Day 14 of Painting 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Horse"

6" x 8"

pastel on pumiced and underpainted gatorboard

A HORSE stands for FREEDOM WITHOUT RESTRAINT.

When you ride them, you can get that feeling of

freedom.  They also are a symbol of travel, movement and desire.

I have always been completely head over heels about horses.

Never owned one, but have always wanted to.

Used to go riding at the horseback riding stables every weekend

I could when I was young.

Love visiting other peoples stables and barns where there are horses.

I envy those that are horse owners.

Painted from my own reference from Litchfield Wild Burro and Horse

facility in California.

A Horse Dream

"Dream Ticket/aka Ticket"

6" x 6"

oil on Raymar canvasboard

First of three horse commissions, done.

This one has taken me DAYS...and DAYS.  Knowing the horse

makes me all the more critical of color and likeness.

Even now, I have to rush back out there for a few miniscule brushstroke 

corrections.  Sheen is due to wet paint.

This one was tough but fun, the next one is a challenge, too.

Stay tuned.

Just a Beautiful Day - Anyway You Look at It

Today, was the first day in a VERY, VERY long time, that we could be outside and enjoy the acreage we live on in Kansas.  I got some important varnishing done in the studio today.   We worked on the 1950 'ton and a half' truck's brake system (got a new hydrovac), took a ride down country roads in the said truck, went to the farm across our road to see some of the animals...collect some eggs...

and just sit in the sun and take a walk in the woods! What a wonderful and lovely day! 

Ahhh...but look out some more weather is due this weekend. 

Darned!  I am so done with winter - aren't you????

This is Doc, who belongs to Natasha my neighbor.  We like to visit him - he is a gentle guy. 

This is one of the three current farm cats - we don't have cats, but love 'em all the same.



A Pastel for Today

"Work Crew"

11" x 14"

pastel on velour

This is one of my demos at my class on Wednesday this week.

Today, I am presenting a short program, "Life as an Artist in Kansas"

at the annual open house at the library in town.

Looking forward to it!  It should be fun! I love talking about art!

Jasmine

This is a pastel drawing I did for my neighbor's grandaughter who graduated from H. S. this weekend. She got this horse about a month ago. It has been an interesting venture for the girl. One day the horse jumped over the fence and out of the pasture, my husband saw it as it ran past him on the road at the mailbox. Knowing that the highway is only 1/2 mile away, we panicked and called everyone at work, also knowing that the horse wouldn't let us catch it, luckily the neighbor was pulling into his driveway for lunch. Funny how that worked out.
BTW, baby bird is still hanging in there. Mealworms are supposed to be here USPS today or tomorrow. He now lives in a dog crate, where he can get some muscles in those little legs, by hopping in and out of his bowl/nest. It is stormy here for the next few days. I wonder if he will be ready to fly soon? Probably in the next week.