Saturday, November 29, 2008

Plein air painting at the Arboretum


The Arizona Plein Air Painters got together today for a Paint-Out at Boyce Thompson Arboretum. It was a clear day, and the view was wonderful. I hiked up for a view that displayed the distant mountains, and the trees below. It was a great day to be outdoors painting in Arizona.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

A small eye study


I did this small study of a horses eye today. I wanted to display the accents and highlights with simple brush strokes. I find horse's eyes very amazing. The pupil is not round like ours, but rather a slim oval. And although they don't see things in the same way that we do, I'm always amazed by what they see, how they see it, and how they react.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Evening Shadows


I did two paintings in this series. Both of German Shepherds, with warm sun light as the major feature in the painting. The goal was to have a nice inter-play of warm and cool notes. Since it is evening, even the cool notes have a feel of warmth to them. What do you think? Both of these are available as note cards and prints.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Adobe and the Green Fly mask


This is a quick study I did of my horse Adobe. Although it is mid-November, it is still in the 80's here, and the fly's are still active. Adobe was seen by my vet yesterday because his eye was swollen and teary. I got some medicine to put in his eye, and he is on his way to recovery. Adobe has had a hard summer. Earlier this summer he had surgery/chemo on his nose. His nose has healed well, and is looking very good now.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Mojo in the morning


I went over mid-morning to paint Mojo. Mojo is a four year old Tobiano Paint, with unique markings, and a curious personality. He was very interested in what I was doing, especially since he just knew it involved him! This is one of two paintings I will be doing of Mojo. The other will be a painting completed in the studio. One of the joys of painting horses, is giving the owner the opportunity of having a painting of their horse. Not a horse that is the same breed or type, but a painting that contains the appearance, personality and spirit of thier horse.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Plein air Adventures


After painting one morning, I was on my way back to the car, when I came upon this small rattlesnake. It coiled, and rattled, so I backed away and got my camera out. After getting a couple of pictures, I yielded the trail to him and went on my way.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

How brave are you?


During the early 1980's, I was at the Arizona State University School of Art. I had a 3-D instructor, (Ben Goo), and he would ask, "How brave are you?". I still ask myself that question. What will challenge me, press me to grow, motivate me to over come any inertia? The first of June, 2008, I set the goal of painting 100 paintings this summer. This was one way of asking myself, "How brave are you?"
Well, I am on painting number 105! Some were painted en plein air, but most were done in the studio. It has been a very exciting time of growth and change. Thanks to everyone who commissioned a painting during that time, it made the 100 come even faster.