"Love Story," Commissioned Portrait

I've been quiet of late because I'm hard at work on commissions at the moment. I usually don't post commissions as works in progress - you won't see them here until they are complete and have been approved by the client. Sometimes that's because they are gifts, and sometimes it's just because there is often fine-tuning at the end once the client has seen the almost completed portrait, and I'd rather wait until those details have been worked through.

Above is one of my latest pieces, an 8 x 10 pencil portrait of a retired jumper mare named Love Story. The photo we ended up going with for this one was actually supplied by Diane McFarlane, a photographer who commissioned me to do the drawing for her friend. I did get to meet this beautiful mare, however, and really enjoyed that time!

I'll post an oil portrait I've also recently completed next time. Now, it's back to the easel, where I have two more oil commissions on the go. For now, my other works in progress are on hold!

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.