’s not done. So I came up short. It’s getting very close though. At this stage I’m working on a lot of nit-picky stuff, so progress is a lot slower. Won’t be long now! And maybe I’ll start on this year’s winner a little earlier! Hope that grey sky brightens a little by post time!