Cedar Oil Portrait 12x6

Having fun in the studio picking on pieces here and there as my whimsy decides. Following ones whimsy means that completion of a project is usually delayed, but my oh my is it fun!

This is a mare that belongs to a friend of mine that I photographed last year. I liked the way the evening sun landed on her and her attentive attitude.

Tomato & Asparagus -A Love Story Oil - Still Life Sold

I had fun with this one even though it does not have fur or feathers! The client told me that he and his fiance referred to each other as "Tomato" and "Asparagus" and she would send little sketches to him. He figured it was time to have a "Portrait" done of them and this was a gift for her birthday.

I added a few extras because I knew them. He is a massive insect lover and used to tease me about Lady Bugs really being Lady Beetles so I could not resist adding one to help pollinate the flowers. I told them the flowers were a symbol of their love (and fertility!!) past, present and future!

I am told that she cried when she received it, and although not my goal, I am happy to have been part of their "love story"!

Sunny Shine Chloe 8x8 Oil Portrait

Sometimes ignoring the clock and surrendering yourself to the joys of your passion is the greatest gift you can give yourself. Last night I did just that. Yes I am tired this morning but I am so contented and happy that losing a few winks of sleep means little to the grand scheme of things.

This is a portrait of my mare, my main muse when I am not inspired by the racehorses.

Many more paintings got some TLC last night so hopefully this blog will not be as neglected as in the past!

Lancaster Park 14x18 Oil portrait

I did a more traditional  painting of this colt. I love the way it turned out. I have been keeping busy and have 29 new started paintings in the works. Should be interesting to see how they all turn out!

Lancaster Park (Head shot portrait)

Lancaster Park 16x20 oil portrait sold

This fellow is a colt a friend of mine trained at the local racetrack. He has a unique habit of playing with his peppermints which he has an odd fascination with. He will twirl the candy around his tongue and make these funny slurpy sounds. Having character is not limited to the human race!

Trio of Great Horned Owlets  6x12 Oil portrait

This is a painting I completed for the Cobequid Wildlife Rehabilitation Center Annual Benefit and Fundraiser. Each year they have a fundraiser and hopefully this one will help them. These people rescue injured wildlife and when possible release them back in to the wild.  This is a trio of young owls that they saved.

Khaarga Romeo Oil Portrait 10x20

Finishing school was a major accomplishment but it feels rather like a major let down.You spend all that time pushing yourself beyond your preconceived limits and then your done.

No fanfare, just the absence of pressure. I got thinking about it and realized I spent an awful lot of time doing things I hated, statistics comes immediately to mind, and while I succeeded and achieved really good marks for my efforts it taught me a great lesson;

If I can spend copious amounts of time working at things I abhor, why not apply that work ethic to things I love? Welcome another from the neglected series. I photographed this colt probably 10 years ago. I always thought the picture would make a good portrait (never was a commission). I half heartedly started him but never completed him until now. I should contact the owner to see if he is even alive. If not, he will remain free at liberty on the wall of my studio.

The Big Boys 24"x12" Oil portrait

Another snow storm in a series of miserable weather events here in Nova Scotia. Huge fluctuations in temperature interspersed with snow storms make me a hermit! I guess the studio is a pretty good place to hide out while I wait for summer.

This is another painting from the neglected group.  Several years ago I went to watch the hitching up of a huge group of harness horses that participated in a  wagon caravan tour from our county to another. It was great to see so many different breeds and outfits. Lots of fodder for an artist! It was sketched onto the canvas pretty quickly and occassional dabs of paint were added but it was mainly unfinished until recently. Nice to finish these pieces that have been mocking me for way too long. ;)

"...And in first..." Oil Portrait 18x36

There is nothing like a blizzard to make a person productive in the studio! Yesterday had Mother Nature delivering a dandy good old Nor'easter to the Maritimes and we are now shovelling ourselves out. The morning was spent shovelling the barns and paths for the sheep before I even got in the barns!! The critters are all outside reveling in the soft snow today. I however am looking at it with loathing. Maybe I will go back to the studio to work on a few more of the "neglected" canvas'!

This painting is one I started several years ago. It is a mix of realism and impressionism but I like the way it turned out. It is from a photo I took during Atlantic Grand Circuit Week at the local racetrack.

Happy New Year

Percheron with Green Halter 14"x11" Oil Portrait

I have been enjoying the return to the studio to the extent that it feels cathartic. Several paintings that loomed abjectly along my walls have been tackled and the fear of ruining them is gone. That negative is replaced by the joy I used to have at trying new things. I have a large piece on the easel now that is an odd mix of realistic and impressionistic. So far it works. Time will tell for sure but until then I am going to enjoy the process.

 

Todays painting is another one of the "Neglected Ones" that had to wait for school to finish. A few years back I went to watch the departure of a Wagon Caravan that left my county and travelled to another. For a horse lover it was fantastic, literally tonnes of horses, mountains of harness and a bevy of wagons to photograph. So many breeds were present but for some reason this fellow caught my eye. He stood with that gentle giant patience in full harness minus his bridle and calmly took in all the surroundings. He stuck with me for quite a while. I sketched him on the canvas, ignored him for over a year, then did a base coat when time allowed but there was always a paper, project or test to prepare for. I am glad school is finished.