The Pony

My mother always thought she wanted to be a equestrian. She took any chance she could get to get on a horse, pony, even a pig! When a photographer, leading a small pony, roamed the streets of her home town , she begged her mother to get her picture taken on the photographer's pony. Her mother succumbed to her demands and I have the old faded photo of my mother "The Equestrian".

But I have called this small casein "The Pony"...what a hero this little pony was..foundered at some point in his life...but still giving children the thrill of their lives..to sit on a pony and get their photo taken!

I can remember begging my mother to let me sit on the carousel horses that stood outside of stores, pay your nickle and get a ride...mind you I had a real pony at home to ride whenever I wanted..but there was some attraction to the motorized pony in the store front!

This small "gem" of a painting "The Pony", can be seen on my website.....

Now I am headed down to clean the stalls of the four alive and non-motorized "ponies" on our farm.

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!!!

The Sunbathers

The wind howls around the house, but the pups are cozy basking in the sun. Nell keeps lookout for turkeys in the yard. Addie snoozes.... Life is good.
I saw this scene and have to capture it. My good friend and fellow artist Karen Pettengill just did a painting of her Koda dog sleeping in the sun....and our scene here so reminded me of her painting!
Check out her work!

I am waiting on the farrier now, the horses' feet need trimming...another sign of spring. I don't want to get into a painting and then have to stop when he arrives..so I am posting this for my blog event of the day!

Leader Of The Pack

This 18 x 18" mixed media piece on canvas is coming together okay...I am feeling that I need some work on 'movement' around the hounds and then I will back away and call it good. Working with the casein and pastels as been interesting to say the least. I have pushed the envelope a bit and plan on trying others in the near future...as time permits. I have a lot on my proverbial plate at the moment. I need to get some carriage driving artwork done.

Today the outside beckons with sunlight and birds singing their spring songs...tomorrow we will have a winter mix of rain and sleet. That kind of mixed "media" I can do without, thank you!

A Bit Over Whelmed

There has been so much happening the past few weeks...I am feeling a bit over whelmed by it all. All I need is for the snow to melt too fast and have all the gardens looking to have my care too and I will be panic-ed!! But I don't see that has happening ..seeing we still have two feet of white stuff to get rid of! I think Mother Nature is cutting me some slack!
The opening for a Belfast, Maine Art show at Aarhus Gallery was held last Friday evening to a VERY full house.I had one of my mixed media painting of My Family Series showcased there. I am working on some more of these.... a trip into my past and ancestry....and fun.

I have four shows I have been invited to....and a personal show coming up in Lexington, KY. in May titled "Finding My Voice"...at Gallery B.

The interview with me, covering my oeuvre of equine artwork, has come out in ART HORSE MAGAZINE.... and it is neat to see my work showcased so nicely..and at such a good time!

That being said....I am heading back into my paints and pastels ..yes, pastels....interesting combination..and the hunter painting....and I am starting a new driving work. If ONLY I could just paint.....and not have to do the paper work that goes with all this 'artist's life".............. a necessary evil! Heh ...the sun is out! A good omen!!!!

What I Do When The Snow Falls

And I have been doing a lot of it lately.. CREATE!!... as we get hit with yet another round of snow and wind and cold!! The only hope that keeps me sane is the fact that winter is almost over and under all the snow sleeps my perennial gardens...and I will be digging in dirt and transplanting soon!! [After all this snow melts!]

The above "work-in-progress painting is a 18 x 18" on canvas that was started in casein and I am into it now with pastels. It is coming along 'smashing-ly' and I can't get enough of it! The hunt reference shot was provided by a fellow EAG-er ...I just loved the way the tails of the hounds fill the air and wag throughout the composition. I have changed things a bit for my purpose..but still the tails wag!

My dogs were just walked and love the new snow....all I see of Nellie, the JRT, is her butt most of the time. She is hunting varmints under the white blanket.....Addie, our PWC , is busy rolling around in the snow.....to each their own!

44N 69W:Radius Belfast

I havn't really been doing much showing in the local scene, but I did take one of my new mixed media family painting to the Belfast show “44N 69 W: Radius Belfast” yesterday.
That will hang at the Aarhus Gallery in Belfast through March 29, 2009. The opening reception is March 6th, 5 – 8 pm. I plan to be there…would love to see you all there!!!
This is the painting that I submitted…”How Ya Going To Keep Them Down On The Farm”…you know the song that asks… that after they see Paris?? [PAREE?] You have to see this one to believe it! And it is a small painting..only 8 x 6". But it is framed BIG! [ Not really!]

AND GUESS WHAT…. it’snowing OUT! Our weekly snowstorm promising 6 to 12 inches!