Cob Cottage Studio: horse art

Showing posts with label horse art. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

"Volare-Study" charcoal and gouache, 5 x 7"

It's time for horses playing in snow, brilliant blue skies against winter's white snow.

I have an idea for a larger painting and this the study for that painting.

Stay tuned for the painting....AND the study can be yours now.

Shipping within the continental USA is included in its price.

Saturday, November 18, 2017

"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.

Sunday, July 16, 2017

The Gelding - A New Painting

This chestnut gelding has the reputation of a saint. He is an honest horse. ....and his honest face always inspires me to want to draw or paint him. He has the look of a horse who is a survivor, who has been through some hard times and has learned how to get by...how to play by the rules. I wish I knew his story. I wish he could talk and tell me about his life. Maybe by my painting him ,I can capture his soul...and show The Gelding ' s story.

Tuesday, May 2, 2017

I AM Going Somewhere

"Where Ever You Shall Go.." , mixed media on gallery wrapped canvas, 18 x 18"
copyright 2017 kathipeters.com

This past winter I started exploring my abstract creative side. It has proven to be an exciting foray. I’ve kept the initial start of my abstraction, as an intuitive step forward, onto a blank canvas. I'm working with acrylics and casein. Then I go in with my charcoals to draw the main subject, which I approach with more realism. I have always loved drawing….and my work, in the past, has been more impressionistic realism, but I have always been drawn [no pun intended] to abstract work and the use of pure color to drive intent and exploration. I think I will always have to have an element of realism in my work, but will continue dropping my subject into an abstract landscape, as I paint, splatter and drag color intuitively across the canvas. I hope you are enjoying my new work……and seeing where my journey takes me.

“Where Ever You Shall Go...” is done in mixed media [acrylic, casein, oil and ink]. Two draft horses walked away from me….walking into the abstracted landscape ….a path that draws them into a lovely light that hints of sunlight and trees standing tall. A tall Clydesdale follows the shorter more stocky spotted draft horse…where ever it may go……just as I seem to be following my muse, where ever it shall take me.

I am pleased to announce that "Where Ever You Shall Go" as been juried into the "Artist's Choice Exhibit at River Arts Gallery in Damariscotta, Maine , with an opening reception to be held Friday, May 5th at 5 until 7:00 pm. Hope to see you there!

Friday, January 27, 2017

In The Middle Of Winter

Winter has dropped her blanket of white on our farm. It means more studio time for me, after the shoveling and barn chores are done I head to the studio each day. I love this time of year. The farm and the forest that surrounds our home seem magical, cloaked in white as more snow falls softly from the skies.

I have been busy shipping commission and sold work for clients nation wide. New works are in the making...I hope you will find one that 'grabs you'!

The recent watercolor that I did of a four-in-hand carriage scene, up at Acadia, "Arriving Back At The Barn-Acadia", was sold as soon as it was put up on my website. I'm leaving my watercolors out for future watercolor work.... it feels good to be back into them. But I also will continue my foray into abstraction with representative work.

And so I paint [ in my cozy studio].

Friday, November 4, 2016

New Works Done - I'm Pushing My Artistic Envelope

"Rolling In The Deep" , mixed media, 12 x 12"

It seems that I have been creating representative artwork for ages. I have. I feel a need to break out a bit from the artistic mold I have created for myself. Mind you, I am sailing unchartered waters for me...... but I am enjoying this voyage ....and I think it still nicely fits with my older work. So for the time being, I will be posting these new works in the same collection on my website as my more representative work. I only hope my collectors will come with me on this voyage. Hop abroad!!

"Rolling In The Deep" is the first...... It happened at Acadia. A handsome spotted draft...one of a four-in-hand team. A good roll after a good drive. It always seems to happen after a good bath too! If you have horses, you have seen them roll......often in deep something!!

A mixed media work, it is done in acrylic, oil and casein. It is varnished and it is on a cradled board and does not need to be framed, but can be hung as is for a contemporary look.

The second mixed media abstract work was done smaller...... same mix of media. The subject was one of two Belgians in a draft horses team working up Acadia this summer. I saw them when we were up at Wildwood Stables with our Morgan driving pair. Often I see a horse whose face captures my heart. This handsome Belgian guy was one of those horses. I really enjoyed painting this small work. "Once In A Blue Moon" is available framed .....and is ready to go!

The third one done so far is "Snow Drifting". I went into it very abstractly and then ended up finishing it in a more Japanese feel. I have always been fascinated with the woodblock work of Hokusai and Hiroshegi....I went for that feel, with an abstract spin. I really enjoyed creating this one too , as I wondered what I would do... as I worked through the composition. Another foray into abstract and representative work.......A chestnut horse rolls in the winter sunlight in his paddock of snow and hay. Dappled winter shadows , blue and purple surround the golden hay and sunlight. I have been there.......seen that.

"Snow Drifting" is also on a cradled board, with no need for a frame...ready to hang.

Ready to ship!

Now I have to get back into some commission work I am doing.....so I paint.

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Drawings, Watercolors and Spring Is Here

"A Fine Cob" , charcoal, 16.5 x 10.5" SOLD

I have been drawing a lot lately.....It is always a good practice to draw...free hand ....To get your values correct before starting to paint. Time spend drawing is time well spent. It helps get my creative brain working, seeing my subject and while I draw I start envisioning how I want to approach the subject matter, what medium, what support, what direction. The charcoal drawing "A Fine Cob " was drawn with charcoal and when I finished the drawing [which was immediately sold after posting it on my Kathi Peters Art page on Facebook] I knew I wanted to try to approach the same subject with my pastels. I haven't had them out for a long time and I felt it was time to get back into pure pigment and build pure color. I am working on that now, and I am grateful for the fact that pastel is a medium sitting patiently waiting for my getting back to the painting.

In the mean time I have finished the two new watercolors featured below. Both of these watercolors are now available for purchase on my website. The cute colt is a Welsh Cob foal ...all legs....and foals are a sign of sweet spring. Our spring is slowly appearing here. All snow is gone from our farm, and left in its wake the season mud, that seems to cover our chestnut pair as they sleep in the sun. I captured them standing together in the winter sun in a 12 x 16" watercolor, "The Winter Chestnuts". No mud coats at that time....white snow and winter's barren trees abound.

"The Bay Colt" ,watercolor, 10 x 8"

"The Winter Chestnuts" watercolor, 12 x 16"

On the recent days, ones where we were blessed with sun and warmth, I have been out starting the cleaning of winter's debris....stones and dirt on the lawn, stones on the grass surrounding our stone pathway to our cottage and matted leaves burying the perennial gardens. I have made some headway, but there is still lots to do. It is always a labor of love and time spent out of the studio, cleaning the creative cobwebs out of my head, is always good for my soul. Fresh air and sunshine.

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

It's A New Year ! More New Paintings!

I can't believe time has past so quickly since the last time I posted new work ....but it has, and needless to say, I have been painting between holiday commitments and snow storms and doctor appointments! Life on the farm goes on and I do get time every day to get into the studio and do something creative. ............even if it is only balancing my checkbook. Believe me, that can be VERY creative!

At the end of 2015 I did an oil of a Cob brood mare, fond memories of a mare that produced some awesome foals. The painting is available on my website and hopefully she will find a new home in the new year.

I also have been working on some smaller works on paper , in mixed media, and they are turning into a series of works I will be doing as I explore the pulse of the prerace ride, the feeling of the horses and their side riders, as they ready for the gate loading and their race. So far there are three done in this series......

I have had papercut drawing work juried into an exhibit opening at River Arts Gallery in Damariscotta, Maine January 15th,2016......Good to have my papercuts back in the mix of my portfolio of work again. I am looking at some changes in my work in the new year. I hope to keep you engaged in my work.

And so I paint....create!

Thursday, December 10, 2015

COB COTTAGE STUDIO'S HOLIDAY SPECIAL SALE !! NOW!!!

"Bend To The Left" , casein , 12 x 12" © kathi peters

As 2015 comes to a close, I am offering an eclectic mix of my work, some large, some small....in different mediums, but all at heavily discounted HOLIDAY SPECIAL prices for my much appreciated collector base...current and future. What the New Year brings is yet to be revealed, but new ideas are in the works at Cob Cottage Studio and will be revealed soon.

I hope you will find a painting or two that will tickle your fancy ……Maybe a painting that might make a wonderful gift of art for someone on your ‘Santa’s list’…..or even for your own wall. Thank you for looking…for shopping and supporting my art.

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Woman's Work

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......................

Saturday, October 10, 2015

Revisiting Paintings Done With Another Approach

Sometimes an painting idea can be approached , painted and after the painting is done, the subject calls to be approached again but from another direction. This happened lately with 2 painting that I have done. One was initially finished very recently. The second was painted over the past winter. I learn something every time I do this, the reworking of a painting, changing out the medium , the format and stretching maybe with my vision. I am not alone with this 'reworking' of works. Many of the masters have done it over the centuries. I am in good company.

"Among The Fields Of Gold" done originally in oil , was re-worked with watercolor......one version a full oil portrait, and the second done in a loose watercolor study with a more abstract approach. Each medium sort of dictated the approach for me.

The second painting that I felt compelled to rework in a cropped version ended up being in oil in a small square format. The original painting was a portrait of sorts, done in casein and more involved. The cropped version is featuring just the head of the horse, the rider cropped out, done in juicy oil paint.

The original work was done as a portrait of a side-saddle equestrian. Both works are featured on my website now.... "The Classic" and "A Lady and Her Horse" .

And now today I have three new panels that I have prepared for more paintings.....I am painting.

Saturday, August 29, 2015

The Power and Strength , A New Oil Painting

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!!

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Art Shows I am In AND A New Painting ....Of A Goat!!!

Our two horses are back home grazing in their fields, after our July carriage driving marathon…. I am trying to catch up on gardening chores and in between the barn chores and gardening, I head to the studio and paint, order new paints and frames and get my creative mojo working. I have done some new equine art work? NO….. Animal art ……..A GOAT?? Yes…... a Maine goat, no less.

MY NEWS: I have had 2 paintings juried into the new art exhibit, Mainly Maine at River Arts in Damariscotta, Maine , that opens tonight. With over 223 entries, by 92 artists from all over Maine, 105 works juried into the exhibition by juror Andy Curran. I am honored to be one of those juried into this Maine show.

I also have 3 works in the current on-line exhibit with Women Artists of the West’s show “Rivers, Tides, and Pools". A talented group of artists and not all the members are from the real “West”…….. Check out their great online art show!

AND the 2 person art show that I am in and NOW hanging at Equis Art Gallery in Red Hook, NY is up for a few more days. "Summer Feature" highlighting the work of artist Patricia Powers and myself ,is a show featuring a mix of some of our older works and some new. I hope anyone in the area gets a chance to see this show. Then Equis Art Gallery is moving to its bigger and brighter new space in the center of Red Hook. THAT is exciting! I will post more about this as it happens!

And today…I am painting!

Monday, July 6, 2015

My Gardens Are Growing & News

Summer has really arrived. …physically and figuratively! I sit writing my blog on the deck. A lovely breeze stirs the green heavily laden trees .The sun shines down on the farm encouraging the gardens to grow. The rugosa roses scent rises in the warm air, bathing the deck in their perfume. Birds are busy at the bird feeders that hang in front of the grape arbor, flittering back and both from the trees to the feeders. A humming bird flies by me as he makes his rounds to window boxes and hanging baskets filled with petunias, zinnias,nasturtiums, marigolds and begonias. Nell sleeps in the shade beside me. Mittens sleeps under the table, half in the sun, half in the shade. Life is good in the summer a Cob Cottage Farm.

Most days , weather permitting , we have been driving our Ginger Boys up at Acadia National Park National Park. Each year we wonder if this is going to be the last year of us being able to do this. I pray that it won't be… but we aren't getting any younger and everything is getting so expensive too.... fingers crossed that art sales keep coming in and our life can go on.

My news on the art front? I have my painting “ Chestnuts Two.” In the current art exhibit at River Arts Gallery’s Members Show. What a talented bunch of artists I am in the company with at River Arts!!!! Hope you all can make it to the show.

Then I have decided to not have my sketches available for purchase anymore on my website and I will be taking off the ones left on my Sketches and Studies page, in a very short time. The ones I do have left up on my website are seriously been discounted! Don't miss out !

And over the next few weeks, I might not be painting much. Time to reflect on my current art work, spend time with my husband and enjoy our days carriage driving our two Morgans. It is a fun sport which you can share with friends who don't ride or drive… we love doing that!

And I love to paint carriage horses!!

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

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

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

Thursday, May 28, 2015

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!

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!

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Spring Has Sprung..... With A New Painting

I have been in the studio a lot of late. I have been drawing and working a lot on tonal sketches. I feel I always need to be learning, and stretching my art. I have also been stretching my hours in my day, as I work in the studio, the gardens, the barn and the house. And stretching my back , pulling weeds and raking the perennial garden as it awakens from its winter slumber. I sleep well at night!

Spring is finally here in our part of the woods, and I have just finished a spring like painting of two chestnut horses in their field in its light spring colors before the green appears. They are busy horses foraging for any tiny blades of grass that might be poking through the warming ground. "Chestnuts Two " is a 12 x 12" casein on board. I have put it up on my website now.

If you haven't gone yet to see the River Art Gallery's latest exhibit I suggest that you head on down/over there and see "The Natural World". The show is wonderful with works from Maine artists from all over the state. I am one of the artists juried into the show. You won't be disappointed. My painting "Ripe Arbor Grapes " is hanging there for your viewing pleasure. It looks much better in real life than the internet can display!!

"Ripe Arbor Grapes" . oil on copper panel , 12x12"

In the meantime I will paint!

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Back At The Old Farm, Old Memories, New Magazine Interview AND New Painting

The family's stone farmhouse.

With good intentions I have been promising to be better on posting my blog. And for lack of a really good excuse I keep putting it off. But we were away on a mini vacation where we attended a family wedding in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with a detour to Brandywine country to Chadds Ford and the Brandywine Art Museum to see the current retrospective art show of Jamie Wyeth and a look see at Gettysburg’s battle fields and old barns. We also went to the old village of Harmony to see my family’s old homes and gravestones. Lots of old memories relived. I admit that it also was an epicurean trip too, with much good food and fine wines and local brews to fortify us all throughout. The downside of the trip is that we came home with the flu, and now through the worst, we are still recuperating. Time lost.

Brandywine River Museum Of Art

Upon arriving home to Cob Cottage, I received the good news that my interview with Equestrian Culture magazine was on line and available for folks to read and see a lovely display of some of my work. I think they did a bang-up job of layout ….. and it pleased me no end to see my work beside, and compared to, my creative heroes, Lucy Kemp Welch, Sorolla and Munnings! Hope you can take a look at the article and I would love to get your feedback on it and my work. Thank you Equestrian Culture !!

I guess the only painting I have finished since my last blog post is a 12 x 9” casein on paper, titled “Inspiration”. I was playing with loose and suggested movement in this small painting. I think I nailed it. It is available on my website.

I am back….. back working in the studio, finally! I am working on a 16 x 16” Maine landscape…… I have so many paintings that need doing………..and all before the gardens awaken from their long [too long] winter nap. And then carriage driving begins again. Ah………..I love spring!!!!

So You Want To Paint With Casein? My Latest Painting

I have been so often asked how to paint in casein. It is hard for me to explain how I love working in a media that so many find difficult to use. I have been working in casein since I started using it , along with tempera , years ago while living in Italy. I love tempera, but I am in love with casein and always have been. Both are opaque paints , casein a milk based paint.....and tempera an egg based paint. Both paints smell. But I love the smell of the casein emulsion......and the way it is works, for the way I paint. I work in small spirts of studio time. I work with glazes a lot, and can paint a layer and let it dry and then come back and add another glaze, with the length of time left between glazes dictating how much of the previous layers will effect the newest layer. I have done some workshops on to paint with casein....but my feeling is that if you are interested in a medium......then read all you can about it. Get some of it and experiment with it.

I just finished the above casein painting of two handsome draft driving horses. The pair were working up at Acadia's Wildwood Stables last summer and are another in my works depicting the handsome horses pulling the carriages along the carriage roads of Acadia National Park. This painting is available on my website.

Mother Nature has be teasing us with some spring like weather. It felt so good after months [it seems] of being in the cold hard grasp of winter and too much snow. Our snow is melting. There is hope.

Until it is gardening weather I will paint!

Friday, November 28, 2014

We Had A Happy Thanksgiving - And My Latest Watercolor -

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!

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