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.