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!

Auction Results

I have been so busy getting the commissioned pieces done by Christmas, I haven't taken the time to update! I have had several e-mails from friends wanting to know how the NRHA Futurity auction turned out...unfortunately....there were no buyers! The reception started at 5:30p.m., with auction to begin @ 6:00p.m. At 6 I looked at Mark and said "Do you see any horse people here? All I see are artists!" His reply..."Looks like all artists to me". At 6:30 the auctioneer took the mic and said the auction needed to get started so that no one would miss the "$100,000.00 Shootout" beginning @8:00! Well, that explained alot! Having done a little bit of showing myself, I know that if you, your trainer, your family member, your horse or your friend is going to be competing in a class that offers $100,000.00 in prize money...the last thing on your mind is buying art! They had some "shill" buyers so that there were no "no sales", and we had a 2 hour drive home so we did not hang around for the entire evening, but I am pretty sure there were no sales!
It was fun, I had an opportunity to take alot of photos, so not all was lost! This is the first year the Oklahoma Art Guild has done this and I am certain they learned alot. The ladies I met that put the show together were energetic and excited and I look forward to participating in more of their shows.

Reining in the Arts

I have received my acceptance email from the Oklahoma Art Guild for the Reining in the Arts show and sale! I don't know how many pieces were actually entered in this, a juried exhibition of Oklahoma art, but 175 were chosen and of those 175 only 20 were chosen to be sold at the live auction...with mine being one of those 20!! I feel so blessed and honored to have my painting chosen, it will display and go on the auction block among some pieces done by some Very Accomplished Oklahoma artists!

To just name a few: Carol Armstrong, http://www.carolarmstrong.net/

Gayle Curry, http://www.gaylecurry.com/

Kathryn Leitner, http://www.kathrynleitnerwesternart.com/

Kim Norton, http://www.kimnortonart.com/

This show and sale is being held in conjunction with the National Reining Horse Futurity in Oklahoma City, OK. The Futurity starts on Wednesday, Nov 24th. The art pieces will be in a full color catalog that will be passed out to the reining participants on Thanksgiving day. The art will be displayed on Wednesday, December 1st and the Live Auction is @ 6:00 p.m. December 2nd. On the auction pieces, the artist gets 50% of the sale price and the other 50% is divided evenly among the Oklahoma Art Guild and the National Youth Reining Horse Association.

I guess I finally have something I can put on my Art Resume!!