Montana the Thoroughbred

Even the horses come out to view my painting exhibits.

Meet Montana, a former racing thoroughbred turned extreme racing-through-the-woods-jumping-over-obstacles fox hunter.

Montana's human, Susan, insists that Montana accompany her on all of her activities. So, out of the trailer for a jaunt down the sidewalk to pose (as pretty as any stallion ad) for a photo shoot in downtown Melrose, Florida.

Meeting Montana and Susan was inevitable during my visit with the Misty Morning Foxhounds last month . I can spot a thoroughbred from 500 paces and immediately recognized those fine features and tilt of the head from a group of many.

Susan keeps this twelve-year-old fit and gorgeous. Doesn't he look like he just arrived at Keeneland for the Bluegrass Stakes?

FYI: The exhibit "Hooves and Horns" has been extended one week at the Melrose Bay Art Gallery until April 5th.

“I like it. He's a thoroughbred.” - Mike Williams

Name That Painting

I'm seriously at a loss for painting titles. Any ideas?

As yet untitled, oil on board, 12"x16".

Working on the slick surface of Masonite aids the creamy flow of brushstrokes. Notice I tackled the yellow issue "head on" (yuk yuk). Any strong color works if it's repeated in the composition. It aids in stability, anchoring itself - Matisse taught me that. As an art student, I intensely studied his use of color, form and its' spatial placement. The painting below, "The Piano Lesson", served as one effective art lesson. Absolutely brilliant and beautiful.

"The Piano Lesson", oil on canvas, 8' 1/2" x 6' 11 3/4", 1916.

"All things considered, there is only Matisse." - Pablo Picasso

Hunter Jumper

Creating dynamic motion for this jumping composition was an unexpected pleasure. It's difficult to see on the web but there's lots of fluid brushwork which is becoming a more focused direction in my work. One "trick" (if you will), for generating tension and movement is to employ lots of opposing diagonals. It sets up a rhythm of pace that the artist can control by speeding or slowing lines.

Gray Hunter, oil on canvas, 20"x16"

"People call me the painter of dancers, but I really wish to capture movement itself." - Edgar Degas

Oil on Masonite

I already have an oil on canvas titled, "Pulling Up". What to call this quick, small oil on board?

"Strong Effort" oil on panel, 14"x11".

Do any other artists face this challenge of naming their paintings?

This piece is loosely rendered on a small piece of Masonite with multiple coats of gesso. Smooth and free-flowing as opposed to the heavily textured canvas I prefer. I wanted to repeat the pop of the yellow cap but couldn't decide on an appropriate spot. It's a bit of a distraction from the chestnut horse but at least it draws the eye back and forth. I probably should have made the saddle towel yellow (#4) to create balance, but I didn't. Therefore, I'll deliberate over this one, possibly changing it if it bugs me enough.

"What a horrible thing yellow is." - Edgar Degas

Neck in Front

Getting creative with titles for these racing paintings is becoming a challenge. Now I understand why some artists just number their pieces.

"Neck in Front", oil on canvas, 16"x20"

So, Michael walks into the studio this afternoon and says: "You're painting sorta abstract with a lot of brushwork, getting away from detail." He's tentative, I'm feeling sorta good about this direction.

I printed out Irwin Greenberg's "Words to Paint By" kindly posted on one of Robert Genn's clickbacks. Taking my time to read through the list of 100, they are to be savored. Here's a couple that are apropos to this painting:

3. Suggest
14. Keep it simple.
94. To emphasize something means that the other parts of a picture must be muted.

Blog quote is from "Whispering Winds of Change", by one of my favorite spiritual gurus, Stuart Wilde.

"Of course spiritually, recession and financial disaster are a marvelous thing. It's hard to persuade people to change their ways while they're hurtling around in their Porches. But once you deprive a person of their security blanket of materialism they are left with only themselves."

Time Off Expires

Reminder: Opening reception today at Melrose Bay Gallery, 4-9pm. I'm one of the guests artists.

Four days away from the studio. Tugging at me with each passing, the door beckoned. I ventured in to catch up on books, cleaning and reading without picking up a brush. Torture!

Lots of yard work accomplished (everything's been killed by frost), weeded veggie garden and went canoeing on the Oklahawa River from Eureka Outpost. By Florida standards, it's been an incredibly cold winter with 20 or so days below freezing.

This hawk let us get right underneath it's perch on a overhanging branch.

All the way upstream, only baby gators were out sunning. Isn't it adorable?

Not until returning late in the afternoon did we finally spot a seven footer. We're as close as we dared.


“I slip from workaholic to bum real easy.” - Matthew Broderick

Focusing on Direction

"Determined", 16"x20", oil on canvas

Related to my previous post last Thursday, these "times" (our new hesitant description) have afforded artists opportunities to push the envelope and pursue fresh direction. In this new painting, I attempted to suggest and focus. Loose brushwork suggests, detail for emphasis.

At the risk of sounding corny (women who paint horses), I felt this painting. Maybe my next canvas will be of a fiery chariot of dynamic steeds being driven across the sky by the Greek god Helios.

Or not.

“If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.” - Lao Tzu

State of the Arts

Purusing a couple of interesting articles today in this month's ARTnews magazine regarding the current art market. You can read them for yourself online at their website. Below are a few quotes from "A New Creativity" by Ann Landi with some unsolicited comments from you know who.

"...a number of prominent critics predicted that the economic nosedive could be a good thing for the art world at large - 'a vital correction'..." Kind of like what's happening in the thoroughbred racing industry on several levels. Hmm, yes and no.

"Difficult times bring out the best in the best artists. When the economy falters, there can be a remarkable growth of seriousness in art" - David Ross, director of Albion New York. Oh, we're serious alright. Most of us have leaped over to the left-side brain trying to figure out how to sell it ourselves. Talk to any "serious" artist and you'll discover a new bright and shiny businessperson.

"I'd say the bohemian fantasy is sweet and sentimental, but rather insulting to artists..." - Christopher Knight, art critic, LA Times. Personally, I like three squares and electricity.

"We're going to see a shift toward work that's more psychological and introspective and more out of an old-fashioned studio kind of work." Gary Garrels, senior curator of painting and scultpture, SFMOMA. And you thought we were all crazy before the economic downturn.

"People who travel light and do things that are contrary and ephemeral are going to have a good moment." - Rober Storr, dean, Yale U. School of Art. OMG, my time is finally coming!!!

"Artists are basically problem solvers. They will respond to whatever the situation is in completely unpredictable ways." Bonnie Clearwater, dir., Mus. of Contemporary Art, N. Miami. Heh, heh, don't say she didn't warn you.

And from the article "How to Buy in 2009" by Milton Esterow:

"I think we will also see better art produced. I think in times like these artists will spend more time considering the art they are creating, instead of being driven to produce art for the marketplace." - Roland Augustine, Pres. Art Dealers Assoc. Relatively speaking. That mean old mother of necessity dictated that we'd also increase inventory while considering a new direction. Aren't all serious artists constantly working to improve skills, technique and make a compelling statement while their at it?

"Collectors are obsessive, compulsive, and competitive people who always like to get the best first." - Don Rubell, collector. Mr. Rubell, call me.

Have you hugged your artist today?

Cow Painting

I love cows and I love trees but I don't like to paint 'em. Passing the pastoral back to the landscape artists who execute them lovingly, convincingly. Paintings created with reverence and endearing joy for the breezes, sunshine, birdsong, bugs or whatever else sneaks up behind them.

"Bovine Theory" 16"x20" oil on canvas

Now, here's what I do like: the challenge of portraying speed and power. Brushwork, flashing color spots and intense expression creating the thundering whirl that becomes a horse race.

Started oil , 16"x20"

Maybe not so thunderous anymore with all the new synthetic surfaces but it's dynamic movement nonetheless.

“Scientists tell us that the fastest animal on earth, with a top speed of 120 feet per second, is a cow that has been dropped out of a helicopter.” - Dave Barry

Foxhunting

Landscape artist extraordinaire Linda Blondheim and moi hung out with Misty Morning Foxhounds yesterday, a recognized drag hunt originating from Gainesville. Drag meaning no critters are harmed in the sport.

Think of 28 degrees on Saturday morning in Boston, 30 degrees in Ocala, Florida. We started late.

Huntswoman Alexis MacCauley with her wonderful hounds.

This club doesn't mind at all if you show a bit of love to the hounds. These doggies are endearingly affectionate yet professionally dedicated to their business.

One of the "kills" took place in an ancient sinkhole. Because this organization is a humane drag hunt, scent is dragged through the woods using a leather sheaf doused with anisette. With their amazing sense of smell, the hounds follow the trail to specified "kills", a paper bag filled with biscuits.

The enthusiasm and excitement of the hounds and riders is adrenaline charging. Their baying howl is the stuff of 1930's British film. In the far distance, the sound is eerily nostalgic and mysterious.

The hunt relaxes on a break.

Linda Blondheim is a nationally renown Florida landscape painter. Her perception was intriguing to me. Landscape by her definition is shimmering light, tactile texture, distance, subtle color palettes and unusual shapes. I saw horses and hounds speeding at full tilt through the woods. Art for every need, taste and preference.

"And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music." - Friedrich Nietzsche