Plein Air Painting-Horses

I met up with the Arizona Plein Air Painters for a paint-out at the Saguaro Lake Ranch. This is a wonderful setting with views of the Salt River, Bulldog Cliffs and of course horses. While other members wondered off to find inspiring landscapes to paint, I set up to paint some of the Saguaro Lake Trail Rides horses.
While painting horses from life, I take the opportunity to focus and get very clear on color, light and conformation. As with painting the landscape from life, the scene changes rapidly. I had the chance to lay in my foundation, before some of these horses were off to work to take guests on trail rides. I was then able to complete them when they returned from a scenic ride into Tonto National Forrest.