Fenced In Up Close

Again I have been asked for a bigger up close shot of this painting. I hope this works as being up close enough. This painting is varnished and will be going down to Lexington's Gallery B.

Today I am busy getting works labeled and wrapped to head down to Skyline Farm 's "Fertile Ground " Art Show 2008 that opens next Friday night. Sept. 12 th, from 5 to 7 pm to meet the artists!

I am looking forward to seeing everyone there!!

Fenced In - Literally

Another 10 x 10 casein is done and joins the ranks of works in casein...from the KY trip and as seen by "Moi".

This gray was standing in a paddock at the Kentucky Horse Park and what caught my eye was the sunshine reflecting on the fence boards, the horse's back and the design the shadows made on the ground. I saw it very abstract and very colorful. That is how I attacked this painting. I think I have captured it?

Literally. :-)

Rescued Italian Grey

The Italian Grayhound breed fascinates me. These dogs are like high fashion models ..all lines and curves. This little 'Italiano' greeted me at our local tack shop....I asked if I could photograph the little one and this is one of the shots that interested me....the shadow and lines and curves again.
This is a small casein on canvas on board. [5 x 7"] A joy to paint.

This Labor Day is a glorious day weather wise for us here in Morrill, Maine...we are blessed. My thoughts have been with all the folks...and animals .. affected by Gustav as he pushs his way into their lives today. God bless them all.

Full Circle

With another beautiful August day stretched out before me, I have just finished a new papercut, I have already cleaned the stalls, mowed the orchard and then weeded a bit in the veggie garden. I have also started sketching out a new cutting and I am watering the front gardens with the dragonfly sprinkler. [It cuts a wide swath of water over the thirsty flowers....but a different type of cut than my cutting paper!]

This circle isn't actually round, but it is hard to cut a perfect round. I feel I have done a good job when the final image does not leave a horse with one leg missing or no ears!

"Full Circle" is sized about 9 x 9" ........ a good size, and it depicts a sidesaddle rider and her mount.This image was inspired by one of the exhibitions at the Kentucky Horse Park when I went to KY. A lot of my new works will be coming from inspirations from that trip!

Almost Ready

As we rode the roads in Lexington and Versailles, KY., farm after farm had horses, mares with foals, mares alone, and frankly some mares were ready to pop! This lovely gray was one of the ones who caught my eye..........in the huge fields she had to roam with trees in the far distance.

I love mares and I miss our having a mare in foal. But I think our breeding days are done with our Cobs. At least for now. our Maggie is only 4 so has time to wait.

This painting is a casein on gallery wrapped canvas, sized at 10x10". I love square compositions and the puzzle of getting the balance and design right. I think I got it.

I am doing a series of these Kentucky paintings ,all sized the same and all in casein.

Friesian Drill Team

This scene, depicting the Northeast Friesian Horse Club drill team practising at the Post's farm in New Hampshire, reminded me so much of Lucy Kemp Welch's painting of women exercising the horses [titled "The Straw Ride: Russley Park,Depot, Wiltshire"]. This casein on board is sized at 8 x 16". The Northeast Friesian team was photographed back it 2004. It has taken me this long to get this painting done. But I guess life does sometimes get in the way.

Today the farrier comes to trim the horses..........my afternoon will be spent with him and the horses. Our hay man is starting to put hay into the barn..........I am happy about that! It always makes me nervous when the hay isn't all tucked away for the winter. I think it makes the horses happy too to know their hay is stashed before the snow comes!!!

And then the lawn needs mowing...........and the fields need bush-hogging.......yep, life gets in the way!!!

Talk About Wildlife

This is not a very good photo.........but a Blue Heron had taken a perch on our back arbor right outside of our living room sliding glass doors last week. I was getting ready to head out for Belfast when something caught my eye and I turned to see this huge bird sitting there. Mind you usually the arbor is the perch of the hummingbirds that we have living near our deck. This fellow [?] is a bit bigger than the hummers!!! He stayed there quite a while and I did get the chance to capture some better shots of him that I will use for future paintings. This shot also captures my bougainvillea in blossom.It is so in your face with color right now.

Between the bird photos......the deer in our yard and my huge goldfish in our garden pond........I will be doing some works other than horses this winter......when time allows.

But for today the weather is so brilliant out how can I stay in the studio? I think I will get out and paint! Maybe the fish??