My trip to Kentucky will afford me many scenes that will be painted and cut. Bobbye and I drove the back roads out side of Lexington and idyllic scenes such as this were everywhere… Miles of board fencing as far as the eye could see and pastures with grazing horses and mares heavy with foal lined the roadside. Everywhere I looked I saw a painting begging to be done!!! This 10 x 8″ watercolor is the first of many watercolors from this trip.
Bobbye took this shot of me taking a shot at Keeneland…
I am working on a casein painting from that great photo-op too. My studio is a mess….papers and photos everywhere……the gardens outside the studio need work, and a garden edging job I started this morning on our back gardens is strewn across the lawn…..I am feeling the need to paint and that takes presidence over anything else at this point!!
So I am back to the easel…….! Driven!!
©Copyright 2008 by Kathi Peters. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Kathi Peters’s website.
My mother always liked the photo of her riding one of the pigs on the farm down in PA. and I have always been enthralled by it since I was a kid. This one is for you, Mom………….
I do have a photo of Mom riding a pony, and will probably paint that one too soon….but this one was so much fun. I did it with mixed media - with casein,acrylic, photocopy and pen and ink. I call it “Poor Girl’s Pony” and it is sized 12 x 12″ on board. Someday I will get more into the process, but need to get started on a papercut while the weather cooperates.
More later!
©Copyright 2008 by Kathi Peters. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Kathi Peters’s website.
I don’t really know where these works are coming from….other than I am feeling a need to document my family’s roots and the folks that came out of the Pennsylvanian farms where my mother grew up and formed her persona. They say we become our mother as we age……….boy, when I look in the mirror these days I see my Mom!
This painting is a 6 x 8″ mixed media…a small step out of my comfort zone as far as media goes. But I must admit I am having fun with this detour and have several other works on the easel that also deal with the family and the farms. I call this painting “How You Gonna Keep ‘Em Down on the Farm?” ….after that same song which asked the question about how they would kept on the farm after they saw Paris! [or "Par-ie"?].
This past weekend we celebrated birthdays on our Morrill farm…some being celebrated a bit late, but better late than never, I always say. I watched our grandchildren playing on our farm……..running through the field and orchard. It is so good that even though our farm is small and not at all self sufficient, that our kids can still have a farm type of environment to experience in this day and age of computers and quick fixes. Nothing quick about mucking stalls and throwing hay bales! There is a gentle rhythm about the days here on Cob Cottage Farm.
That is why I love it.
©Copyright 2008 by Kathi Peters. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Kathi Peters’s website.
This painting is done. It has ended up being a casein…..sized at 12 x 9″ on illustration board. I am calling it “Sunday Go To Meeting Clothes” I know my mother used to hide under their library table in an attempt to not have to get dressed up.This outfit would not have been one of her favourites.Like mother ..like daughter. I left some of the ink lines in the work….
I really like the angle of this piece, the ladies on the porch and the cat wandering through the picture too. all added up to an interesting composition.
Now it the weather would just break and allow me to get back into some papercuts, that would really make me happy!!
©Copyright 2008 by Kathi Peters. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Kathi Peters’s website.
Yesterday afternoon I went back into this work done on illustration board with my casein paints and I am at a point now that either I get focused in on my subjects, or let it go and leave it as it is. Open and loose and undefined. I need to think about this for a while.
And while I wait [thinking] , I am getting started on horse art works from my KY trip……good stuff. New stuff. I will be working on watercolor paintings to get started on these pieces.
At the same time I am working on some very different for me, new work, mixed media and collage…hmmmmmmmm…. and where will I go with these??
I will leave you guessing??!!
©Copyright 2008 by Kathi Peters. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Kathi Peters’s website.
My mother hated to get dressed up. I think I got my aversion to dressing up from her. I will go to extremes to get out of putting on a dress. And can you believe it that I used to do fashion illustration and wrote a fashion article for an American newspaper when I lived in Italy?
But now my life is simple….and on the farm, jeans are the fashion statement of my day.
This painting I am working on now is of my Mom and her big sister…all dressed-up, getting ready to go somewhere..maybe to church? I have done a quick pen and ink sketch of this scene and gone into it with a watery casein wash to get an idea of values. I am working on Crescent illustration Board, a favourite of mine for a support. I am thinking of maybe staying with casein for the first layer..and maybe will finish up with oil …or maybe tempera…….so many choices will work with this board.
©Copyright 2008 by Kathi Peters. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Kathi Peters’s website.
My casein painting above, titled
“Please Don’t Eat The Daisies” , will be gracing the cover of the September issue of
The Equine Marketer, an all breed equine monthly publication coming out of Pennsylvania, that covers the Mid Atlantic region of our U.S. of A. I had been contacted last August [ of 2007] by the magazine for the cover of their “Future Champion” Issue for 2008. This casein depicted foals in a field playing, is already sold. As it is one of my favourites, I will be very happy to see it portraying future equine champions!!
Thunder storms are rumbling around our farm this day…..I watch as the Cobs run from their dry sheds to stand in the back fields with their tails to the wind. The rain pounds on their backs…but they feel saver braving the elements. Wild ponies that they are!!
©Copyright 2008 by Kathi Peters. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Kathi Peters’s website.
I have received some requests to see the Lipizzaner watercolor up close…especially the eye………so here it is. You can see that my work is really pretty loose when seen up close.
Enjoy!
©Copyright 2008 by Kathi Peters. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Kathi Peters’s website.
In spite of weather that is calling me to come out and dead-head spent perennials in my flower gardens…and to pick zucchini that are growing bigger by the second….I have been working on a watercolor and an new mixed media work. The watercolor is done, 18″ x 8″ and is called ‘Lipizzan Work Ethic”. When I saw the intense eye on this Lipizzaner and the power in the neck…I knew I had to paint this. Consider it done. And again I want to thank my good friend Juliet for your inspirational photograph.
I also finished the watercolor of Herefords and sheep, a winter scene from our old farm in North Pownal. For years we raised our own meat and veggies during in our ‘ back to the earth” phase. Talk about being ‘green’? We were green before it became politically correct!
The mixed media piece I am doing, I did first in graphite to get my values right and to decide how I wanted to put the composition together…and I have now decided to do this one in acrylic and casein. I will be using the paints together, and this gives the work a different finish………another farm inspired work…getting ready for the Skyline Exhibit in September.
I am loving my new website and the fact that I can update it and change ” whatever” whenever I want. Check it out……… and the new artworks !!
©Copyright 2008 by Kathi Peters. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Kathi Peters’s website.
Also tagged in: art, artist, cattle, equine art, equine artist, green, Hereford, Lipizzan, Lipizzaner, painting, pasture, sheep
|
What a trip! The whole experience went by too fast. But I am happy to be home in Cob Cottage !!!
The Kentucky Horse Park is huge….and it was HOT and this ole’ New Englander is not used to that sort of heat. But with downing a lot of H2O I managed to survive.
On the evening of 18th my friend, Bobbye and I went to the opening and book signing of “Equestrian Style” at Gallery B in Lexington. It was so neat to meet Vicky Moon and to actually see the gallery on Main Street. My contact with Vicky, prior to the publication of the book, was all email and by phone. I had never been down to Lexington to see the gallery either. It was a lovely reception…good food, wine and very interesting people to talk to. Lyn Raff, photographer and editor of Horse Art magazine was at the signing too and we got a chance to talk. I enjoyed my ‘outing’.
Bobby and I spent two days doing the Kentucky Horse Park and Keeneland Race Track… we even got to The Red Mile to see where I have been showing for years at Tattersall’s Harness Tracks of America’s Annual Art Exhibit and Auction. My paintings and papercuts had been seen and been hung in these spots..but this was a first for me! I was able to get neat morning shots at Keeneland stable and exercising shots…. Bobbye, who grew up there as a kid while her father ’s horses raced, knew where to take me …what to see…so I was able to get the feel and aura of the this racing Mecca.
The demonstrations at the Horse Park were great and afforded me a primo chance to get wonderful reference shots for future paintings. This shot above of a Spotted Saddle Horse ‘dancing the pole’ is just one of the shots that I have to inspire me. [I am wondering if my Walking Horse , Duster and I can do this???] The best surprise though was getting to see Clay Maier and his Friesian pair that he rides tandem! Awesome!
The Champagne Run Horse Trials were going on too…I got some neat dressage shots.
And I actually got to see the American Academy of Equine Art’s building and to watch Shelly Hunter doing a sculpture workshop. The Carriage Association of America’s Museum was closed..that was a let down…..but we did go into the Horse Museum to get out if the heat for a bit.
My advice….if you are into horses…plan a trip to the Kentucky Horse Park. I will go back …but next time it will not be done in the summer!!! I will stay home in Maine where Life is like it is supposed to be!!
©Copyright 2008 by Kathi Peters. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Kathi Peters’s website.
Yesterday I started this watercolor of a Lipizzan horse , what a powerful horse he is and you can see the power and movement in his eye and neck. A good friend of mine, Juliet Harrison, who happens to be an accomplished photographer, gave me permission to paint this shot. I am always so excited to see her new work …and this [ a bit edited ] is from a photo shoot that she did in New York. Thank you, Juliet!
I started with a rough sketch and this time I didn’t do a value study with graphite, but have gone right into the work with watercolors. This work has a long thin composition, and my scanner can only show part of it…
I will keep you posted as I make head way on this. I am working on a watercolor of Herefords at the same time …oh.. and a new papercut! My muse is working overtime!
But I must admit I have been a bit reoccupied at the moment getting things finalized for a trip down to Lexington, KY to go to the opening book signing for
Vicky Moon’s new book ‘Equestrian Style”…and to show a few of my papercuts at Gallery B. And while there I plan on getting to the Kentucky Horse Park…..and Keeneland …and The American Academy of Equine Art.
This will be a fast trip…but fun I am sure. And for 4 days I will not have to clean stalls or throw hay!
©Copyright 2008 by Kathi Peters. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Kathi Peters’s website.
The quick watercolor of ‘Wizard Kitty’ is done……….and here it is! I went in with some pen and ink and gouache for fun. Done…..so now I need to get back to work on the new caseins and two papercuts that are ready to be cut.
Last evening UPS stopped with a package for me…I love getting packages!.. and wasn’t I surprised to see it was a complementary copy of Vicky Moon’s new book sent from Random House. How exciting! And I stand corrected as just my paper cut made ‘the cut’……..but I am ‘over the moon’ about it!!! It is book full of lovely photographs of horses, the people who love them and the homes and life styles they enjoy. Brilliant!
Good thing I am back doing a few cuttings again!!
The cutting that was chosen for “Equestrian Style” will be at Gallery B in Lexington, KY during the book signing in July. I should be there too!!!
We will have to see about that??!!
©Copyright 2008 by Kathi Peters. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Kathi Peters’s website.
The art show “ Hip to be Squared” at Gallery B located on 145 West Main St in Lexington, KY is running until the end of July. This is a neat show with all works in it done in a square format. I have 3 caseins in it. One is a still life that includes a bottle of wine and a half full wine glass…and some other hidden items that were required by the gallery in order to participate. The other two caseins are of a filly at different times in her ’childhood’ growing up process.
The weather has been VERY muggy here lately. Afternoons seem to bring thunderstorms and then fog. I have had a hard time getting varnish to dry on paintings that I needed to get out for clients and for shows coming up. When weather is like this forget about trying to do a paper cutting. The humidity makes my paper soft and then it tears. I quests it is time to get the air conditioner up and running. I am trying to be ‘green’ and not use it!
Speaking about green…I just realized that I was green before it was in vogue. I do works in casein, a milk based paint that does not pose a health hazard. It never dawned on me until I was speaking with a client recently and I was explaining about casein and its properties. He was interested in the fact that it wasn’t toxic like oil paint can be…a plus for me in my studio which is small and off the bedroom.
Back to the watercolor work and a casein painting I am working on. The watercolor is of my wizard kitty, Mittens!
©Copyright 2008 by Kathi Peters. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Kathi Peters’s website.
Also tagged in: art, artist, casein, equine art, equine artist, Gallery B, Hip to be Squared, horse, horse art, Lexington, painting, picture
|
I just received an update from Germany, where a good friend of ours is competing in the 2008 FEI World Championship for Drivers with Disabilities. Mary Gary is in 3rd place … but all three girls from the USA are “over the moon,” and with great reason.
Both Mary and Meghan are driving horses they have only driven 3 times before!! Their ponies [Welsh!] are leased from England. This is exciting for us, as Mary is the driver who has our colt out of our Cob mare ,Victoria. Mary competes here in America with Thistle Mead Lloyds Legacy……Legs was born into my arms on our North Pownal Farm called Thistle Mead Farm. He is full brother to our Maggie. My goodness it is all in the family!!!!
Meghan Benge [ from N.C.] is in 1st Place after dressage with a 41, Diane Kastama [CA] is in 2nd with a 42 and Mary Gray [ME] is in 3rd, putting The TEAM USA in 1st overall.
Go TEAM USA!!!!
This is a photo of Victoria and Fergie …our Welsh Cob mares…on our old farm in North Pownal.
Trevallion Victoria is on left. What a corker of a pair they were… and they giving to us by a lovely friend years ago!! Seems like yesterday.
©Copyright 2008 by Kathi Peters. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Kathi Peters’s website.
This watercolor of a sweet Lab, called Jesse, was commissioned by the friend of the dog’s owner after Jesse past over the rainbow bridge. Working on the painting brought back memories of the Labrador Retrievers we have had over the years. We always had one or two in our home while our sons were growing up. I always called them our ‘doofy’ dogs……but oh, how those dogs loved. Labs are also so ready to please and share hugs and kisses.
I can tell this little lady was much loved too. I can see it in her eyes.
And then there were Corgi’s!!
These Cardigan Corgis are part of a HERD of Corgis that belong to a family in Texas. Herd? [or is it a gaggle of Corgis???] The Bucks’ Cardigans actually herd their Beefmaster Cattle on their ranch. How cool is that?!! Corgis with real jobs to do! There will be more Buck Cardigan Welsh Corgi paintings in the works. I can’t get enough of looking at these wonderful dogs and the Buck’s beautiful farm.
In the meantime I need to get works out to Saratoga Springs for the summer show with Equidea Gallery….and do work for the invitational art show “Fertile Ground”, to be held at Skyline Farm in September.
And the gardens are growing!!! Roses coming open and veggies growing.
This is a good thing!
©Copyright 2008 by Kathi Peters. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Kathi Peters’s website.
