There's One In Every Crowd - Critics

 

Resident critic

Over the past few days I have finished the veggie gardens planting, bedded it with hay, mowed lawn twice and figured out how to set up my new plein air easel on the fly. Yesterday was a glorious Maine day and after getting barn chores done,and finally finishing an oil painting I had been working on for ages. [Well not working on...MORE LIKE letting it sit, waiting for me to work on it again. ] I set up my new easel outside in the garden under the arbor and sketched the orchard. I think I will be liking this 'out of the studio' experience......and now that I am REALLY set up for it, I am sure I will do it more often. I had company while I worked. I had a critic who watched my every move and in the end agree I had done a "good job" and it was time to eat. If only all critics were that easy to please!

The orchard sketch

 Days are so busy now. The summer buzz. For instance, I am headed out to the barn now for stall mucking, then I need to water gardens....and THEN I get time in the studio. On my to-do list today ...I need to choose what art work goes to Equidea Gallery in Saratoga Springs, NY. I personally will be there this year, for August 5th, doing a' painting in casein' demonstration in the morning....the same day of the Gallery's champagne reception in the evening. Come on out and share a bit of the bubbly with me! Buy a painting!

This racing oil painting might be heading to Equidea Gallery.....I have to decide today. I will ask Nell to help me decide. She always has opinions.

This oil was done after a  6x 6"casein painting I did. The oil is bigger.

Opening In Saratoga Springs,NY.

"Cinching Up"    casein on board      12 x 12"

"What Are You Looking At"          casein on board         12 x 12"

These are two of  my  three paintings depicting hunter-jumper scenes, that are part of my work in the Equidea Gallery Exhibit. The gallery is holding its champagne and artists' reception to night in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. from 6 - 8 pm. Equidea Gallery is housed in the Holiday Inn and is open throughout the racing season.

I have other work hanging in this show....stop in and see!!

Coming Together Fine!

There has been so much happening in my life over the past few months. I am feeling a bit over whelmed by it all. But I have been handling it one day and step at a time… so here goes …………!

Starting with an opening in Belfast, Maine of an art show at Aarhus Gallery on March 6th which brought a VERY full house. I have one of my mixed media paintings from My Family Series is showcased there. “How You Gonna Keep ‘Em Down On The Farm?” is an 8 x 6” fun look at my Pennsylvania family. I am working on some more of these.... a trip into my past and ancestry.... and it’s a fun trip. It is a step out of my normal subject matter and my focus, but I don’t think you will be disappointed with it. It is innovative and thought provoking. Some say there is certain nostalgia to these works.

Also I have been invited to several invitational exhibits that are being organized by The American Academy of Equine Art. You can see several of my works during The Rolex in April at the AAEA’S building opening April 24th through May 1, 2009.”Start of a New Day” and “Waiting Your Turn” both are being sent to Lexington for the Rolex show.

And then there is another invitational show on Mackinac Island, MI. titled “Pulling Their Weight - Draft and Carriage Horses in Fine Art” from July 15 thru 20, 2009.

AND THEN.... I have a ONE-MAN SHOW coming up in Lexington, KY. in May, titled "Finding My Voice"...at Gallery B. I will be there for the opening reception on May 8th, 2009 from 5-8pm. I hope you can make it! The show will last through the month of May. A portion of the sales from this exhibit will be donated to The Stroke Foundation. I hope this show can raise stroke and aphasia awareness!

I will also be having work hanging at Equidae Gallery in Saratoga Springs, NY. again this summer. And I will be doing a demonstration there "of painting with casein", date TBA .the dates can be seen on my events page on my website. Come and talk to me!!

AND FINALLY, last but not least!...…an interview with me, covering my oeuvre of equine artwork, has come out in ART HORSE MAGAZINE.... and it is so neat to see my work showcased so nicely. And at such a good time! This magazine is an art publication that only comes out twice a year and highlights one equine artist and art photographer in each issue, along with several interesting articles about art or history concerning the horse. A good read! I recommend it and not just because of the article about “MOI”…it is full of good reading!

That’s the story so far…. It’s coming together to be a great year!!!

Dogs and More Dogs

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!

Old Horse - Old Barn

The rain is coming down at a steady clip today. From my studio window I watch the horses as they seek the shelter of their run-out sheds at our barn… and then as they trudge out between rain deluges to eat the new grass shots in their pastures. The fruit trees in our orchard are decorated in their spring cloaks of blossoms…white, pink and red. Everything is wearing green.

I have started a casein painting of an old horse and barn from a photo given to me by a new friend. Tim wrote, ”It is a photo of the barn, and one of the horses, on my Aunt and Uncle's farm, where I spent my summers growing up as a child. Maybe it will be of some inspiration to you.” Well, Tim…It is an inspiration to me… and I will be sending healing thoughts your way as I paint it. Thank you for your confidence in my portraying a part of your world that you grew up in. I think many folks can relate to this scene from the south.

I have started the painting with a chiaroscuro and this will dry enough to get into it with color in a few days…[or longer if it doesn’t stop raining!] I have attached it to today’s blog.
And now I will get back to finishing second watercolor of harness racing horses for Equidea Gallery in Saratoga, for the summer season.