Lady Whip

 

"Lady Whip" , oil on canvas on board, 12 x 12" Sold

Watching horses being harnessed and hitched to their carriage always fascinates me. One can tell a lot about  people around  horses, by just watching how they handle their horses. This lovely scene of a lady whip as she hitches her handsome pair of hackney horses on a hot summer day captured my muse and had to be painted. I worked on this painting over time, working on it a bit, then putting it face to the wall, as I worked on other paintings. It is now done. As soon as I had it done and posted on line, it was “sold”. I am very pleased with that.

 

Fall has arrived on our farm. Much needed rain has come and quenched the thirsty ground and fall color has exploded in the forest around our fields. Each afternoon I take my JRT, Nell, for a long walk around our fields and through our woods.

Our gardens lay waiting on cleaning before winter sets in. Until that time our resident gleaners are harvesting the drops in garden and orchard. I love fall and all it brings. It brings hint of winter…….

 

AND It is that time of year when folks ask about commission work. Yes, I do accept commissions. If wanted for Christmas, time is getting close.Don't miss out. And I do give gift certificates, so that someone special can pick out that special painting to grace their walls....or get a painting of their horse or driving turnout.

Christmas IS coming!!  

 

But for now I wish everyone a happy and blessed Thanksgiving day!

 

Until then I will paint.

My Interview With A National Magazine !!!

  

 In the middle of our summer driving 'marathon " in Acadia  National Park this year, I was contacted by Ann Pringle, the editor of Driving Digest, about doing an interview for a feature article in their fall issue #203. I was more than pleased and honored to be offered this opportunity to show my work and to answer Ann's questions about my life and my work. It's no secret that the majority of my body of work depicts the world of the driving horse. It is a equestrian discipline that I love to participate in and to paint. I hope everyone has had the chance to read the article, and to see a sample of my work as Driving Digest featured it so wonderfully. Thank you Driving Digest and Ann Pringle!!

 

 

"The Wheelers", oil , 12 x 16"  copyright 2015

 

 

I am back in the studio now....busy with the start of commission work for the holidays and new year.

I am also working on new original work. My art work is very important to me....Life goes on.

 

 





The Wheelers At Acadia - A Sketch Now, A Painting Later

"The Wheelers At Acadia", charcoal and conte, copyright 2016 kathipeters.com

When the four in hand coaches come driving at Acadia, there is never a lack of inspiration for me. Often the four horses in a team are taken out as pairs....only two pulling the carriage. Its a good way to exercise the horses or get them familiar with their new surroundings. Sometimes one of the four might have a problem that keeps them from being used........and then I get to capture a pair.....its all good! "The Wheelers At Acadia"

 

This sketch is available. I will be painting this scene...edited a bit. But now I am offering the sketch , unframed. Shipping is included for shipments within the USA. You'd be surprised how low the price is on my sketches!!   I do ship overseas...but that of course costs more. Contact me for that.

Four-In-Hand Painting Of Acadia

 

 

"Two's Company, Four's A Team" , oil, 12 x 24" ©2016 www.kathipeters.com

 

It was in Acadia National Park that I saw my first four-in-hand turnout and I fell in love with the sport. The four-hand-in of four [ Yes.... there ARE four horses in this painting.] Kladruby horses took my breath away. I have painting them several time over the years.

"Two's Company, Four's A Team" is maybe more about the groom holding the two lead horses, looking into the sun, while another groom unhitches the two wheelers. They had just arrived back from a long picnic drive over the miles of beautiful carriage roads of Acadia.  I love depicting the everyday scenes that surround the life of carriage driving and horses. I just love to paint my life. 

"Russet" in Winter

"Russet" , watercolor  , 8 x 13"  ©2016   Sold

Snow storms and winter's bitter chill have taken their toll on my studio time and frankly my get up and go, as far as creativity is concerned. I've taken an afternoon here and there , but I've been so tired and not able to get into anything too deep or needing concentration. Maybe it is lack of sun....or lack of sleep.....but here is one watercolor done, which was immediately sold. This handsome Morgan mare was a subject that I took photos of years ago ....and yet I only got around to painting it now. I loved how she turned her head to see my approach, as she was tied to her trailer, having just come back from a drive. Russet horse in a russet harness. Lovely.

I have been sketching a lot lately. I have started to fill up a Moleskin sketchbook that was given to me by a good friend years ago when we got our Morgan driving pair. She told me to sketch at Acadia when we go driving....but frankly  I am always too busy taking care of the horses there , or just enjoying being with the horses on a carriage drive. No time to sketch. But I did start to use the sketchbook last year on our trip to Pennsylvania and Weyth country. I am loving the paper and how it works with pencil and ink. Liked it so much I ordered a second smaller Moleskin sketch book to use with wet media. Here are  two graphite sketches done and they will each become  future paintings I am sure!

"The Colt"

 

"The Pair"

As we brace for another storm.....snow and then rain!! .....I am grabbing some studio time today. I am getting into my watercolor paintings again.... I  am painting!!

One Subject - Two Mediums

"Head Study #2 At Acadia" , watercolor,  17 x 12"   ©2016

 Two works done recently. One subject. Two Mediums. Why?

This handsome carriage horse was first worked up as a graphite study, in order to get my values figured out in my head. Doing these preliminary sketches helps me a lot; especially when working from photos, and not from life. This horse was one of the horses who was on the American Driving Society's visit years ago to Maine and the carriage roads of Acadia. I captured more than several photos of this handsome guy and I have painted him before. This time I approached the painting a bit differently than other works done of him. His strong face and handsome features attracted me again. And because I have clients asking to purchase my sketches I have included the graphite of this image available on my website.

"Head Study #2 At Acadia", graphite, 14 x 11" ©2016



Back Into Watercolor For My Latest New Painting

 

"Heading Out - Acadia"  watercolor , 11 x 25"  ©2015 www.kathipeters.com

"Heading Out - Acadia " is a new color painting,  finished last week actually....Another 4-in-hand turnout that captured my attention this summer, up at Wildwood Stables in Maine's  Acadia National Park. I captured them as they were eager to get out onto the carriage roads on their first visit to Acadia. I chose again to just portray the horses.....without the carriage, [a marathon type vehicle] as they went by....all movement and energy. Wonderful memories of an Acadia trip. If it were a commission I would have included the carriage and the driving party….but this is an original done with artist license.

 

 

 I am back into my oil paint now, working on some scenes of horses at liberty and some Maine landscapes.  We are also busy with guests coming and going on our Cob Cottage Farm. Summer is going too, but we have been blessed with some awesome summer like days lately...days that beg me to head out into my gardens and try to catch up on garden taming and transplanting. All too soon the cold weather will come all too soon. I will enjoy this weather while it lasts.

 

 

Also a quick reminder!!!.....Don't forget to take advantage of my ongoing Small Work Sale........it is still going on until I take it down. Strike while the iron is hot , so to speak. Some neat small paintings are included in the sale. I'd hate for you to miss out on a good deal. The small paintings make great gifts for the Holidays!

 

 

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.

The Power and Strength , A New Oil Painting

"The Wheelers"  oil , 14 x 16" ©2015 www.kathipeters.com

Driving a team of four horses pulling a carriage is a sport of gentlemen. There is an old saying that a gentleman doesn't drive more than four. For me, seeing the power and strength of a smartly turned-out four in hand is a thing of beauty. I appreciate the scene in its entirety, but sometimes by looking at the whole, you can miss a piece of it that is special. That is what I did with my latest oil painting done. I honed in on a piece of the whole.  A four-in-hand team is made up of two pair of horses; the strong wheelers who are closest to the carriage and actually do the majority of pulling of the carriage, and the leaders who are usually the flashier pair, finer and brave to be out front.  I have taken a view of the wheelers, up close and in the draft, pulling their carriage. The driving lines to the leaders cut across the wheelers profiles, cutting the composition and providing movement across the painting. It was an interesting and exciting element and fun to paint and develop.  “The Wheelers” is now on my website and available.

 

Our Maine weather has been so hot and muggy this August. Perfect "stay in the studio and paint" weather. I am taking advantage of it and have more paintings in the works. It is a joy awakening every day to work that I love to do…… and so I paint!!

Carriage Driving In Acadia !!! And My Latest Oil Painting

 

                  "By Bubble Pond - Acadia"  oil on canvas on board  12 x 12"  ©2015 www.kathipeters.com

 

There are so many roads to travel by bike or on foot up or riding horseback in Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island . You can even go by horse drawn carriage...a link to the past. By carriage is my favorite way to experience the beauty that is Acadia. My painting "By Bubble Pond- Acadia" is another way for one to experience that thrill from the comfort of their home......this latest painting is available and ready for it's forever home.

 

This next month will bring driving those Acadian carriage roads a daily joy for us. I will be filling my imagination with paintings that will be done after our driving marathon is over. Bear with me as I placate my muse.......fill my head with Maine scenery and horses and carriages. And in between ......my gardens will grow and lawn and fields will need mowing. Never a dull moment at Cob Cottage Farm and Studio!!   And I will paint!    

 

 

                                                   Little Long Pond , Acadia

A New Watercolor And A Maine Art Exhibit

 

Our apple trees are laden with blossoms.

 

The month of May has been flying by, it seems. With so many beautiful weather days, I have been getting work done outside in my gardens and with our horses. In the studio I have been busy with a Maine landscape painting and several smaller works that I am still on the fence about. Contrary to popular belief not every painting done is worthy of being shared. Sometimes I have to sit on a fence a day or so after finishing a painting, before I send it out into the wide world for other eyes to see. I know I am not alone with this practice. Quality control at work! 

 

 

"The German Pair" , watercolor on paper, 9.25 x 14"  copyright 2015 www.kathipeters.com

 

I also did do a watercolor of two handsome driving horses. They are of the Polish breed called Heavy Schlesier. They originate from Schlesien, which is now a region in Poland, but before the World War it belonged to Germany. How big and strong they look, yet are wonderful driving horses. “The German Pair" “is available to purchase on my website.

The other work I have done might be added to my website…we shall see!

 

This month was time to clean up and organize my pastel colors. I did that and believe me it was no easy task. Now my pastels are all in one pastel box, organized and at the ready for my foray into pastel work. When THAT will be I don't know but soon ?!

 

 

 

Again this year I have work in the Annual Festival of Art at the Hutchinson Center in Belfast, Maine. The show opened May 21, with an opening reception at 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The show ran May 22 and 23, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday May 24, noon to 3 p.m. I hope you made it to the show. It always has an interesting mix of artwork in this Maine exhibit!

Life goes on at our ‘farmette’……..spring is in full swing with its bountiful display of blossoms and each day’s new color. At the moment….lots of green.

 

And so I paint!

My Art On National Magazine Cover - Driving Digest

I am so honored to see my painting "Going Under Seal Harbor Bridge - Acadia" featured on the latest issue of the DRIVING DIGEST magazine. This painting depicts our Morgan pair on the carriage roads of Acadia. I always love seeing this bridge when we are driving up there, as I consider it the keyhole to the door that opens on the wonderful experience of the miles of carriage roads that Acadia National Park has to offer....to be enjoyed by equestrians. I firmly believe THIS is the way to see the interior of the park.....better than walking  or riding a bike. No cars allowed! I never tire of painting this treasure.

I have been busy....working on two paintings at this point. Need to get back into some small original paintings, but that will have to wait for awhile. It has been bitter cold in Maine of late....but I guess Maine is not alone with this polar front that sits over the east. I take comfort in the fact that I am not alone in my misery.

So I paint in a chilly studio......brrrrrrrr.

We Had A Happy Thanksgiving - And My Latest Watercolor -

"Arriving Back At The Barn-Acadia" , watercolor, 10 x 19 3/4" ©2014 www.kathipeters.com

 Snow steadily fell over our farm on the eve before Thanksgiving and we put the horses back into their cozy stalls. I did the baking for our Thanksgiving Day celebration that we spent with family. I hope you all had someone to enjoy the day with. I am so thankful for our life on our small farm with our horses, and that I am able to paint works that make my heart happy.

This is the latest work finished, “Arrival Back At The Barn – Acadia”  is a watercolor depicting a lovely 4 in- hand of Kaldruber horses pulling their happy party of passengers, as they all come back from a lovely ride on the miles of carriage roads of Acadia National Park.

I am working on commission work now, that of course, I can’t show, as they are going to folks for Christmas. I will continue my "Fall Clean Up Sale" for a bit longer. Some folks have nabbed some great buys in this art sale…….Were you one? If you haven’t bought anything yet, take at look at the work available while it is up… offering easy shopping from the comfort of your home!

Have a warm cozy Thanksgiving Day tomorrow. 

From our house to your house!

God bless!

Dressed For Success And Carriage Driving In Acadia

 

"Dressed For Success"  Casein on paper    9 x 12"  ©2014 www.kathipeters.com

 

  I would have to admit that every painting, sketch, or even an idea that I create comes from my daily life, my love of our place in time and our life with horses. The entire month of July, driving with our horses up at Acadia National Park, has provided me with so many ideas for new paintings to be done, that I will be drawing on that wealth of inspiration for a long time to come. I have draft horses paintings that I have already painted in my sleep, but need to get done on canvas….driving scenes to paint, and Maine landscape paintings that I know I need to do. I know what I am going to doing this winter!

 

The Carriage Roads of Acadia

 

“Dressed For Success”, one the latest paintings I have done, is an image that was inspired by a photo I took years ago at a sleigh rally at the wonderful Washburn-Nor lands Living History Center in Livermore Falls, Maine. I had done a watercolor of these Percheron draft pair years ago, and that painting was sold. I wanted to revisit this handsome pair again, and this time I decided to use my casein paintings with a warm background, then that warm ground appears through the cool white paint brush strokes, creating warmth to the skin of the handsome draft horses. I am very pleased with the effect I get with this approach. You can see this approach a lot in my work.

 

 We are finally back home at the farm now…our horses enjoying a respite from daily carriage driving on the wonderful carriage roads at Acadia.  August is a busy time up there and we will wait a bit before we head up there again. Now we are busy catching up on farm work……painting the house, civilizing the perennial gardens and harvesting the bounty that our meager vegetable gardens are providing us with.
 
And I will get back to the studio and paint!!!


 

New Painting Of Seal Harbor Bridge / Acadia & Carriage Horses

 

 

"Seal Harbor Bridge/Acadia"  Casein on board    12 x 12"  ©2014 www.kathipeters.com

 

The second bridge that an equine experience in Acadia provides you is Seal Harbor Bridge….a bridge that the horses actually go under and that cars drive over. This bridge always seems to me to be our portal to the magic that is Acadia. Our first Acadia drive is always under this bridge and over to Little Long Pond……So beautiful…..The air filled with the woodland scents of fir, cedar, pine and fern. The moss covered forest rug cover the landscape and the coping stones lining the carriage roads, draw the horses and carriage along. I will NEVER tire of this. Our horses love trotting along the gravel packed roads, eager to see what is past the next corner. It is like heaven. I will NEVER tire of painting this experience, and hopefully my paintings will help other enjoy the feeling of trotting along carriage roads, as if in another place and time. A slower and gentler time.  My new casein painting is now available on my website. More works to come.

 

 

 

So between carriage rides……I will be painting.  

Two new Paintings-An Oil and A Casein- Horses and Maine Landscape

I lived through my The Art Of Red River radio blog interview. Hope you  grab a chance to listen to their show....It is like sitting with artists and chatting with them. I enjoyed it!

 

 

 "Nubble Point Light House"   Casein on board,    15 x 11"   ©2014 Kathi Peters

 

 

I just realized that I had not blogged about 2 new works done and available on my website. The first is a fun casein done of Nubble Point Light House in York, Maine. I used to live right down the road from this light house. Fitting that I should paint it. It is a 15 x 11" casein on illustration board.

 

 

The second is an oil painting on canvas. "Undone" is  an 18 x 24" work that metaphorically deals with a feeling of not being "hooked to the carriage" and out off line with life. Might have come to being due to a feeling I have been having lately. I am sure we all have it at times.

 

 





"Undone"    Oil on canvas      18" x 24"   ©2014  Kathi Peters

 

I have had several glorious days working in my gardens....today it rains and I have been packaging art work to ship out to clients and working on a casein painting that should be done soon.......back to painting!!

 

 

Celebrating 100 Years Of Acadia's Carriage Roads & My Paintings In A Show

"Around The Mountain Break - Acadia"  Casein on  board ,  16 x 20"

 I have delivered my art work,  including my newly painted casein painting  "Around The Mountain Break - Acadia",  to Skyline Farm Carriage Museum, in North Yarmouth, Maine.  My work will be hanging there during their "100 Years of Acadia National Park's Carriage Roads" exhibit.

I feel so honored to have been asked to hang a solo showing during the summer months, and also to have been asked to do a "Meet The Artist" talk in mid June... to speak about the stories behind my paintings exhibited there. The show opened May18th , and that day was also their annual "PLOW DAY" with a scheduled 6 draft teams that  plowed the earth to prepare the farm's vegetable gardens. Love spring!

Colors of spring at Cob Cottage.

The Hawthorne tree puts forth its joy.

Winter Continues And I Paint

"Ground Driving"  casein on canvas  6 x 6"  SOLD

 Each weekend of late has presented us with another major snow fall. Last weekend was no exception.But Monday morning dawn sun-filled and a brilliant white landscape delighted the eye!! I am so grateful for the sunny days where spirits are raised and snow is shoveled......preparing us for the next event!

While it snowed, I retired to my studio and I took our my casein paints and did 2 smaller works depicting scenes  from my life."Ground Driving"  has sold and been shipped to it's new home already. The second is being varnished , then it is ready to go.

"Between Drives At Acadia"  casein on canvas    10 x 8"

I love the gentle giants who pull the carriages over the carriages road at Acadia National Park.If you have been following my blog fora while you probably know that driving horses and Acadia have been a big part of my life. We are so looking forward to actually getting up to Acadia with our own new pair of  horses this spring. We are SO ready for spring!!


But until then....Nell is trudging through the snow that newly fell on our deck....wondering where a JRT can lay and bask up the sun while it is out...where?... with all this snow covering our world today!!

Nell wants sun....spring!  ©2013 www.kathipeters.com

 

OIl Painting of Acadia, Done

"Starting The Drive At Acadia"    Oil on copper panel    12 x 12"    Sold

I don't know where the days have gone! I just realized I haven't blogged in 2 weeks!! I have been busy though......I finished the painted I had started at Equidae Gallery for my demonstration on oil painting on copper...and it has been sold.  And I did a self- portrait study in casein on board. Every so often I do a self-portrait as a sort of landmark of the passing of time and maybe of my growth as an artist. .

I am having trouble downloaded images to my blog....I don't know what THAT is about. So let it suffice for now, I am alive, and kicking.....but frustrated with Blogger problems..... and so I am headed outside to "play" in my gardens and maybe paint a bit!!!!. I will deal with my blog posts later!! 

Busy With Boxes - The Other Part Of Being An Artist

Some of  My Asian Lilies

I HAVE been busy....did a bit of painting since my last blog post....AND did take some time off to play teamster for a day in Acadia. Les and I went driving with good friends, on the carriage roads of Acadia National Park. Tom and Irene have a lovely huge pair of Clydes....the Budweiser type of horses.....so, as we were going out driving with them Les also drove a pair of  Clydes.  Both of us ,with our Clyde pair, leisurely drove the scenic carriage roads to my favourite spot...the Rockefeller's Little Long Pond route to the Pond House. Ah , the memories of years gone by! Seems like yesterday that we drove those roads with our Cobs.....but the sweet Clyde boys we were driving now were well behaved and gave us a lovely day in the park.

After we got home, I did a small oil on copper of one of the scenes I have wanted to paint for a long time...No time like the present! This is the view from the causeway, at the bottom of Little Long Pond, looking up the water towards the Pond House.....the mountains in the back round out a wonderful summer scene. This is the view as seen from the seat of a carriage....a bit higher than how one might see it from the ground. I think this is the BEST way to see the carriage roads. They appear differently when seen from the back of a horse or from the lofty carriage seat. This is the way they are meant to be seen.!! Try it!! 

"Looking Towards The Pond House"   Oil on copper     6 x 8"

But now I need to get back to the work at hand in my studio.....packing all my art that goes to Equidae Gallery in Saratoga Springs,NY. The show opens next week.....and I will post more about that in a few days.....right now, I am busy with boxes and bubble wrap....and paintings strewn all over the studio!! See....artists don't just create....they ship too!!