Five Days In February – Days Four and Five!

"Baby Parker" 6 x 4 oil study.

Apparently I forgot to post the last two paintings on the blog!  The last two were both 6 x 4 on Raymar archival cotton canvas panel.  Day Four was a study of Parker (formerly known as Billy) as a foal, looking all sweet and innocent (yeah, right!). Day Five was a portrait of Sheldon, who celebrated his fifth birthday this week.  All five studies are now on my website in the "Studies" section, and for sale, $65.00 each including shipping in North America, until the end of the month.  After that, they'll be going to Equis Art Gallery to replenish the supply of my studies there. They seem to get snapped up there, so if you're thinking about it, don't wait too long!  ;-) 

"Sheldon," 6 x 4 oil study.

Loose Ends

Zippy, Lounging ~ 5 x 7 oil on panel.

I've been spending a lot of time glaring at my easel of late - knowing there is work to be done, but feeling as if I'm just going to make a mess of anything I touch...kind of a reverse-Midas thing, where everything turns to muck.  The oil pastel commission I've been working on is in a good place (by which I mean more than not in my studio, haha), and just getting a rest from my eyes before I put the final touches on it, so I felt I needed to at least be making an attempt with the paints.

My solution has been to finish up some studies that were abandoned somewhere along the road. Some of them were just done during one of my daily painting projects, so they got a day's work but I always wanted to go back to them.  One I actually started from scratch (how brave, haha).  One just involved cutting down and stretching over new stretcher bars.  All I figured I could play with, and if I turned them to muck, nothing much would be lost except a bit more of my self-esteem!  ;-)

At the top is Zippy as a baby - he still has that look of owning the world!  Another study from the same time frame has found a new home, with artist friend Elizabeth McCrindle – it's always an extra honour when another artist likes my work enough to want it!  I have one of Elizabeth's paintings hanging on my studio wall. You can see the paintings in a blog post she wrote when she received them - thanks again, Elizabeth!

Einstein ~ 10 x 8 oil on canvas.

Milwaukee Brew ~ 8 x 10 oil on canvas.

Two of the paintings I was playing with a palette I haven't used much, favoured by artist Anders Zorn.  It's a limited palette of ivory black, cad red, yellow ochre and titanium white.  Admittedly I didn't push it much, but it was interesting just the same.  Both are studies of Thoroughbred stallions – Einstein (BRZ), sire of Sheldon, and Milwaukee Brew.

The last one is the restretch - I did this one as part of my daily painting projects, from a photo taken at Saratoga.  Now, I need to get these up on my website, in hopes that they, too, will find new homes!

Ready ~ 10 x 8 oil on linen.

 Oh, wait - one more!  This is Victor, a little study I started last year and finished up while I still had the Zorn palette open.  Catching a breeze on a warm spring day - which I hope we will see again, eventually!

Victor, Catching a Breeze  ~ 6 x 4 oil on canvas.

Just a PS - it's interesting to note the difference between my usual limited palette, which was used on the racehorse painting, compared with the stallion and Victor studies.  Which do you like better? I'm a time and place kind of person - I have to shake things up now and again, and studies are a great way to try out new things.

You've Come A Long Way, Baby....

They all look so sweet when they're sleeping!  5 x 7 oil on panel, sold.

Maybe it all started the day he was conceived - I took Twine up to be bred to Strut the Stage (standing at Colebrook at the time), baby Gracie at her side.  They didn't heed my warnings that she could be tough, not taking proper precautions, and she double-barreled him in the chest.  Poor Strut! I'm sure that did nothing for his self-esteem!  Anyway...about 338 days later, she had a cute little bay baby boy.  This colt had the slickest coat I've ever seen on a foal - clearly he thought he was landing in Florida, not Southwestern Ontario. He made me drag the vet out to tube him his first meal, because he couldn't figure out how to nurse in an acceptable time frame. And so began our series of adventures, which included a black eye for me.  Well, at least he didn't break my nose, like Hugo!

Lean, mean...well he wasn't mean...and fell a little short of being a racing machine! At Woodbine in 2013.

Close...but not quite (he's the one on the outside).

At the track, Leo started off showing promise...though he turned in to a wildman as a three-year-old.  More exploits were added to his list of accomplishments, like running off with his trainer, who gallops her own (the clockers even got a time on him!  No question he was fast!), escaping from his stall and running off down the shedrow, and antics behind the gate on race day which included dropping his rider and taking off, through the barrier and onto the harness racing track.  His best effort was a second place finish where he just missed winning, but then he hurt himself, and was retired.  And for some crazy reason, I said I'd take him.

That was a year and a half ago.  This is Leo today:



First day jumping from a canter!  Just goes to show you - never say never!

"Devotion," 18 x 36 Oil on Canvas

I could spend the first paragraph listing excuses for not posting more, but I won't bore you with those.  Despite the silence, I have been working away - the horses haven't completely swallowed me up, even though things haven't been completely quiet in that department!

This is the first WIP to pass into the realm of finished, or abandoned, take your pick!  Not signed yet, but I think I'm just about ready to make that particularly difficult move.  This is an 18 x 36 oil on canvas of Viv and Hugo, her first foal (now a yearling).  A couple of in progress pics lets you see some of the steps - above, what I call the "rough tonal" step, then below, the completed underpainting.   Next one in line is getting reasonably close to completion...stay tuned!

Okay, So the Holiday *Is* Over....

We made it back from Saratoga, safely and begrudgingly!  In the past few days the rain has been making up for lost time here in Southern Ontario, which has meant no riding for me because my footing turns to mud.  Between the horses, trying to finish and epic novel (reading a few pages before I pass out at the end of the day is usually the only time I get to read anymore) and working away at some paintings, I've managed to keep busy.  The latest piece to be finished is this 16 x 8" oil on Raymar cotton canvas panel.  It's this year's star model, Thoroughbred foal Hugo, and I'm calling it, "I'm Coming!"  or, "I Hear You Calling II."  Do you remember the original "I Hear You Calling?"  :-)

If you're interested in this painting let me know - it's currently available for $650.00 unframed (price will need to be adjusted once it's framed). A better photo is available on request.

"Walk This Way," 8 x 16 oil on canvas

Here's a painting I finished a few weeks ago, and neglected to post.  Hugo was the earliest foal, born at the end of February, and this was one of his attempts to make a friend.  The barn kitty seemed more or less oblivious! 


This painting is 8 x 16 oil on canvas, currently available unframed for $650.00. You can email me if you're interested. 

Lots happening on the sidelines right now - I have a number of WIPs on the go (sometimes you can see progress pics posted on my Facebook page), and a couple of show venues in the works.  I'll keep you posted!

An Anniversary, of Sorts!

I'd originally planned to do this painting this past Wednesday, but I got a little confused.  You see, I shared the reference with a group of very special artist friends, for our own little pARTy.  Fellow pARTy conspirator, Kim Santini, is going to post all the images together, and had set a deadline for next week, so I had it in my head that I would do it next week.  Anyway, a couple of our 'members' have done their paintings and posted them, so that inspired me to get it done today!  I was careful not to look at what they had done, as I didn't want to be influenced at all.

This is my buddy Hugo - the two-month old colt who a week ago reared up and clocked me in the nose, breaking said nose.  So, happy one-week anniversary, dear Hugo!  To celebrate (still being here to paint, haha), this is an 8 x 10 oil on canvas.  I was tempted to use some nice, bright red, but as you can see, I refrained! 

Paint Now, Think Later!

A little bit of information I didn't disclose yesterday - I got a pretty serious club in the face by one of the foals (the oldest) on Saturday, enough to break my nose.  I don't think my nose really hurts as much as a broken nose should, but my head and neck have been aching rather consistently since.  Yes, I went to the hospital and got checked out, so don't be too worried!  What I have been doing is blaming every little brain blip since then on the incident!  Tonight I was hoping it would help me not overthink this little painting, because I was certainly doing that last night with the one of Brigitte.

Other than the sketch (directly on the panel), which came together quite quickly (10-15 mins) I probably completed this 5 x 7 oil on masonite in just under an hour.  I'm pretty pleased, all things considered.  This is Twine's colt, who is the only one who didn't seem to have a name right from the get-go.  I was calling him "Zip" or "Zippy" for a while, because he has some pretty funky cowlicks on his neck that make it look like you could zip him out of his fuzzy little coat.  But yesterday, he came up to me with his lower lip sticking out, one of his little quirks, and I thought maybe he should be Elvis.  What do you think? 

Again, I used a very simple palette for this one.  Burnt umber, Cadmium red light, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre and titanium white.  This is now the second painting I've done of this little guy.  Below is the first one, about 8 x 10 oil on linen, of one of his leaps in the air!

One Week

I'd like to say that things have settled down around here, but that hasn't exactly happened.  There's always something, and I know that what it comes down to is just making time for stuff, regardless of how busy things get.  I've been making an effort to get some painting done, though I haven't exactly hit my stride yet. 

Last week my good friend Kimberly Santini of Painting a Dog a Day fame threw out an invitation, of sorts.  For the last few years Kim has been taking the Dog a Day project on an equine tangent for Kentucky Derby week.  It was that reminder which inspired me to do my best to complete a daily painting each day this week.  Not quite as exciting as the Thirty Horses, Thirty Days I have done in the past, but something I can grasp at the moment, given my schedule!

Today's painting is a 5 x 7 oil on Raymar cotton canvas panel of little Brigitte, the filly born a week ago today.  Not a lot of paint used, as I kind of decided I liked the washy look.  There are also only three colours employed:  red umber, ultramarine blue and cerulean blue.  If I owned a tube of cobalt, I could have kept it to two!

One day down....we'll see what I manage tomorrow!

Overdue

I'm not talking about Twine, though by the due date I assign, I guess you could say she is. Due dates for mares aren't set in stone, though Twine does tend to foal fairly close to hers (except for last year!). She us looking as if she'll follow her usual pattern this year, and I am up tonight keeping an eye on her, via camera.

I do have a few paintings I've been meaning to post in their finally-completed form. First is a fairly loose and moderately fast study of the new foal, an 11 x 14 oil on masonite, above. The colt has grown considerably since this, of course, and his personality has grown exponentially!


I've shown this next painting in progress a few times. This is one that I titled before I began - "Guardian Angels." The outriders at Woodbine have to be among the best in North America, so quick to catch a loose or running off horse and I know they are very appreciated for the job they do. This is 6 x 8 oil on Raphael linen panel.

Last I have another quick 5 x 7 study of a racehorse I took a few photos of one morning last summer at Woodbine – oil on linen. All three paintings are available; if you're interested please send me an email!


I've been working on a a few foal sketches, and have another couple of paintings on the go, but work has been rather sporadic with watching Twine and getting mares bred for next year's crop of foals. Things will settle down....sometime in July!

"Sheldon Sleeping," 5 x 7 oil on linen

I put the final touches on this little study tonight - I do love to do these loose, sketchy studies to balance out the more complex, detailed pieces I do.

Still Painting!

Eleven days into the month, and one way or another I've picked up a brush and applied paint every day, though some days more effectively than others! The horses are still keeping me hopping with various issues, and some sleep has been sacrificed, but that's just the way it goes.

I started this little 5 x 7 oil on linen on panel yesterday. This is Twine's colt, who I'm calling Sheldon unless I find out the owners have a problem with that! While he's the oldest of the foals this year, he's no longer the biggest. I think both the chestnuts are taller than he is! Above is day two of work - below the initial 'drawing' on the panel. There is something about sleeping babies, isn't there?

Billy's Brother

I decided to call this one done tonight - to the point of signing it, even. Not perfect, but a fun little warm-up for what the rest of the month has in store, I hope!

This is 6 x 4 oil on Raymar cotton canvas panel, using my favourite limited palette. Clever's foal this year, with his big star, reminds us all of a chestnut version of her 2008 foal, Billy, so my trainer friend (who has the first three at Woodbine right now) immediately dubbed him "Billy's brother." I'm hoping he ends up being a little easier to deal with than Billy was! And we'll find him a name of his own, too, don't worry!

Two Days In A Row!

Yes that's right...I have managed to paint two days in a row. That shouldn't really be an accomplishment, but after last month, it is! Not long, and not with particular skill, but hey, I'll just take what I can get right now! My day didn't go exactly as planned so it was 9pm before I got to the easel, and did a bit more work on this tiny little painting of Clever's boy.

Leo, the racehorse!

I neglected to mention that Leo is home for a rest right now. He spent some time in at Woodbine when the backstretch opened, and quickly made himself a favourite. I'm happy to see his personality is intact, though certain other parts of him are not! ;-) Yes, he is a gelding now! Hard to believe two years ago he was the new little foal!

Leo, the baby!

Week Twenty: Last Call!

I've actually had to put off Baby Girl's weaning because her weaning buddy-to-be, Gracie, has had a bit of an issue with one of her eyes that has required a couple of vet visits. Until I'm satisfied Gracie's eye is right - and I don't have to pull her out of the pasture for such vet visits - Baby Girl gets to stay with Jubie. Each time I see her nurse, however, I think, "Enjoy it while it lasts, Baby Girl!"

This is 11 x 14 oil on canvas.

Twofer!

You were all very kind to me, overlooking my letting last week’s Baby Girl painting slip in my Studio Tour prep stress! To make up for it, I did two paintings today.


The first, featuring our girl at just over 17 weeks, is 4 x 6 oil on Raymar cotton canvas panel. The reference photo was taken that first day she was out with Aunt Gracie, so that’s who she’s eyeballing!


The second is 7 x 6 oil on unstretched linen. Last Friday, I took advantage of a couple of visitors to snap the filly’s registration photos. It was a rather death-defying feat, as she put on a show for us, demonstrating her repertoire! Once she settled I snapped the photos so fast that I neglected to make sure that on the side views, she was standing with all legs visible. Somehow I managed that on the head-on and rear photos, as notoriously those are harder to capture, but I’m going to have to re-take those side ones! Ah well…Here you have her head shot, though I will be submitting an earlier one for the Jockey Club’s records, as she’s sporting a kind of scarred hairless look at the moment. I wanted to paint this though, because it just screamed TEENAGER! At me! She is just over eighteen weeks here.

Both these were done with a very limited palette of Red Umber, Yellow Ochre, Vasari Adobe, Ultramarine Blue and Titanium White.

Week Sixteen - Wheeee!

At sixteen weeks, Baby Girl is looking quite grown-up. Her foal coat is just about gone, with just a bit of light hair remaining on her legs - such that I can't do her official registration photos yet, because she has some rather ambiguous markings on her left hind. I want to get them done before she starts to get fuzzy for winter!

This past weekend's show at the Schomberg Village Street Gallery was a success. The weather cooperated, and lots of people were out. In a week and a half it will be time for the Milton Area Studio Tour, so I'll be busy getting ready in the upcoming days!

Week Twelve: Good Doer

You don't hear that expression much these days - a 'good doer' is a horse that eats well! It may sound like an obvious thing to the non-horsey, thanks to that stupid expression, "hungry as a horse," but in fact horses are pretty finicky. Jubie's Baby Girl is quite the good eater. Usually the foals start to want to stick their noses into Mom's tub at 2-3 weeks of age; this filly was less than a week old! No wonder she's such a good size!

This is 5 x 7 oil on Raymar cotton canvas panel. Unfortunately I haven't really finished it yet, as I had a pretty crazy day, doing some prep for an upcoming show and getting a load of hay, on top of my usual barn duties. Considering I wasn't sure I'd be able to post anything at all today, I'm hoping you'll overlook that! I will finish it, and post it again when it's done.

Twelve weeks! That's three months! Where does the time go?

"Boy Meets Girl," 8 x 16 oil

This is one of those paintings that has gone through a complete change in scenery, so to speak! I loved the photo from the moment I shot it, but debated painting it because, well, let's face it, it's cutesy. When it came down to it though, I guess I couldn't help myself.

Gracie and Billy are about five or six weeks old here. Being February babies, I had lots of beautiful snow shots of the two of them. In March, however, we got a thaw, and in the reference photo, these two are of course standing in a very muddy spot! My first inclination was to make it a snow scene, but after consideration, I decided I needed to go green. Maybe that was influenced by this year's baby, a May foal who has had to deal with neither snow nor mud, lucky girl!.

Their feet were of course covered in the photo, but in order to ground them, I needed to paint their feet, even though I knew I would be more or less covering them with grass. Foal feet are hard to paint, especially out of your head!

I think I've mentioned Gracie is back home from her adventure at the track. I was reminded how tiny she was, working on this painting. Look at her now! She's probably 16-2hh and still growing. And what a lovely girl she is.

The above painting is 8 x 16 oil on Raymar cotton canvas panel.

Going Green - 8 weeks old

I did this week's filly painting a day early, because tomorrow I'm off to Saratoga for a few days. I feel better about this one that last week's, and I already have some great pics for next week, thanks to they baby girl showing off for the camera yesterday!

This is 6 x 8 oil on Raphael linen panel. I went back to my old limited palette - still love how those colours come together. If this would dry in time I'd take it with me, but that's not going to happen. As it is, there will be a few of my smaller paintings at the Beresford Gallery, across from the track on Union Avenue. Make sure you pop in if you're there! They have a beautiful collection of paintings for sale from a variety of International artists.

Back to work - lots to do before I go to bed tonight - I'll be leaving at 5AM so I get there in time for the races!