Tag Archives: Linda Shantz

Leopard Appie with Spot on his Ear.

November 20th, 2008 | By Donna Ridgway

My friend, Linda Shantz, is having a busy month, what with writing projects, caring for horses, and painting a horse a day, she’s one busy lady! The weather isn’t co-operating with her, as the rain makes her horses muddy and causes a lot of extra work.

I got to thinking about when I was creating at least one painting a day, and how it’s hard to come up with reference material of your own when you’re doing that kind of project. You get so familiar with your own photos, sometimes it’s hard to see the forest for the trees and you can’t decide which photo you want to paint from on any given day.

So I sent her a photo from my collection, of a horse with a cute look in his eye. I didn’t know what day she would paint that horse, but she did tell me was going to use him. When I saw her blog, with that horse and the cute look in his eye, I recognized him in one second. She did such a great job of painting him!

Here’s a couple more photos of that same horse, he’s got such an odd spot on his ear, and see below, he has vertical stripes down his front legs! I just think that’s interesting. I wish he was mine, I could really get used to the way he looks!

Hope you enjoyed seeing him too…
Donna Ridgway

©Copyright 2008 by Donna Ridgway. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Donna Ridgway’s website.

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Landscape Catchup

August 13th, 2008 | By Linda Shantz

Paintings by Linda Shantz, copyright 2008, all rights reserved.

I’m determined to meet the landscape challenge, even if it means producing and posting less-than-admirable work. These three little pieces are each experiments in different ways, and what I classify as quick studies. Sometimes these things come off better than others. In the midst of everything else that’s been going on around here in the past few weeks, well, let’s just say, beggars can’t be choosers! I have been working on my more serious pieces, and hopefully in the near future will reveal the results of some of that work.

Just a quick description of these three pieces. The little landscape is just on Fredrix canvas pad, and is using Kevin MacPherson’s plein air palette (inside after dark in my studio, however!) of simply Titanium White, Ultramarine Blue, Thalo Green, Alizarin Crimson and Cadmium Yellow Light. I love the colours, though the painting was very simple and quick. The middle piece is a cloud study, done on gessoed birch panel, 8 x 10. The one thing about all this rain, we’ve had some pretty cool clouds! Again, just a quick study. The third is 5 x 7 oil on shellaced Masonite - the first time I have worked on such a surface. This one isn’t done yet, but is done from some of the photos I took on my recent Saratoga trip. This horse and rider are on Claire Court, a sand ring type gallop on the backstretch.

On the farm front, our record rainfall this summer is causing a bit of havoc. Forgive me if I don’t really want to talk about it! There’s gotta be an ark around here somewhere….

©Copyright 2008 by Linda Shantz. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Linda Shantz’s website.

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Time To Grow Up!

August 8th, 2008 | By Linda Shantz

Photo of a Thoroughbred filly copyright Linda Shantz, all rights reserved.
Well, as Miss Peaker has been featured prominently in this blog since her birth, I have to report on the latest chapter of her life. This morning was significant - I sent her to the training centre to officially start her career as a racehorse. At least, that’s the goal! She’s had a little bit of work here - worn a bridle, pad and surcingle - but as the last time she left this farm was at a month of age when her mother went to be bred, sending her somewhere to be broken (yes we still use that word, though it has long ago lost its negative connotations) will expose her to more, and better prepare her for what lies ahead at the racetrack.

Photo of a Thoroughbred filly running copyright Linda Shantz, all rights reserved.
At eighteen months, Peaker is a big girl, very nearly 16 hands already. She handled loading on the trailer quite admirably, I thought - thanks, of course, to some careful handling - and travelled in a nice roomy box stall.

I’m going to miss the baby girl - while it’s exciting that the day has come for her to start on the next stage of her life, it’s sad to see her go.

©Copyright 2008 by Linda Shantz. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Linda Shantz’s website.

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Maybe It Never Rains in California, but it Sure Does in Saratoga!

July 28th, 2008 | By Linda Shantz

Thoroughbred racing at Saratoga photography copyright Linda Shantz, all rights reserved.
Well, I pulled off the whirlwind trip to Saratoga and made the most of it. I met up with Juliet Harrison as planned, and we headed right to the track (once we remembered how to get there!). In typical Saratoga fashion it was hot, and the clouds started to roll in as the afternoon went on. It was a “Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In” day, so four nice stake races were scheduled. Right before the Go For Wand, the rain hit. Like die-hards, we stood by the rail and waited to watch the race. Taking pictures at this point was kind of difficult because while we were willing to get wet, we weren’t willing to let our cameras get soaked! Thanks to the program which I’d earlier been grumbling about (the tops of the pages weren’t cut…and most of it is printed on newsprint, so my hands were black) I had a shield for my camera, even if I’d left my rain coat in the truck!

Ginger Punch put in a huge performance to win the Go For Wand - I was really impressed. After spending most of the race locked in on the rail she broke out and emerged victorious. In the post parade she’d looked clearly disgusted by the rain, so I’d thought maybe it wasn’t going to be her day…but a bit of rain and race-riding wasn’t going to stop this girl! The rain did stop us after that race, admittedly - we didn’t stick around to see Commentator win the Whitney, unfortunately!

A visit to Saratoga isn’t complete without seeing some galleries and a stop at Mrs. London’s for the to-die-for pastries. Sunday we hit the races again and upheld our now-tradition of some Ben&Jerry’s (despite the exhorbitant cost of it at the concession stands!), took some more pics, watched some more great racing and yes, got rained on again.

Till next year! :)

©Copyright 2008 by Linda Shantz. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Linda Shantz’s website.

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Curlin, 6 x 8 Oil on Raymar Linen Panel

July 25th, 2008 | By Linda Shantz

Oil painting of Curlin copyright Linda Shantz, all rights reserved.
This week’s been a blur - I couldn’t tell you where the time has gone. I’ve got a couple of recently finished paintings to show off, and this is just one of them. This is the little oil I started the day Curlin won the Dubai World Cup. The big horse hit a bit of a snag in his first turf race a little while ago, but I think after the way he’s been romping in his last few starts, we just kept expecting him to keep on rolling – dirt, turf, whatever – kind of like another Big Red Machine a few decades ago. Like pretty much everything you see around here, this little painting is for sale, so don’t be afraid to email me if you’re interested. I’ll be getting it framed next time I visit the framer!

This weekend I’ve got a whirlwind roadtrip planned. I’m meeting my friend, photographer Juliet Harrison, in none other than Saratoga. Rest assured we’ll both have a few hundred photos to sort through after our visit to the Spa! Stay tuned!

I’ll have some news on upcoming shows next week, as well as an announcement about a new project I’ve been working on. Could be kind of busy around here!

©Copyright 2008 by Linda Shantz. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Linda Shantz’s website.

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Everything Stops for Hay

July 20th, 2008 | By Linda Shantz
Three of these, full, folks!

Finally! The first cut hay is in. Wednesday was an all-day hay project, and naturally, one of the hottest days of the year. I’m trying not to whine about the nearly 600 bales we packed in, when I think I’m just one of the clients my suppliers deal with. Now I just have to wait for straw! After threatening rain for the last few days, storms apparently hitting everywhere but our little nook on the Niagara Escarpment, we’ve had a steady downpour that started in the middle of the night.

Landscape painting featuring three horses copyright Linda Shantz.
This week’s landscape “entry” 8 x 10 oil on canvas

I am playing the hay card as my excuse for not getting much painting done this last week. I did some work here and there and will post the evidence when I have a bit more time to blog. My weekly landscape project didn’t get started until Friday night, and occupied me again yesterday afternoon. Not ready to call it done yet, but I managed to put some horses in this one!

Today, I’m hoping to make a now-rare trip to the races. If you’ve been following long enough to remember the Thunder Gulch colt I broke a couple of years ago…well, today he’s making his first start at Woodbine. Now three, and a gelding, while his barn name is Medz, he’ll always be affectionately known to me as “Rupert” despite his owner’s disapproval! Go Rupert Go!

Rupert, aka Medz, aka Medidocihospisurg, as a yearling

©Copyright 2008 by Linda Shantz. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Linda Shantz’s website.

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Pleasant Surprises

July 9th, 2008 | By Linda Shantz
Painting of a dog. Copyright Linda Shantz.
Best Behaviour 8 x 10 oil on Raphael Linen

The current Canine Art Guild show is titled, “Canine Pot Luck” and the work is fabulous, really great stuff. I can’t remember if I posted a link to it here, so I have to apologize for that! Be sure to take a look. Viewers were able to place votes for their favourite work, though my lateness in mentioning this that means that voting has now closed! Okay, so marketing has never been my strong point!

Yesterday I received an email from our inspiring CAG helmsperson, Kim Santini, that my entry, Best Behaviour (remember him?), received an Honourable Mention for People’s Choice! With the quality of work in the show, I really was surprised. It’s certainly an honour in such esteemed company. Deserved congratulations go to winner Diane Solomon for her piece “Big Brother Watches over Me” and to the other Honourable Mention, Julie Bender. Julie does pyrography - definitely worth a checking out!

painting of a Shire horse. Copyright Linda Shantz.
Meanwhile, back on the easel…my little 5 x 7 oil on Raphel linen is now complete, varnished and ready to go to the framer. Kat Moore, who owns this gorgeous Shire (named Shine) had generously shared more photos of the big guy and his son, Duelly, so you might be seeing more of these boys. I know I posted an image of this, but as I’ve scanned it now, I thought it deserved a more accurate picture.

And lest you think I copped out on my weekly landscape committment, I will post this week’s effort, even though it’s not finished. This is 5 x 7 oil on canvas, tentatively called, “Keenland Quiet.” I expect I’ll have to pop a horse in there somewhere, though as someone who has worked on the backstretch, it does say something that there are no horses visible. I’ll have to think about that one. Any comments?

"Keenland Quiet" a painting by Linda Shantz. Copyright Linda Shantz.

©Copyright 2008 by Linda Shantz. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Linda Shantz’s website.

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Landscape A Week - Mackerel Skies Over the Flint Hills

July 5th, 2008 | By Carrie Lewis

Mackerel Skies Over the Flint Hills is now complete.

It took five days for it to dry and by the time it did, I decided it didn’t need trees after all. I just couldn’t see a way to add them that would improve the painting.

Since the sky is the subject and the landscape is backdrop, I decided to add a few birds soaring among the clouds. Once they were in place, the painting was finished.

Mackerel Skies Over the Flint Hills represents the first of a series of weekly challenge paintings that I am doing with a friend who is not only a fellow artist, but who has the same desire to improve in painting landscapes that I have.

Linda Shantz also happens to be an wonderful equine artist. Her special field of interest is racing.

Linda is posting her weekly landscape challenges on her blog, Linda Shantz Equine and Animal Art, so check it out. In addition to her landscape, she writes about everything involving all of her interests as an equine artist, a stable operator/owner and someone involved in the business of horse racing.

Now that the first week of our weekly challenge is over, it’s time for a long breath and the search for next week’s project!

Mackerel Skies Over the Flint Hills
6″ x 4″
Original Oil on Unstretched Artfix Linen Canvas
$100 unframed plus shipping

©Copyright 2008 by Carrie Lewis. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Carrie Lewis’s website.

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Chestnuts Only, Please!

July 4th, 2008 | By Linda Shantz

Young Thoroughbreds. Copyright Linda Shantz.
Last night I finally got around to popping over to a nearby Thoroughbred breeding farm I used to work at to take some photos. This time of year they’ve started turning out at night, and I just love the light in the early evening. Most of the mares and babies are back from Kentucky now, and sales prep is in full swing, with the first bunch leaving earlier this week for Fasig-Tipton Kentucky.

I took a few hundred photos (what else is new?) so just a small selection here. Honestly, there are more than chestnuts on this farm! Maybe I’m just feeling a little chestnut horse-deprived after taking Jay over to start back training on Wednesday. I still have Gracie and Peaker here, of course, but Jay has enough personality for half a dozen horses, so his absence leaves a big hole! The bunch in the first photo are some of this year’s colts. Half of the group came over right away when they saw me, but these four stayed up on the hill grazing until I was about to move on to the next pasture. At that point, in true Thoroughbred fashion, these four came tearing across to see what was going on.


On the way to the fillies’ paddock, I took a few pics of the yearling colts. This boy is out of a mare called Heavenly Tears (aka Millie), and Heavenly Tears is a half sister to Monster’s dad, Tejabo. So this handsome goof is a relative of my silly mare!

Chestnut foal with a white blaze. Copyright Linda Shantz.
I can’t keep up with who’s who on the farm anymore - I still know some of the mares, but can’t keep up with all the fashionable stallions these foals are by! My retention just isn’t that good! I need to take notes!

©Copyright 2008 by Linda Shantz. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Linda Shantz’s website.

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Putting the Pieces Together: The Monday Landscape Challenge

June 30th, 2008 | By Linda Shantz

Landscape painting in oils of round hay bales. Copyright Linda Shantz.
The thing about painting horses is that, sooner or later, you’re going to have to paint landscapes. We horses artists tend to avoid them for as long as we can - just like we usually do our best to avoid painting figures! I’ve done a few plein air landscape courses, and gone on the odd paint-out, but normally I get so wrapped up in painting my horse-themed work that I neglect devoting some time to landscapes, specifically.

Last week fellow EAGer Carrie Lewis and I decided to do a “landscape challenge.” In 2007, Carrie did a landscape-a-day challenge on her own, painting an ACEO (Art Cards Editions and Originals - 2.5 x 3.5 inch paintings, in other words, tiny!) each weekday. I haven’t signed up for that big a commitment, but we settled on a landscape a week, starting today. My aim is to do this for the summer, at least, and see how it goes!

Today’s painting is from a photo taken somewhere around Creemore, Ontario. Something about round bales in the field is visually appealing, be it hay or straw. I only used the photo as a starting point, manipulating things to come up with this composition. This is an 8 x 10 oil on canvas board. The summer so far has been so wet, we’re still waiting for first cut hay, making this scene a bit of a dream!

Oil painting of a Shire horse in the snow. Copyright Linda Shantz.
Last night, I think I finished my little 5 x 7 oil on Raphael linen panel of the Shire in the snow, which I’ve titled “Man on a Mission.” I still have to sign it, but otherwise all that’s left is the drying!

©Copyright 2008 by Linda Shantz. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Linda Shantz’s website.

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Queen’s Plate ‘08

June 27th, 2008 | By Linda Shantz

Not Bourbon and Ginger Brew at the finish of the 2008 Queen's Plate. Photo copyright Linda Shantz.
I want to be sure everyone knows that little Billy called it, and Gracie wasn’t far off! Not Bourbon held off Ginger Brew to win the 2008 Queen’s Plate in an exciting finish. Unfortunately, thanks to what I’ll call a two-minute rule, I didn’t get very great shots of the race itself. Apparently, for the duration of the Queen’s Plate, and the Plate only…and this year’s Plate only, for that matter…standing at the base of the stairs to the second floor seating is a fire hazard. I’m not sure why it wasn’t for the race before the Plate, or last year’s Plate, or the year before. What can I say!


The LongRun fundraiser auctioning off the saddle cloths of the Plate field is happening now on eBay. By pure coincidence I ended up with some pretty cool shots of the horses in the walking ring. Be sure to check out the auction. A couple of the cloths still have no bids, including the winner’s! His connections better step up!


Here in the studio, the painting goes on. The purple panel is on its way to Edmonton to rejoin its other mosaic pieces for a grand reunion. Stay posted for information on the unveiling! And keep track of the progress on the Mural Mosaic website!

©Copyright 2008 by Linda Shantz. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Linda Shantz’s website.

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The Morning Line

June 22nd, 2008 | By Linda Shantz

Ginger Brew copyright Linda Shantz

Plate morning! There’s always a special feel around the backstretch, whether you’re running in the big race or not. I remember we always made sure the shed was leveled and raked even more carefully than on normal days, and the apron and lawn outside was particularly clean. We even polished the brass on the halters. Being stabled close to the receiving barn, we witnessed the arrival of the horse guards first-hand, something that was sure to set my dear girl Petunia over the edge! Not her favourite morning, that’s for sure.

Colt bucking photo copyright Linda Shantz
When I turned the foals out this morning, they spent the first five minutes running and playing. It was probably inspired by the cool, damp air, but I entertained that they just know it’s Plate Day! Gracie is backing Ginger Brew, because, of course, chestnut fillies rule. Billy’s dad Mobil ran second in the Plate, and Gracie pointed out that it was a chestnut that beat him (stablemate Wando, 2003). Billy kind of likes Not Bourbon today, being Ontario-sired and all, but he let on that he’ll be rooting for Uncle Jerry and Deputiformer. Nothing wrong with picking a longshot! Just ask Monster…her dad Tejabo sired a whopper in TJ’s Lucky Moon back in 2002.

Filly bucking photo copyright Linda Shantz


Woodbine Entertainment and LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement are having a neat fundraiser after this year’s Plate. The saddle cloths of all the starters will be auctioned on eBay this week to raise money for LongRun. I’ll post a link to the auctions as soon as I have it so you can check it out.

Painting in progress of Mike Fox by artist Linda Shantz
Okay, so I’m hoping I’ve distracted you from asking about the Mike Fox painting. All right, I admit it, it’s not done. So I came up short. It’s getting very close though. At this stage I’m working on a lot of nit-picky stuff, so progress is a lot slower. Won’t be long now! And maybe I’ll start on this year’s winner a little earlier! Hope that grey sky brightens a little by post time!

©Copyright 2008 by Linda Shantz. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Linda Shantz’s website.

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Mural Mosaic Panel 193: Dance Smartly, Canadian Queen

June 18th, 2008 | By Linda Shantz

Oil painting of Dance Smartly for the Le Cadeau du Cheval mural mosaic project by Linda Shantz
As promised, here is the completed panel. It’s now up on the grid on the Mural Mosaic Le Cadeau du Cheval site, where the mosaic is coming together, piece by piece! Below is the accompanying text for the panel.

The Queen’s Plate: the longest continuously-run sporting event in North America, and Canada’s most prestigious race. In 1991, a royally-bred filly named Dance Smartly was victorious. Bred and raced by Sam-Son Farms, Dance Smartly went on to win the Canadian Triple Crown, and followed that accomplishment by becoming the first Canadian-bred to win a Breeders’ Cup race. She was voted Canadian Horse of the Year and top three-year old filly in North America after remaining undefeated in eight races that season.

Not only was Dance Smartly a brilliant racehorse – inducted into both the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, NY, and the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame – her success continued after retirement as she went on to produce two Queen’s Plate winners. Sadly, Dance Smartly died in 2007 at Sam-Son Farms, but her legacy remains.

In 2008, Sam-Son Farms and the racing community lost both Elizabeth Samuel, wife of founder Ernie Samuel, and daughter Tammy Samuel-Balaz. This panel is a tribute not only to one of the best horses to come out of Canada, but to the role of these two women in Canadian racing history.

©Copyright 2008 by Linda Shantz. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Linda Shantz’s website.

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The Tuesday Report

June 17th, 2008 | By Linda Shantz

Painting in progress of Thoroughbred race horse by Linda Shantz
Remember when the Mercer Report used to be called The Monday Report? Or was it the Tuesday Report? And I think it’s really now called the Rick Mercer Report. Anyway, if you don’t know who Rick Mercer is, none of this means anything to you!

Today was a big day! I actually finished the Mural Mosaic panel. I need to write up my blurb that goes along with the painting, and then it will be placed in the grid on the official site. When I have the blurb written, I’ll post the panel here as well. It still needs to be signed and photographed before I send it on its way. I was looking at flights to Calgary for the first week of September today. Not sure yet if that’s going to happen!

I also more or less finished one of the smaller paintings that has been kicking around. This little oil is 6 x 8, on Raymar linen panel. I have a couple of touch-ups to do before I sign it, but nothing major. The name took a lot of thought: “Dark Bay on the Curragh.” How’s that for brilliance? I reserve the right to change that!

Oil painting in progress of horses racing by Linda Shantz
I’m running out of time on my self-imposed deadline for Mike Fox. Tonight I continued to work on the colour. At this stage I’m only using a limited palette; I’ll juice it up a bit with the next layer. The white of the riders’ breeches and silks is still wet, so I’m not going to go back and work on them until those areas are dry.

Till next time!

©Copyright 2008 by Linda Shantz. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Linda Shantz’s website.

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Brought to You by the Colour Green

June 13th, 2008 | By Linda Shantz

Painting of horse race in progress, by Linda Shantz
Apparently I’m on a green kick this week. Could my purple avoidance get any worse?

Look what I finally dusted off today! The painting formerly known as ‘Backstretch’ and later renamed “First Time Past” (current working title). Lots of different greens in this one, and like the Mike Fox painting, I’ve been blocking in colour over the underpainting. recently, having worked on paintings with a detailed underpainting as well as one without (Eccentric), I’m reminded just how much simpler it makes things to have that tonal roadmap. I was able to make a lot of progress, quickly.

I’m also enjoying the Artfix linen with this piece. When I started this one, I didn’t think we were going to be friends! I really did contemplate locking it in the closet on several occasions. It was worth those early “fights” I’ve decided. Guess I’m going to have to buy more!

©Copyright 2008 by Linda Shantz. See original post here.
To learn more about this artist, visit Linda Shantz’s website.

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