New Website

A belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!  I have had a busy fall/early winter so far.
I photographed a Hunting Retriever Trial, which was also my first time ever watching one, let alone photographing one!  Alot of fun and quite interesting to see the differences in each dog's personality.  All were eager to retrieve, some so much so that they couldn't concentrate on their handler and left the "box" (I don't know if that is the correct term) too soon.  Though they all eagerly went into the water to retrieve, some did with such Gusto they had water splashing everywhere!  While others went in slowly in, what looked like to me, such a fashion as not to get water on their faces!  And many of those that started off slowly, by the 2nd or 3rd retrieve must have just decided it wasn't all that bad and leapt into the water no longer worrying about whether or not their faces got wet.  The photos really let you see what you miss when watching in real time....some of them get off a couple of good leaps on the water's surface before they are full in and swimming toward their duck, which gives the appearance that they are walking on water.
I finished up "Shades of Gray" and delivered the painting to it's new owner the Friday before Christmas.  I have a couple of commissioned dog paintings to start this month then I may choose to paint one of the retrievers that I photographed.
I have completely redone my website, which I had been wanting to do for months, but wasn't finding a provider that fit what I wanted to be able to do.  My friend, Jeanie hooked me up with a provider that allows unlimited images and numerous options for personalization.  I am very happy with it.  It is quick and easy to download photos and separate them into different galleries, I will probably continue to tinker with it as I add more images.  It has all of the photos from the retriever trial on it as well as my artwork and I am gradually adding equine photos to it also.
Jeanie has a photography business http://www.onetulsaphotography.com/ and next week I am helping her photograph the National Sorting Cow Horse Association World Championships that are being held in Tulsa. 
Check out my new website and let me know what you think http://www.artbyjewell.com/
My resolution for 2012 is to update the blog on a more regular basis!

Close to the finish!

It seems like this one has been on the easel for a very long time! I haven't been doing a good job of taking pictures of the progress and updating the blog, sometimes I feel that there is a point in the paintings that I don't want anyone to see! So here it is, very much near the finish line! I will keep it on the easel for a little longer, stare at it until I think it's going to come alive, and tweak things a little here and there!

Continuing on!

As I work my way around this painting (back to front, clockwise)! It kind of feels like a spiral. I have blocked in a base color on the rider's arms, will concentrate on that and her shirt over the next few days, with the occasional dab at the reins. As I move forward the horse's head, bridle, mane, forelock and tail will be last.

Shades of gray

As I work my way across the chest I realized I have only 4 colors of paint on my pallette! White, black, payne's gray and raw umber! That will change when I get to the rider's bare arms and the horse's pink nose...but the majority of this painting will be shades of gray!

Moving right along!

I am working from front to back and right to left on this one! I am pretty happy with how the rider's leg and stirrup look, though before it's all finished I am sure I will make subtle changes! Headed into the horse's chest and will then probably work on the rider before doing the neck, head and bridle.

Payne's Gray Background

I have used Payne's Gray for the background, not that there is going to be much background showing! Laying down some base coats in Payne's gray, Mars black, a little Raw umber and some white. I have started playing with the dappling on the horse's barrel behind the rider's leg. A long, long way to go!

One last little change

I made just a few minute corrections on the "Bailey" painting. She now has her 1st coat of varnish, 2 more to go then 3 days to dry and she will be ready to go to her new home.

Another one on the Easel

This is my next project. A 36" wide by 48" tall painting of a National Show Horse being schooled in Dressage.

Calling her "finished"

After many small touches and adding the whiskers, I am going to say this painting is pretty much finished. I will send a pic of it to the customer and if she approves, it will be varnished and headed to it's new home.

Getting closer!

She is starting to look like "Bailey"! Now I am at a point where I just add layers and layers in varying shades, and soften and blend and tweak and stare and stare and stare! Then walk away for awhile and come back and do it all over again!

Donated Painting

Last summer I donated an acrylic pet portrait for an auction benefitting a Therapeutic Riding Center, about a month ago the winner contacted me and sent me photos of her son's Golden Retriever, Bailey. I got started on it and forgot to take photos from the very beginning, so here she is, still not finished but coming along nicely (you will just have to visualize the white canvas I started with)! Bailey is just a "youngster", 8 or 9 months old, what a cutie!

I have the colors blocked in and still have alot of layering to do. I worked on the eyes this afternoon.

Background

Playing around with more background to take up some of the expanse of blue to the left.

Adding some background

I added some bushes...I am not much of a "landscape" painter!! It helped, but I am still not sure if I should add something more to the left?!

Well, I have been "holed" up in the house because it is so stinking hot outside! But that means I have had plenty of time to paint. I am trying to decide what to do on this painting....I am considering possibly placing bushes along the edge of the arena to take care of the "sky meets ground abrubtly" look. I like the contrast of the horse's coat color with the blue so I don't want to complicate the background too much, some low greenery? Any comments would be appreciated!

Bridle Work

The bridle is close to being finished, still have to work on the bit ring and the reins. Added some more paint to the gloved hand and started a little on the boot.

More layers

I have had some time to work on this painting...adding more layers to the horse's coat to darken it and give it depth. Put a thin coat of payne's gray on the bridle, glove and boot also.

Back to work

Well, this painting hasn't been moving very far very fast! But I will have more time to commit to it now that I have quit my mid-day stall mucking job, so stay tuned....I shall start making progress on it regularly!

On the easel

I didn't realize, until I looked at my blog, how long it has been since I have posted anything! Too much "horsing around", I guess!
Oklahoma Dressage Society hosted a New Test Symposium with Lilo Fore. I was a demo rider for Intro level and spent the weekend photographing when not in the saddle. I have alot of material to work from, and have started a new painting. It is 24" tall by 30" wide, I have it drawn out, but have been battling (in my mind!) with background color! It has alot of "open space", but I think it will turn out nice.

Finished

I think I am pretty much finished with this painting. I may have a few "touch ups" before it is all said and done.

Coming Along

This painting is coming along nicely, though still has a ways to go! For the background I wanted sort of a burgundy color because I saw burgundy in the horse's coat. The photo makes it look a bit more orange than it actually is, but before it is all said and done I may put a light glaze of magenta over the background. We'll just see how it all plays out when the horse is closer to being finished!

A new one on the easel

Starting a new painting! Using a photo I had taken in OKC at the NRHA Futurity for reference, this was a yearling filly on the lunge line....she was a gorgeous blood bay and she was full of spit and vinegar! Bucking and playing, really fun to watch! I have her drawn onto a 48" tall by 24" wide canvas, am still trying to decide what color my background is going to be. With the temp outside pushing 70 today...I think I will tack my mare up and maybe get inspired!

I'm Listening

I have definately gotten away from the habit of taking photos of my paintings as they take shape (and blogging about them) on a regular basis. I suppose it was because most of what I worked on leading up to Christmas were gifts and I didn't want anyone to happen upon their surprise before that special day!
But now that the holidays are a memory, I will do my best to get back in the "groove"! It will have to be on the next project though, because this one is very nearly finished!
While in OKC for the Reining in the Arts show and sale, I had the opportunity to photograph some of the competitors working their horses. It has given me a good selection of subjects to choose from. This painting I am calling "I'm Listening", the horse's ears are back listening intently to what the rider is asking, I had taken several photos of this horse and rider combo and chose this one because of the challenge it represented...as the horse is moving straight ahead the rider has lifted the left rein and asked for the horse to flex at the poll to the left, which puts the horse's head at an angle that allows me to paint the "underside" of the head, the space between the cheeks where the throatlatch ties in as well as the chin. Just a different view than your standard side or front!