Fire Fox, a glorious buckskin horse, bows to the morning sun. He welcomes the warmth of the coming day, his spirit is in tune with the world in which he lives.
Seeing this horse in your home each day, brings a sense of peaceful harmony.
$350, 12X16 oil painting. I accept paypal. Free Shipping. Inquire
©Copyright 2008 by Donna Ridgway. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Donna Ridgway’s website.
Today’s horse comes to us courtesy of my friend, artist/photographer Donna Ridgway. Donna takes phenomenal photos that make me want to move to Montana every time I see them. Of course, she keeps telling me she and her husband Robert should move here to help me out with my farm! Maybe the farm could move to Montana? Really, what better place could there be for horses? My only question is, what’s the closest racetrack? 
Take the time to check out Donna’s photos on her blog. She also sells reference photos for artists, and is ridiculously affordable.
This is another 6 x 8 oil on Raymar triple-primed cotton canvas, using the limited palette. I decided to put a little bit of a landscape behind this one, though I took out the foothills that were in the reference photos, only because of the way it affected the composition. When Donna sent me this photo, I told her I thought this guy would fit right in! I would love to see the rest of his face - he’s got some pretty cool facial markings!
©Copyright 2008 by Linda Shantz. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Linda Shantz’s website.
I worked on the pastel commission piece again this morning, while the light was nice at my pastel corner. I would like to say that things look more organized as I go on, but I’m afraid they don’t. I just get out more pastels, and surround myself with them. I also needed to bring the piece down from the easel and lay it on a drawing board. This really isn’t the recommended way of working on pastels. The reason being, that you want the excess pastel dust to fall away from your painting, and not sit on top of it.
But, due to my recent neck problems, I have had to make some adaptions. I turn the piece over very often, and knock any excess dust off of it. Also, as I get closer to adding some details, I have to admit, I have to get my reading glasses out, sigh. But, whatever works! I haven’t done much with the face yet, a little with the jump, but I am still debating about it. Having taken these photos this morning, I see something a little “off” about the horse’s rear-end. Sometimes, taking a photo and looking at it on your camera, if you have a digital, or the computer, can give you a different perspective to look at it from. Anything that helps you see the whole, and not the little bits. The whole has to work together.
It happens so often, you work on a painting, you get a certain part of it working, it looks great, you step back and … ugh. Everything else doesn’t work with it. So you work and work and work to make the rest of it work for you. Nope. You may have to change your “precious” part. I always remembe what my friend, and amazing equine artist, Rosemary Sarah Welch said to a workshop once, “don’t let it become too precious. ” Of course it sounded much better with her British accent, but you get the idea. It is something on … a piece of paper, a canvas, a board, a this, or a that.
Yes, artwork is important, and we work hard at it, but, do not tie yourself up in one piece so much that it makes or breaks your day. You learn from each piece you do, which reminds me of another fantastic artist, Dawn Emerson, who had us do a Quantity Exercise in a workshop. How many charcoal drawings of a certain number of sculputures could we do in a specified amount of time? You get this idea too, the more you do, the better you get. It doesn’t even have to be a whole painting. Do a 5 minute sketch, a section of a tree, whatever, just move your hand with something that will make a mark. Muscle memory.
So, you can see some difference, I hope, between the work yesterday, and today. I’m not always sure about computers, and whether they show the correct colors on different screens.
I did take time out to take a photo of the three Quarter Horse babies that are wintering over here. I was hoping they would run around. But again, they were too interested in the green grass. We still have very green grass here in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.
©Copyright 2008 by Elaine Hurst. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Elaine Hurst’s website.
This new 10 x 10″ casein on gallery wrapped canvas, is an Acadia inspired work. This pair are actually the leaders of a four-in-hand coaching visitor at Wildwood. I loved the way the light hit them as they trotted through the pine lined carriage roads on the Rockefeller’s roads behind Little Long Pond. That part of the Acadia Carriage Roads is my favourite part.
©Copyright 2008 by Kathi Peters. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Kathi Peters’s website.
Hey everyone! Here are some pics of the latest pieces I’ve worked on. They’re both untitled as of yet, although I’m thinking of calling the bull “A Whole Lotta Bull!”.
The first piece, the pony, was pretty much just a quick, getting back in the mode piece. Just a little warmer to get back into the swing of things. I could actually do a lot more on it, but am choosing not to and will leave it at that.
As for the bull, isn’t he just the prettiest bull? I mean, if bulls can be pretty, that is. I do find him to be a beauty though. I photographed him at a rodeo this past summer and fell in love with his eyes. His eyes looked both scary and beautiful at the same time. I’m sure the guys who ride him probably find him to be a scary brute! Anyhow, I loved this bull and have been itching to paint him for months now. I’m glad I’ve finally gotten around to it. I might change the background somewhat though. I think I might like it more brown and earthy than the bright orange. I’ll see just how much time I have since I’m currently working on a mallard and will soon be starting a horse portrait. All in good time, eh!
Gotta go now, but I’ll post the next 2 pieces as soon as they’re done. Also, be sure to drop in at my MySpace page and add me as a friend! ( www.myspace.com/carole_rodrigue )
©Copyright 2008 by Carole Rodrigue. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Carole Rodrigue’s website.
October Skies
20×24 Oil on Raphael Linen Panel
October Skies was officially completed on Monday, November 17.
The subject is October Skies, a Thoroughbred who passed across the river in 2007. Also known as Buddy, he was a beginner or novice eventing horse.
He was also his person’s first horse, so will always have a special place in her heart.
The portrait is 24 inches wide by 20 inches tall on Raphael Linen in a panel form
I am currently accepting portrait orders for 2009. For more information on heirloom quality horse portraits and how to start your own special portrait project, visit my web site or contact me.
©Copyright 2008 by Carrie Lewis. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Carrie Lewis’s website.
Hi everyone! I have had a request to show some paintings in progress. Now I know that the person asking, is an oil painter, but what I am working on right now is a pastel. It is a commission, which needs to be ready as Christmas present, so I am focusing on it.
However, both pastel paintings and oil paintings have many similarities. You wouldn’t think so, since one is a dry medium, and one a wet medium. But, you paint with both of them in basically the same way. In oils you usually work “thin to thick”, meaning you put thinner layers of oil paint onto you surface so it doesn’t just run off, if it is too thick. You also create better luminosity, which I am so interested in.
With pastels, you work “hard to soft”. Basically the same idea as for oils. If you put a very soft pastel (pastels come in many, many different “levels” of hardnesses), on too heavily at the beginning of your painting, you fill up the “tooth”. The tooth of your pastel surface (there are many, many of these too), is what holds the pastels onto the surface. I like using sanded papers and boards. Some I buy, some I make.
For this commission I am using a 11×14 Ampersand Pastel Board. It has a gritty surface which holds the pastel well. Since I will be shipping it unframed, I want it to be as rigid as possible. More on shipping, and framing pastels later. Let’s get to the actual painting. I was given a photograph to work from, of a young woman riding an event horse. Nice, a grey!! Love those purples and blues you can use in greys!!
When painting, in any medium, you think in shapes, not objects. A scary thought fo the commission owners! But, in order for the objects to be meaningful, connect with the rest of the painting, they first must be painted, and seen, as shapes.
You also want to relate your darks to other darks, lights to other lights, dulls to other dulls, etc. You want to know, through your “roadmap” of the sketch, and where your darks will be, where your lights will be, how to make certain areas become more focal points than others. At the moment, I don’t like the jump in the background. But, I am also not using my energy on it either. It will resolve later.
But what I do want to know is where my dark shapes are, and the light ones. In pastels, as in oils, you paint, generally, since we all know that in the end, there are no “Rules”. The Art Police do not knock on our studio doors and tell you what to do, or not do. But, there are things that will help the painting progress. Starting with your darks first, keeping pastels put on lightly, and usually with harder pastels first, so as to not fill up the tooth of your paper or board.
I am using an Ampersand Pastel Board for this piece. I use all sorts of surfaces for pastel paintings, but primarily they are all a sanded surface. Also, just to be clear, my opinion of Fixatives, is not to use them, except as a help to darken an area, and add more tooth. If you “fix” a pastel painting at the end, you dull down all those lovely pastel particles that glimmer. Pastels are such beautiful pieces, that is why Degas’ and so many other pastelists from times past, their paintings still just glimmer.
Enjoy! Peace.
©Copyright 2008 by Elaine Hurst. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Elaine Hurst’s website.
I have been captivated by Icelandic horses since a friend introduced me to them..she raises them. I actually first saw them at Equine Affaire years ago…..the awesome drill team and their thrilling exhibition of the Icelandics gaits! Mind you, I ride Tenn. Walkers……..a very comfortable ride..but the Icelandics have it over them in spades as far as thrill!!!
This handsome “guy” was at Equine Affaire….I loved his mane and eye. I captured him in a 11 x 8 1/2″ watercolor and am putting it up on my website.
©Copyright 2008 by Kathi Peters. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Kathi Peters’s website.
So many of us forget to take time to enjoy, and even notice the little things around us. I’ve been laid up, for 10 days with some pretty nasty neck problems. Today is my first day “up”, other than visits to ERs, doctors, and the such, which do not count. I walked around the house, and actually walked to the barn too. Ahh, the smell of horses in the breeze. I know some of you won’t get that, but I know the rest of you will understand.
I’ve been working on a friend’s website/blog: www.scottsfordfarm.wordpress.com, so that has kept me busy today. I look out the window, see the blue sky, walk in the crunchy leaves. Life is good. Talked to Kelley yesterday in Hawaii!! Always good to talk to your “children”, which I wish I could come up with something that sounded better than children, or young adults, or whatever. Emailed to Erin, emailed to Beverley, talked to a couple of people on the phone. Ahhh. Back to life.
I can’t paint yet though. Not good. I have two commissions to do!!! Before my neck got back I started on the sketch for one of the commissions. I’ll share it with you, as long as you don’t send me any LOL things. You can laugh in the privacy of your own home however. It will be a pastel painting of an event rider. I’ll also share a small 5×5″ foxhound oil painting I did earlier. I think it is in frame on another post, but you can see it better here. Anyway, off to take a nap.
©Copyright 2008 by Elaine Hurst. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Elaine Hurst’s website.
Hi everyone! I thought you might like to see some of what I call, miniature jewel paintings. They are small, 5×5″ paintings, mounted in thick, 4+” frames. They are all oil paintings. I have been working on a foxhunting series for both a gallery in Charlottesville, as well as for the Montpelier Hunt Races. The races are today, in Montpelier, VA, at James Madison’s home. A beautiful place, and today is a gorgeous fall day. Unfortunately I was not able to go, as my neck has been creating problems for me. But the paintings went, so we’ll see which ones come home! The hound painting is titled “Listening to the Master” (as in Master of Foxhounds). The gray horse with the hounds around him is titled “Going Out”, The abstract one, is “Discussion”, the horse jumping is “Over”, and the last on is “Waiting”.I will be taking photos of the paintings from my plein air class soon. It was also suggested that I photograph some as I am working on them, to see the progress. I will do that also. Have a wonderful fall day, whereever you are!
©Copyright 2008 by Elaine Hurst. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Elaine Hurst’s website.
Well, I did paint yesterday, though it was a bit of a quick one because of a bunch of other stuff I needed to do - but it seemed I had a bit of “what can do wrong will” going on. First, I discovered we had no internet connection! As an apparently dedicated NaBloPoMo’er, I decided I would have to drive to a wireless spot. I live out in the country, so that’s no small decision at nine o’clock at night! As it turned out I didn’t have to go that far to get a connection, but was stopped dead when Blogger wouldn’t load. I tried for a couple of hours, but it wasn’t meant to be - I couldn’t make my post. I posted my sad story on the NaBloPoMo site here, though I don’t know if that “counts” for their purposes, so I guess I may have to admit defeat. I’m still going to continue my painting a day and blog a day…even if technology’s failings have left me out of the NaBlo running!
Today I did an 8 x 10 oil on Raphael linen panel of a friend’s Warmblood filly. I was teaching a workshop for the Credit Valley Artisans in Georgetown and due to my internet troubles last night, I didn’t get the drawing done as I’d hoped. That meant doing it on the spot - I was a little worrid that I might choke under the pressure of an audience! It didn’t go too badly though. So this is Chrystelle, a daughter of Dutch Warmblood Pacific Star STV out of a Thoroughbred mare. She was a baby at her mother’s side here, and as a yearling, she is still just as gorgeous. And available for sale, I believe. If you want more info, let me know and I’ll point you in the right direction! If I didn’t already have a horse of my own standing out there, I think I’d be finding a way to get this filly in my barn.
Hopefully tomorrow will be less eventful than the last couple of days. I know one thing though - with painting number 15 today, I’m officially half way!
©Copyright 2008 by Linda Shantz. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Linda Shantz’s website.
The Task at Hand I hope Ive done justice to my subject. My next challenge is a black and white watercolour portrait of a horse and rider. But first I have a beautiful immortal collie dog named Tye to complete.
To purchase this work email me directly catherin@animalarthouse.com
©Copyright 2008 by Catherin McMillan. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Catherin McMillan’s website.
