Splashing Equines, Redux and Update

A dear reader has requested more info regarding my working method. As I mentioned in the previous post, I  woulda, coulda shoulda documented the first drawings right on the canvas. You know the ones - an afternoon of work rubbed out in aggravation and re-started with heavy sighs of disgust. Ugh. No place for romance. Alas, very rough first sketches survive...the first brainstorming thumbnails whipped up in a stream of consciousness onto the pages of my journal/sketchbook.

I love these - straight out of the friendly cooperative side of the brain. They're fresh, inspired and so lively. If only to discover a way to continue that free flow into the oil paint...

The early horse on the right was supposed to be throwing down it's head into a buck, but the head would be in the water...thus that troublesome lunging beast appeared in it's place.

I'm comfortable with the composition...finally. My splashy water is fussy and will be put off until the end. I ask myself why I spent so much time drawing out the legs if they'll ultimately be undefined in water. Geesh. If you look closely you'll notice a chalk line a bit higher than halfway across. Below is shadow, above will be bright warm light to mimic a dramatic sunset. A long way to go with lots of work ahead

"The centipede has rhythm and flow in its hundred legs precisely because it does not have to think about it. Consider this the next time you move the instruments of your art." - Robert Genn

Horses Crashing in the Ocean Painting

 I'd like to share the creative process of this painting with you. Medium sized (for me), approximately 48"x58", oil on canvas. You know me - dynamic crashing rough-playing horses in the surf infused with passionate crazy emotion tinged with danger aggression and beautiful wildness.

My inspiration is derived from the wild white horses of Carmargue, France. Every equine photographer worth their salt has journeyed there to capture...capture...capture...their freedom, grace and magnificence.

I only wish I had photographed the first sketches on the canvas so that you could witness the struggle from conception to tangible progression. It was work, a weeks worth. So much to determine...composition, direction, speed and motion.

The diagonal thrust of the horse jumping out of the water on the right was so overwhelming I found myself listing to the left. Combined with the thrown head of the horse in the middle, the composition sent your gaze right out of the canvas...exit left. Returning to the head of the original drawing which is downward and slows the diagonal overpowering pull - only this time with attitude. Pinned ears and fierce gaze.

I'm still so pre-occupied with the momentum of the jumping horse, I've added an opposite diagonal in the background cloud. That should stop it for good, I hope.

A note for my artist peeps: My darks (black) are a mixture of ultramarine blue and burnt umber, a combination I've used for many years. I was concerned about using this composite with the warms I have planned as it may produce a green tinge. Ugh. So, I purchased a tube of Gamblin's Chromatic Black which is a composition of Quinacridone Red and Phthalo Emerald. It's working and speeds the process.

"Believe me! The secret of reaping the greatest fruitfulness and the greatest enjoyment from life is to live dangerously." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Misty Morning Foxhounds Re-Visited

Elegant, traditional and exquisitely visual. Great fun, what's not to love? These are my peeps and we share a love of animals and...dare I say...fortifying drinks. Yesterday morning, artist friend Bob Stebleton and his wife and my hubby plus moi braved the cold morning temps to bug the very hospitable members of the Misty Morning Foxhounds.

Master of Foxhounds (Mistress?) Alexis Macaulay and her pack of happy hounds.

Foxhunting Florida-style.

 This could be a future painting. So attracted to the dappled light in shade.

 Long-time readers of my blog will remember Montana the Thoroughbred. Two years later and he's still fit and healthy thanks to his devoted owner Susan.

 Jumping for the shear joy of it.

 

Heading back.

 

Last night two tigers visited me in my dreams. Double dose of passion and power and how good it feels to reclaim it.

"O tiger's heart wrapped in a woman's hide!" - William Shakespeare

Marion Therapeutic Riding Association

I'm so ridiculously last minute. Well, not really. I've been Facebooking and Twittering and passing out flyers. It's been listed in the newspaper. Twice. How remiss of me to not post this on my very own blog.

Our monthly event at VoilART! Gallery + Studio entitled Coffee & Conversation is featuring a presentation by the Marion Therapeutic Riding Association. Tomorrow. That would be Saturday, January 15th at 4:00pm. Program Director Kate Robbins will help us learn all about this amazing organization that changes the lives of people with special needs via horseback riding or driving. Oh, the many wonders of horses. We've heard of all the miraculous successes - now you ask questions about how and why.

So, let me invite you to our gallery to have a cup of coffee, munch some snacks, and sit and relax for awhile. We're in downtown Ocala: 108 E. Fort King St. (one block south of the square behind the Bank of America). 4:00 o'clock tomorrow, Saturday.

 "In riding a horse we borrow freedom" - Helen Thomson

Austin Carriage Museum

Saturday I participated in the Equine Art Expo at the Austin Carriage Museum's Festival of the Horse. I had a thoroughly enjoyable day despite the cold weather. Michael accompanied enabling me to run outside to the show ring and experience the equine performances of various breeds.

How we evolve. I'm making a shift toward networking and spreading the word about our downtown Ocala gallery VoilART! as opposed to the pressure I place on myself to always be financially productive. This applies to local shows of course, as the expense involved with travelling out of state requires that at the very least, I am way above a break even point. Those shows are ever so carefully selected to be profitable, however, lest I digress...I had a great show after all. People attending are there to watch horse-related entertainment which qualifies them as my peeps. Built-in fans.


 My booth.

Magnificent Friesians driven by Gloria Austin herself.

The Carriage Museum is HUGE. I'd like to return and spend a leisurely day browsing through the extensive collection. I did a quick tour and learned from the knowledgeable docents: fire horses were led under their ready harnesses suspended from above with pulleys. This hastened the harnessing and took less than 30 seconds. The horses were always light in color for better visibility at night. Also, the term sulky, you know - the tiny cart pulled in standardbred races, is derived from those who chose to be alone (sulking) - a one person cart pulled by one horse. I seriously did not know that.

 Belgians pulling a Hummer. This was a hit at the recent Art Basel Miami in December.

 Love the drill teams in period costumes.

The final demo was Mounted Shooting. Truly bomb-proof horses run at full-speed while their riders maneuver a course and shoot balloons with black powder blanks. Very exciting. Get more info on their website: www.xtremehorseman.com

"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." -  Will Rogers

The Bucket List Bekons

Here in Florida, if you use a silent, electric battery-operated motor on your canoe, the state requires that it be registered. The last sticker date on my canoe is May, 2010. That's how long it's been since I last went canoeing. What a shame. As we age, the bucket list increases.

Although the weather was a bit cool, there were lots of turtles, birds, hungry fish, a few gators but no snakes. This is on the Silver River.

 Mistletoe and air plant inspired winter nakedness.

Cypress knees...sculptural little fantasy villages.

Hungry cichlids enjoy crushed up yellow corn tortilla chips.

You know about the monkey decendants on the Silver River, right?
Surprising visitors with this alien species is always great fun.

And now for a few pics of why I love to canoe...some of my favorite critters...

This gator became cranky that we got so close, yet he didn't relinquish the sunny log.

You never know who you'll run into on the river...

“Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you, you will suddenly know everything there is to be known." - Winnie the Pooh

My Wish for Everyone 2011

Can you feel it? It's a 'tude, a revival, inspiring. A collective focus on the positive that's palpable and exciting. So many of us are relieved to begin fresh in 2011 with expectations of a better everything...therefore...the law of attraction MUST make it so.

Here's to new beginnings. May you all be wealthier, healthier, fitter, smarter and more loving.

"Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right." - Oprah Winfrey

6 Things I've Learned in 2010

Instead of the usual yearly list of "What I Did" accomplishments for 2010, I thought I'd make a bit of a shift in my thinking and contemplate "What I've Learned: 2010". For your thoughts and comments as well:

 1. Persistence is key if you have ambition without resources. Goals are attainable with a bulldogged mindset and focus, but it does require...time. It takes longer to launch a project requiring capital and the lack of funding means the components must be executed in affordable increments. So, my multi-canvas pieces are created on carefully graphed paper and gradually constructed as my budget allows. That's okay because I know if I stay firmly committed to my ideas, they'll come to fruition eventually. They always do, even if they're stacked up in the sky like commercial aircraft on holding patterns.

2. Less is more. I'm living the simple life through necessity, not choice. The recent recession took away a lot of things from me. Yet in the present moment, I have everything I need. That's empowering. When you finally realize that the latest gadget with unlimited apps will never fulfill your basic longings, life takes on a new clarity. I choose to stay connected to the life force surrounding me, not the things.

3. I know who I am as an artist. I am finally aware of what drives my urge to create. I possess vision that is uniquely mine. Although I'm not 100% sure of the source, I recognize that speed, motion and direction inspires me and I can express passion in my paintings without succumbing to sentimentality. Take that, all you romantics!

4. I'm good enough. Although we as artists constantly strive to achieve excellence which is a healthy goal, we must also balance a respect for our own accomplishments, intellect and abilities. A self-pat on the back is reassuring and makes us a little less crazy. I'm doin' okay. And you're doin' okay.

5. A strong support system is imperative. My husband, friends, family, peers, and neighbors provide encouragement and bolster strength. Yes, I will disappoint. Sometimes the more you do the more is expected. I am making amends to those that deserve it. Integrity compels me to do what is right and good even though...life lessons happen. When I become anxious and impatient, affirming this truth sets me back on the path to acknowledging my divinity. Thank you, thank you God.

6. Goals for 2011? Of course I have a business plan in place that evolves as necessary. I'm learning to relinquish my iron fist control (just a little) as I accept that I work too hard, try too hard, never sleep enough and never play hard enough. Where's my canoe?

"Stand in the middle of a crisis to invite the next stage of evolution to appear." - Michael Bernard Beckwith

It's an Ah-Ha Moment

You may be wondering why the miniature paintings I've previously posted are of ocean scenes. Well, there's a couple of reasons.

Last year when my gallery partner Jackie Schindehette conceived the idea of creating mini oils for the holiday season, I thought it was a wonderful concept. A client could purchase an original painting for gift-giving (or self-gifting) that was affordable and we could produce and frame multiple pieces.

In theory.

Turns out, Jackie effortlessly painted tiny lovely landscapes, flowers, water scenes and even birds (at least it looked that way to me). On the other side of the studio, I struggled with the teensy format until going bonkers and gladly handing over those microscopic canvases to her.

After much soul-searching, I concluded that the large equine subjects I paint with unrestrained va-voom just didn't translate into a miniscule format.

Shortly after THAT realization (duh) I had a huge epiphany. Looking at all the paintings in my studio and recalling how I felt as I painted them brought me to an enlightened state of awareness: I have an intense desire to paint subjects in motion. Yup - movement, speed, direction, flow and all those mobile adjectives are indeed the source of my artistic inspiration.

Seriously, why does it take some of us so long to figure out the obvious?

"An artist's working life is marked by intensive application and intense discipline." - John F. Kennedy

Last Chance Mini

There is still time to ship this out quickly...I know there are plenty of you out there who wait until the last minute to do their shopping. I cater to you.

Miniature original oil on canvas, 5"x7", framed $50.00

“Punctuality is the virtue of the bored.” - Evelyn Waugh