I am taking a brief ‘vacation’ from lesson paintings to focus attention on the large portrait of Guienne Hanover that has been on the easel since October 31, 2008, when the first paint was applied to the under painting.

Guienne Hanover (photo by Jeff Coady, Coady Photography) is a five-year-old trotting mare. On October 20, 2007, she became the world’s fastest three-year-old trotting filly when she trotted one mile in 1:51.2 at Colonial Downs. The previous track and world record was 1:54 and the North American record for the same distance was 1:52.

The portrait was purchased at the 2007 Michigan Harness Horseman’s Association benefit auction, but it wasn’t until Guienne Hanover turned in her stunning performance at Colonial Downs that she became the subject of the portrait.

The portrait is 22 inches by 28 inches on prepped masonite 1/4 inch thick and is currently the largest thing I have going. That’s part of the reason it’s taking so long.

It is also a fully landscaped painting designed to capture the moment and setting as well as Guienne Hanover.

While it has not been painted strictly according to the Flemish technique I’m documenting on these pages, it does feature an under painting, followed by color applications in a series of opaque and transparent glazes. Lots of painting, some repainting and lots of waiting for paint to dry!

That, along with a trip or two, a three-day show and two weeks of no studio time due to illness, has led me to decide to focus on this painting above all others for this week or until it’s done, whichever comes soonest.

The portrait is very close to completion, so there is not a lot left to do. Most of the work involves several different areas that just need tweaking. The driver, the bike and finishing the horse are the major things.

On Monday, June 15, I set aside all of my lesson paintings and devoted time to Guienne Hanover. I alternated studio time with writing time, working on the painting until bending over it caused back strain, then taking a break to write or do housework, then back to the painting.

In the first session, I tackled the driver and the bike, both of which feature my two least favorite things to paint…straight lines and curves! Subject and background were worked simultaneously so I could manipulate edges, light and reflected light. I really wanted to finish each area completely before moving on to the next thing, so proceeded a little more slowly than I might otherwise have done.

In the second session for the day, I continued working my way forward by painting both hind legs and the hindquarters of the horse. Because I had already put quite a bit of work into these areas the work went fairly quickly and I was able to get all the way up to the girth without too much difficulty.

©Copyright 2009 by Carrie Lewis. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit her website.