The Grassy Road Seems Like Heaven

"The Grassy Roads" , oil , 12 x 12"  copyright 2018

There is a carriage road at Acadia National Park that is not like the other carriage roads that meander through the park. This road is not made of crushed rock that the horses clip clop along ......but this road is covered with green grass and runs through forest and granite embankments dressed in wild flowers and blueberry bushes. The horses quietly trot through this road, so peacefully with the only noise the clink of chains on the carriage, if there are chains, ......and the singing of the birds in the trees. It seems magical. And what could be more magical than to be riding behind a team of white horses. Thus.... "The Grassy Road" came into being.

This painting is framed in a black floater frame.

The Net

"The Net" , casein on board, 12 x 12" copyright2018 www.kathipeters.com

 

While watching the draft carriage horses at the stables, as they were being hitched to the carriages they would be pulling to take the summer tourists on their  trip across the carriage roads of Acadia, I was attracted to the fly nets that covered their bodies. I liked the way their lines covered the hefty bodies of the horses. I liked that it was a non-chemical solution for deterring bothersome flies the hefty draft horses. I liked how the way the simple thin delicate lines created interest on the horses'  muscled bodies. And I love the abstract design that I captured in the photos that I took as we readied our horses to go out on our drive.

Thus this painting.

 

 I know spring is somewhere out there....as we just experienced yet another snow storm. I am grateful for the hours I am able to sneak out of a day from taking care of home and hearth and barn chores. The eternal hope of spring helps.

 

Until then.....I paint.

Sketches Are Art -The Carriage Horse

 

"Carriage Horse"  Charcoal and Gouache on Strathmore Gray Scale paper - 7.5 x 10

 

 

The age old profile of a classical horse...a carriage horse..... holds so much strength and nobility if its bearing.

I am playing around with some ideas for some future paintings. "Carriage Horse".... This charcoal and gouache work is now available.

 

Our weather in mid-coast Maine has been primo of late. Days of brilliant sunshine, with cool nights produced lovely fall foliage to decorate the forest that surrounds our farm. The colors are  now gone. Our horses are reveling in green pastures and bug free grazing. Perfect weather for carriage driving. Not enough hours in the day to do everything we want to do....but lovely never the less. Waiting on the snow to start.

I have more work on my plate than ever and each day I awaken with purpose and joy ......ready to hit the studio and give life to new creations.

 

Paint and charcoal.... I paint.

Woman's Work

 

"Woman's Work" , casein on paper , 9 x 12"  ©2015 www.kathipeters.com

 

 

There's the putting to....and the unhitching. Driving draft horses is a lot of work. I admire the women who choose to do that for a living, or even for pleasure. It is not as easy as it all looks. "Woman's Work" is available.

This new painting is done in casein , and the design is simplified. 'Less is more' in my book.



The ordeal of readying the farm for winter is on going. Having only 2 horses this winter does ease the job a bit. Our hay is put in , and the stalls are made cozy for the chilled nights we have been having. I am almost done readying the flower gardens. The veggie garden is cleaned and what is left is for the gleaners ..... [the wild animals who forage through our fame and woods.] Our bird feeders are being kept filled, and they are in steady use these days. Mittens and wool caps are at the ready, when needed. They have been put to good use on the mornings of late. Fall is in full swing.....winter not far behind.



I paint in my studio......................

Ponies... More Ponies At Acadia

 "Ponies At Acadia" , casein , 9 x 12" ©2015 www.kathipeters.com

This is my latest casein painting done. The subjects , the handsomest four-in-hand of gray ponies,.... who I saw up at Acadia this summer. They were just coming back from a long drive. We were just leaving with our carriage, loaded on out trailer and were heading back from a month of driving at Acadia.

That leader pony, watching me, captured my eye.... I had to paint that inquisitive face. Why didn't I include the carriage and passengers? Because for me it was more about the horses......."Ponies At Acadia"

Most of today was spent in the studio as summer continues it hot muggy and frankly not too pleasant weather. I am not a lover of humidity and heat. But soon winter will come with its blast of frigid cold and snow.....I am hoping for some cool sun-filled fall weather about now. So for the time being I will be cloistered in my studio cave....painting.

Team Work-New Watercolor

"Team Work"       Watercolor on board        12 x 20"  

They work up at Acadia,this handsome pair, pulling the carriages that folks take to enjoy another experience,another view of Rockefeller's miles of carriage roads on Mount Dessert Island. This is the way Mr. Rockefeller wanted us to experience the carriage roads in Acadia National Park......not speeding along on bikes, not seeing the views that open up through the trees,displaying the ocean and islands that surround Mount Dessert...not seeing the moss that grows on rock,not smelling the cedar and fir that stand sentinel on the roadways. A slower time...a more gentle time...try it if you go there. You won't be disappointed....I assure you. Everytime I get a chance to drive the carriage roads behind a good pair of driving horses [or even in a cart with one horse in draft] I revel in the moment. I think I am due for an Acadia fix!

This watercolor, started a bit ago....is finally finished."Team Work" is 12 x 20" and ready to be framed.Now onto the next painting......

But I am taking time to enjoy the last of summer's color.....my gardens are in that leggy out of control stage they always seem to get at summer's end. It is a bit sad...but soon the brilliant fall colors will be surrounding our farm...the view from our deck. To everything there is a season!!!

My Morning Glories....a delight every morning!

My Roses In Oil And Acadia Drafts In Watercolor



"The Garden Hat And Roses"      oil on copper           6 x 8" 

 I have been painting in oil.In fact I did a small oil on copper of my hat and my roses as I thought I would might in my last blog post. I have put this small work on my website and it is available for purchase in my Small Work Collection.  'The Garden Hat and Roses'  is offered framed... and shipping within the USA is free!!

The past few days have been wet and muggy.....good studio weather! So I have been concentrating on a new watercolor of draft horses I saw up at Acadia and on getting my art work ready to be framed,.....and then to get shipped out to Saratoga ,N.Y.  for Equidea Gallery's race season art show.
More on that later!!

A watercolor work in progress!

Inbetween studio and barn chores I get to enjoy new colors as they bloom in the gardens!! Always a joy and that offers constant eye candy!!

Monkshood have blossomed!