Draft Nap Gold

I love painting white/ gray horses. I can see so many colors in a white horse. But when I painted this draft, for some reason I approached him with a solid white,very graphic,and not shadowed at all. With a gold background and his bed of gold and yellow hay, I wanted to "keep it simple".

Years ago [it seems, in another life] I drew fashion illustrations, wrote a fashion article about what was "in" on the fashion scene in Italy. Now a days, one would find me in jeans, covered with hay, dog hair and paint. I would not change a thing about my life....and my training in fashion, in illustration and commercial art often colors my work that I produce today. My painting animals is a far cry from the fashion world.........but I love it here on our tiny farm that feeds my muse each day.

This 16 x 20" mixed media painting, titled "Draft Nap Gold" will be put up on my website.

Mother and Child

New Jersey is home to many breeding farms. This painting titled"Mother and Child" was done from a photo of a Standardbred breeding farm. A friend and collector of my art supplied the photo. The finished painting is sized 13 1/2 x 18" on 300lb watercolor paper.

I miss having foals on our small farm. Our last foal was born six years ago. Our "Maggie" cold be bred and the thought has crossed our minds. Then reality sets in and we go on with our lives!

A Jack Called Punky

This handsome fellow was all Jack when we visited Cobra Farm in Lexington,KY. last May, during my solo show at Gallery B. Though I was taken with all the beautiful thoroughbred horses at the farm, it seems the dogs I met there have come alive on my canvases first.
This is a small 8 x 6" casein on canvas on board.

Another rainy day finds me back in the studio for the afternoon. My pups are sleeping.The house is quiet. It's a good time to paint.

Jack Russells Wanta Have Fun

Another gray day. Seems that is what I am bemoaning a lot these days.
Sorry if I sound like a broken record.
Above is a fun little casein on board, 5 x 7”, of a young JRT having fun. Jacks are always ready for fun! I am titling it “Leapin’ Lizards”. It will be put up on my website too. The pup who inspired this painting belongs to a new friend I have made on Facebook. Thanks, Vicki!!

Now I have to make some time for some commissions that need to get finished and in between those I will be working on new work. While my family series got put on a back burner, that whole subject matter is begging to be done…and so I have to follow my muse.

The other night I spent a fair amount of time looking for rentals in Italy. It is a dream of mine [and Les’ too] to go back to Italy and spend some time there. [Our horses and dogs and cat don’t think it is such a good idea…!] I looked over the area where Les and I used to live in Umbria and Tuscany. It has grown up so much since we were there…. villages are now cities. Cobbled stoned streets are now highways. Maybe we should stay where we are and just remember it like it was? Oh, but wouldn’t it be great to be painting in Italy again???

Getting Back to Normal

After delivering the “BIG” painting to Freeport, my studio time as been sporadic at best. I manage to clean up a bit of the garden overgrowth and we mowed lawn in shifts with the sun. I captured back the book I was reading “Casa Rossa” , which was stolen by my husband while I was slaving away in the studio on the “Big” painting. But I also started two small caseins of JRT’s…. and a graphite commission of a paint horse. So I have been busy, but not over productive.

Here are a few shots of the gardens as they turn into jungles around the cottage.

Today we have sun…so I am headed out to muck stalls and walk dogs.
Then back to work…I have to paint!

Could It Be More Gray Out?

There has been a serious lack of sunshine lately. My flowers are wilting...veggies are not growing...and I think we all, at Cob Cottage, are starting to grow mold! Nellie tried to soak up some sun the other day when we did have some rays bathing the farm. But the sun was short lived and now the farm is cloaked in fog and drizzle blankets the fields and woods.

I am still working on the BIG painting, but I am starting some small ones too, because my muse needed a change from big. Every evening I have to dismantle my easel and prop the big painting against the cupboard in my studio, so that we can get through the studio to get to the bedroom. I am thinking my studio was not meant to be housing BIG paintings.

And the first sunny day ....I am headed out to work in the gardens and soak up some rays. Nellie knows when to grab her chances...I was too busy painting on the Big painting!
Live and learn!!!

Sometimes I Mess Up

I don't know what I did, but somehow I messed up the last blog entry and had to re-edit it. It doesn't take much to "mess up" my brain sometimes...........any how......Here is Addie in her E-cone, being the brave Corgi. She will do anything for a snack....in true Corgi fashion.

The sun is shining out in Morrill, Maine this afternoon, so I am going out and mow some lawn.
I need a studio break. Addie will take a nap.